Never used a rotating mount and I want to get a nice image of a Nebula
Nov 19, 2021 12:03:44 #
I'd like to get a nice image of a nebula. From what I've been reading, I'll need a Equatorial Mount but I don't know much more than that.
Here's the equipment that I currently own:
Nikon D600 with a 590nm filter conversion
Nikon D750
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 85mm f/1.4
Nikon 105mm f/2.8
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Irix 15mm f/2.4
One nice tripod and two crappy ones
Pluto Trigger
I have enjoy doing star trails and I wanted another way to use my equipment in the night.
What else should I buy?
Here's the equipment that I currently own:
Nikon D600 with a 590nm filter conversion
Nikon D750
Nikon 50mm f/1.8
Nikon 85mm f/1.4
Nikon 105mm f/2.8
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Irix 15mm f/2.4
One nice tripod and two crappy ones
Pluto Trigger
I have enjoy doing star trails and I wanted another way to use my equipment in the night.
What else should I buy?
Nov 19, 2021 16:03:58 #
I bought a Sky watcher Star adventurer 2i pro pack for around $400.00. Probably from B&H or Adorama.
It’s pretty easy to use and near as I can tell it does a good job. I took a thirty second exposure at 135mm and there was no trailing I could see. So far I’ve just shot wide angle with it but I just got a Soligar 200mm f 2.8 to play with when the opportunity presents itself.
Pete Zelinka has some youtube videos you might want to ck out.
I hope to try some nebula myself. I think PP and stacking get to be pretty important with this genre unfortunately a weak point for me.
Good luck, hope to see you post some.
It’s pretty easy to use and near as I can tell it does a good job. I took a thirty second exposure at 135mm and there was no trailing I could see. So far I’ve just shot wide angle with it but I just got a Soligar 200mm f 2.8 to play with when the opportunity presents itself.
Pete Zelinka has some youtube videos you might want to ck out.
I hope to try some nebula myself. I think PP and stacking get to be pretty important with this genre unfortunately a weak point for me.
Good luck, hope to see you post some.
Nov 19, 2021 16:36:28 #
Ballard
Loc: Grass Valley, California
Curve_in wrote:
I'd like to get a nice image of a nebula. From wh... (show quote)
Hi Curve_in
To get started with nebula shots, you could add a star tracker that attaches to your tripod.
I have the Sky-Watcher kit that works well and I use it when I'm on vacation.
The last time I used it was for the lunar eclipse last May. (For example see
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-698740-1.html
Here is a link to OPT's page that has some.
https://optcorp.com/collections/star-trackers
With one of these you could could track the stars for a minute or two at 200mm or less with good polar alignment.
(or shorter exposures with a longer focal length).
You would then want to take multiple images and learn how to stack them. DeepSkyStacker is freeware that is easy to use which is a good place to start. These trackers are useful for lunar eclipse shots and for the milky way also.
Check out this youtube link on star trackers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq4cohjBT-E
Nov 20, 2021 13:06:50 #
Curve_in wrote:
I'd like to get a nice image of a nebula. From wh... (show quote)
The Sky Watcher Star adventurer 2i Pro Pack is a good place to start. If this mount is well polar aligned, it is capable of tracking the Sun, Moon and Stars for several minutes. I added a Benro 3D tripod head to mine for better fine adjustment. I used mine last night to shoot the Lunar Eclipse with a Sony A7 III and Sony FE 200-600mm lens @ 600mm, per: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-719357-1.html. It kept the Moon centered for over three hours.
The Nikon D750 is a great low light camera. It and your 85 and 105mm lenses are a good place to start. I'd suggest the North America nebula in the Milky Way as a reasonable first target.
Clear skies!
bwa
Nov 20, 2021 13:36:58 #
If you get the sky watcher, get a cell phone mount and attached to a tripod plate which will fit into the wedge. You can then align the mount to true north using many apps during the day time. I use the same for eclipses with good success. Lens needed depends on size of nebula you want to photograph.
Nov 20, 2021 21:05:29 #
BigDale
Loc: Seymour CT.
Curve_in wrote:
I'd like to get a nice image of a nebula. From wh... (show quote)
If you like to tinker (build things) you can look into making a barn door. There are a lot of different designs on the internet.
This is my version. They are well suited to Milky Way shots but with care I have used mine with my Sigma 150 600 generally at about 200 mm. I use a green lazier point laid along the end of the upper board and the hinders for polar alignment.
Nov 22, 2021 14:48:53 #
BigDale wrote:
If you like to tinker (build things) you can look into making a barn door. There are a lot of different designs on the internet.
Thanks Dale,
I did read up on the barn door. As mush as I like to tinker, I don't think I'll be happy to sit and turn the crank for two hours!
Nov 22, 2021 15:40:50 #
JBRIII wrote:
If you get the sky watcher, get a cell phone mount and attached to a tripod plate which will fit into the wedge. You can then align the mount to true north using many apps during the day time. I use the same for eclipses with good success. Lens needed depends on size of nebula you want to photograph.
I already have the app on my phone. Since I'd like to have a big picture of a small nebula, I may end up getting a Nikkor ED 300mm F/4 IF for a bit over $200.
Nov 22, 2021 15:43:00 #
bwana wrote:
The Sky Watcher Star adventurer 2i Pro Pack is a good place to start...... I added a Benro 3D tripod head to mine for better fine adjustment. I used mine last night to shoot the Lunar Eclipse with a Sony A7 III and Sony FE 200-600mm lens @ 600mm, per: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-719357-1.html. It kept the Moon centered for over three hours.
bwa
bwa
That's a excellent image!
Nov 22, 2021 15:48:28 #
Curve_in wrote:
I already have the app on my phone. Since I'd like to have a big picture of a small nebula, I may end up getting a Nikkor ED 300mm F/4 IF for a bit over $200.
You might also consider the Andromeda Galaxy; fits nicely in a 200mm field-of-view and is a fairly bright target.
bwa
Nov 22, 2021 16:00:44 #
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