DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

[wornish]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

See also my notes about Roger N Clark's website http://www.clarkvision.com/ on the Communal Night Sky Photos thread.

He certainly gives good advice, I found his site a few years ago. The fact that he is a Canon man should not be held against him. His points work for all cameras.

[birdboy]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

John I did actually get a webcam thrown in with the additional bits and pieces when I got my telescope. The guy said he got it and had it modified (not sure what for?) but never got to use it. I've never tried it out as it wasn't obvious as to how it fitted. From what you say I ought to look to see if there are any clues in the paperwork he gave me.

You normally just take out the eyepiece and the webcam should have a 1.25" nose to fit in place of the eyepiece. The problem is the back focus of the web cam as sometimes you will need an extension piece to the 1.25" nose to get the thing to focus. Which web cam is it photo might help.

[Phill D]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Sorry John didn't notice your reply till now. I'll dig out the gear a bit later and have a look at it.

[birdboy]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Here is a great short video on YouTube that shows you a good way to do planetary imaging with a DSLR. It only works if you have a scope though. This is how the best pictures are achieved.

Thanks for this Dave never thought of using my telescope and eyepieces with my OMD I have the adapter. Have you tried this and do you know a good eyepiece projector?

[wornish]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Thanks for this Dave never thought of using my telescope and eyepieces with my OMD I have the adapter. Have you tried this and do you know a good eyepiece projector?

I don't have an eyepiece projection adapter so I have never tried it. Looks like you get a much bigger image that way so worth a go, have to see whats available.

[wornish]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Just been rummaging in my bits and pieces cupboard.

My 1.25" extension tube (80mm long ) has a T-Thread around the socket end where I attach my T2 to M4/3 adapter so I can then mount my EM1.

I never thought of fitting my 10mm 1.25" eyepiece in the extension tube first as the video shows. Just tried it and all fits, also checked if I could get focus and it looks possible so I will be giving it a go next clear night. My scope 550mm focal length so that should give me 55X magnification !

The extension tube I got from First Light Optics when I got my first scope

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/flo-80mm-125-focus-extension-tube.html

and the Micro Four Thirds to T2 adapter I have is this one.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/t-rings.html

[birdboy]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

I have some adapters but my rummaging did not find any useful combinations. I have the extension pieces but the eye piece extends outside and the T2 to FT adapter I have is fixed to the 1.25" nose piece. Let us know yours works.

Not sure if you know that in movie mode on the OMD's you can get another x2 if you enable movie effect and use the digital teleconverter. It crops the video so you waste less pixels on small objects.

[wornish]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Failed attempt last night. Clouds insisted on getting in the way. Will try again on next available clear night.


I don't use the movie mode very often. I got the x2 dig teleconverter working, not sure what you mean by enable movie effect though?

[Phill D]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Well looking through my bits and pieces it looks like I have an HP webcam HD4110 that has already been modified to fit the telescope. Looks like it just replaces the eyepiece. Just need to work out how to run it now. Seems like more Google research from some of the youtube videos though it seems like it should be worth persevering with.

[wornish]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Well looking through my bits and pieces it looks like I have an HP webcam HD4110 that has already been modified to fit the telescope. Looks like it just replaces the eyepiece. Just need to work out how to run it now. Seems like more Google research from some of the youtube videos though it seems like it should be worth persevering with.

That should be ideal, give it a go. There are lots of free apps that you can use to capture images with it. I would recommend one called Sharpcap which supports a whole range of different cameras but there is a big choice.

[Phill D]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Brilliant thanks Dave.

[Phill D]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Well gave it all a go last night but all in all it was a catalogue of disaster and I ended up with nothing except a lot more understanding, still not enough though.
First it seemed to be turning out to be a great clear night Jupiter looked bright even before the sky darkened. So that was to be my first target. Tried connecting the camera to the PC but it took ages for me to actually get it all to work. seems it only registers if I have it all plugged in when I start up the PC...? can't unplug and replug it. Good news is that Sharpcap seems great, managed an image of the dust on the camera sensor (and there seems to be quite a lot!) but not much more though. So on to Jupiter! well by now it had dropped a bit close to the neighboring houses and try as I might I couldn't get the scope plus camera to line up with it...just too short a usb lead was the main problem. So gave up and took the scope outside to just have a look but by that time Jupiter had decided to hide behind the house roof and neighboring trees! So then had a go at Saturn as that I could see with the scope in the range of my usb lead but just couldn't see anything. In the end it turned out that in the dark I must have turned the sight set up knobs by mistake and the scope calibration was way off. Only worked this out this morning doh! No moon last night so didn't have anything I could set it up on easily. Having failed with Saturn too I thought I'd go for Mars but Mars was so low it was behind the trees at the bottom of our garden. I could see it through the branches occasionally but no chance of getting it with the telescope! so in the end the wine glasses came out and a bottle of Red started to improve my mood Tale of woe definitely but on a positive note I did see a satellite zoom past at one point as I was staring at random stars. That was before I opened the wine
Maybe I'll find some patience to try again tonight now I've reset the scope calibration on some distant trees, if it's clear of course.

[wornish]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Well gave it all a go last night but all in all it was a catalogue of disaster and I ended up with nothing except a lot more understanding, still not enough though.
......................

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I could see it through the branches occasionally but no chance of getting it with the telescope! so in the end the wine glasses came out and a bottle of Red started to improve my mood Tale of woe definitely but on a positive note I did see a satellite zoom past at one point as I was staring at random stars. That was before I opened the wine
Maybe I'll find some patience to try again tonight now I've reset the scope calibration on some distant trees if it's clear of course.

Welcome to astro photography. You do need patience. I had a very similar experience on Thursday night. After 2 1/2 hours went to bed with nothing.
Tonights weather forecast is not looking good.
As the pros say Clear Skies and keep trying.

[MJ224]

[Phill D]

Re: DSLR & telephoto lens Imaging Planets how realistic?

Yes looks like rain here tonight too. It will give me time to fiddle with set up stuff for a few days at least.