Cameras
The cameras and equipment below are what I use for my astrophotography.
Canon G3
Main Use: Lunar/planetary photography, limited deep sky photography of brighter DSOs.
Used With: 25mm or 40mm scopetronix plossals.
Status: Still used from time to time mainly with the 5" MCT.
SAC7 CCD Air Cool Imager
Main Use: Deep sky imaging
Used With: IBM 1 Ghz thinkpad laptop running on windows XP
Status: Just got this only days ago and have not had the chance to use this yet. I have tested it with my laptop and 5" MCT and after some trouble getting the long exposure to work, it finally runs well and ready for use. Will be used mainly for deepsky photography.
The above image shows my setup with the SAC7 CCD camera and my laptop. I need to make an adapter so that the SAC7 will fit the T3 Tracker so I can focus more accurately and I can guide long exposure shots. Click on image to enlarge.
Canon Digital Rebel XT DSLR
Main Use: Lunar photography and deepsky photography
Used With: At prime focus or with eyepiece projection of 40mm or 25mm plossal.
Status: Just starting to use this camera for deepsky photography. SO far it is less sensitive then the canon G3 but I am able to take much longer exposures with the B setting then the G3 could take.
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
Taurus III Tracker
In this photo above you can see the Taurus II Tracker with my Canon Digital Rebel DSLR mounted mounted to my 5" MCT telescope. The T3 tracker is a great device which serves as an off-axis guider, a flip mirror and a fine focuser. It is a GREAT tool because with the view port, you can find and center the deepsky object as well you can focus the telescope so that the image is accurately focused on the camera. This works very well because the view port and the camera can be made parfocal making focusing and centering VERY simple which is an almost impossible task through the screen of the DSLR. Another port is used for off axis guiding either with an autoguider or a guiding eyepiece. Again the OAG port can be made parfocal to the camera. The whole imaging platform can be rotated so you can find a suitable guidestar while still keeping the DSO object in the center of the frame. This setup also works very well on planetary shots. I got it only a few days ago at a great deal so I have not yet had the chance to use it but had the chance to calibrate the focusing and it works really well! Click on image to enlarge.
Canon G3
Main Use: Lunar/planetary photography, limited deep sky photography of brighter DSOs.
Used With: 25mm or 40mm scopetronix plossals.
Status: Still used from time to time mainly with the 5" MCT.
SAC7 CCD Air Cool Imager
Main Use: Deep sky imaging
Used With: IBM 1 Ghz thinkpad laptop running on windows XP
Status: Just got this only days ago and have not had the chance to use this yet. I have tested it with my laptop and 5" MCT and after some trouble getting the long exposure to work, it finally runs well and ready for use. Will be used mainly for deepsky photography.
The above image shows my setup with the SAC7 CCD camera and my laptop. I need to make an adapter so that the SAC7 will fit the T3 Tracker so I can focus more accurately and I can guide long exposure shots. Click on image to enlarge.Canon Digital Rebel XT DSLR
Main Use: Lunar photography and deepsky photography
Used With: At prime focus or with eyepiece projection of 40mm or 25mm plossal.
Status: Just starting to use this camera for deepsky photography. SO far it is less sensitive then the canon G3 but I am able to take much longer exposures with the B setting then the G3 could take.
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
Taurus III Tracker
In this photo above you can see the Taurus II Tracker with my Canon Digital Rebel DSLR mounted mounted to my 5" MCT telescope. The T3 tracker is a great device which serves as an off-axis guider, a flip mirror and a fine focuser. It is a GREAT tool because with the view port, you can find and center the deepsky object as well you can focus the telescope so that the image is accurately focused on the camera. This works very well because the view port and the camera can be made parfocal making focusing and centering VERY simple which is an almost impossible task through the screen of the DSLR. Another port is used for off axis guiding either with an autoguider or a guiding eyepiece. Again the OAG port can be made parfocal to the camera. The whole imaging platform can be rotated so you can find a suitable guidestar while still keeping the DSO object in the center of the frame. This setup also works very well on planetary shots. I got it only a few days ago at a great deal so I have not yet had the chance to use it but had the chance to calibrate the focusing and it works really well! Click on image to enlarge.
posted by nicolas | 6:53 PM
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