Posts Made By: Mike Vollmer

I've seen several of Kodak's advertisements in the photography magazines for their "Ultra Color" Professional film. Has anybody had any experience with this yet? I got nervous when I saw the packaging on the E200 which I am very fond of was changed, but it doesn't appear they have changed it, only cosmetics of packaging. I have not checked their website yet for spectra of the Ultra Color. Anybody had any luck with it?

Mike

Recently I purchased a Televue 2" 2X Powermate to use on my FS102 primarily for photography. Last night I put it on and was trying to frame M13 and was disturbed by the fact I had to have no less than 3 extensions, plus a Televue 2" diagonal behind it to hit focus. The order they were mounted was" scope/focuser, Televue extension (2.5"?), 2" extension, 2.5" extension, diagonal, 2" camera adapter, camera. Is this normal, or did I just do something stupid? I'll admit to being in a hurry while trying to get this image done because it was getting late (early?) and perhaps I just overlooked something obvious. I'm concerned about flexure in such a long assembly inhibiting focus across the film plane. Please give me your thoughts/observations on this.

Mike

I posted this on the Takahashi forum but it must have went un-noticed, so I will post it here and see if anyone else has had similar experience. I have an FS102 and recently bought a Televue 2" 2X Powermate for it, primarily for photography purposes. A few nights ago, I put it on and was desiring to photograph M13 only to become frustrated by the necessity of needing to stack a Televue 2" extension, a Lumicon 2" and a Lumicon 2-1/2" + a Televue diagonal and 2" camera adapter to achieve backfocus. The imaging hardware was so long, I was concerned with flexure from all the joints, and the possibility of not achieving focus across the film plane. I know I was in a hurry to get it shot, since it was getting late (early?), and perhaps I just did something stupid. I had the Powermate mounted first in line after the focuser. Any thoughts or suggestions on this from anybody else that has had similar experiences?

Mike

I have a Tak FS102 and love it. I would like to get a focal reducer for it, but the only one Takahashi makes for it in 2.7" is the same for the TOA130. At $500.00 I was curious if anyone else out there has found an alternative to the Takahashi in 2.7" that may be more reasonable in price. I've posted in the "Wanted" ads, but no bites for a used one. Any ideas?

Mike V.

Hello all. I have an FS102 which I dearly love, but long for a little wider field of view. I've searched the posts for a used focal reducer of 2.7" for it but to no success. The reducer for the TOA130 which TNR suggested is $500.00. Does anyone know of an alternative manufacturer besides Tak that makes a 2.7" which may be less expensive? Thanks in advance for any tips. 8O

Mike Vollmer

I just picked up 3 rolls of E200 from my local camera shop which I had them order for me. When I got home, I noticed 2 of the 3 rolls are "export" rolls. I paid full US price ($12.70/roll) and feel like I may have been ripped off. More importantly, does anyone have any information on if the export E200 is as good as the US film. I shot NGC7000 last week and when it was processed I felt like the color was a little off, even despite my light polluted neighborhood. Subsequent examination of the box revealed it was export as well. What is the opinion on the export vs. US films here?

Mike Vollmer

I shot this image of NGC7000 from my light polluted driveway just to test the "Polar Axis Correction" feature of my Gemini mount. Only minor adjustments with curves and resized in PhotoShop. This was 60 minutes on E200 export film. I'm finding I like the PAC feature very much. I think it may save me a lot of time in the field on my alignment. Any feedback is welcome.

Mike Vollmer

Hi. I recently bought a 2.7" focal reducer/field flattener, camera angle adjuster and Nikon mount off the classified section. I tried to use it for the first time tonight on my FS102, and was disturbed to discover that I could not rack the focuser in far enough to achieve focus with the camera angle adjuster on it. I had to take it off, and rotate the T-ring to frame my shot. Is this normal for this optical tube and assembly? Anyone else experienced this?

Mike V.

Now that winter is upon us in the midwest, it is getting kind of "nippy" after many hours outside. I'll open up to the forum any suggestions or ideas for a quick (let me say that again for emphasis...QUICK) shelter from wind and cold. My primary activity is photography, so there are long periods of time when the cameras are running and usually I would just sit in my truck and keep warm. But with gas at a buck eighty to 2 bucks a gallon I would like another idea. I've thought about making some type of open top PVC structure that would have room for a couple of chairs and a heater, but this seems like a lot more "stuff" to haul around, and not so quick to set up and tear down either. Ideally, something open on top would be great to be able to allow air to vent from the heater. Any ideas out there?

Mike

I am going to be getting a Canon 20D soon, and I would like to know if there are any software programs (or otherwise) that are beneficial in achieving sharp focus. It would seem to me using the LCD screen would not be very sharp. Does anyone know of any other means? If this is the wrong forum for this inquiry please forgive me and reply to me offline.

Thanks
Mike