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Set ups
contrailsUK - 2007-02-23, 17:25 Hi, Not sure if this topic has already been created, but I thought it would be a good idea to show each other our set ups and how we are taking our photos. This way we can help each other solve problems that occur when taking photos. I am having trouble finding a good way of attaching my camera to my telescope, so I wondered if anyone could help? here is my setup: Canon 350D (setting 'M' on 400 or 500) T-ring Telescope eyepiece Canon 350D: http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n58/ ... 0184-1.jpg Celestron Starhopper Telescope: http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n58/ ... 010185.jpg" Attatching the camera to telescope: http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n58/ ... 010186.jpg Camera attatched to eyepiece of telescope: http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n58/ ... 010187.jpg I am having trouble with keeping the camera still as I have to hold the camera over the eyepiece, also it is hard to keep the camera clean inside, because it is exposed to the air so dust is getting in the sensor and mirrors. grztus - 2007-02-25, 18:46 Hi ContrailsUK great idea about this topic! I don't have any photo of my equipment now, but I'm using it in a little different way: Synta -> T2/EOS (with 2"->1,25" reduction) -> Eos 350d. Like you see, I'm not using an exepiece, so I don't have any problems with handling my camera during taking a pictures. Of course I have the same problem as you with the dust. I'll try to add some photos next week. contrailsUK - 2007-03-01, 22:37 Hi, Interesting set up grztus. I have tried using the telescope without an eyepiece, but I cant focus the scope on contrailing aircraft. I can only focus on things which are no more than 100m away. It seems strange as our telescopes are very similar. My knowledge of photography with telescopes isnt very good so I have a few more questions to ask: Are you taking pics through any lens or eyepiece at all? You say you use a reducer, is this helping you focus on the aircraft? BTW, your emirates 777 pic is very good, congratulations on getting the peoples choice award on jetphotos!!! grztus - 2007-03-02, 01:18 I cannot take a photo, so I've tried to draw it - blue - focuser -red - 2"=>1.25" reducer - green - T2/EOS reduction I've tried to keep some proportions: the focuser is pull out at about 5 milimeters (and it's very similar type to yours), 2"=>1.25" is a reduction from the Synta's kit (it has maybe 2 mm) and the T2/EOS is about 2mm thin. http://images22.fotosik.pl/14/bfa2325854451176.gif My friend have the Celestron 114 scope (900mm/114mm) with 1"25 focuser and he couldn't focus infinity with Nikon so he have cutted few milimeters of his focuser and it's working now I'm not using any exepiece or lens to focus my Synta on airplanes. 2"=>1.25" don't help me to focus, it don't have any influence on my photos. I can't find any photo of T2/Eos reduction, but it's very similar to M42/Eos like this one: http://www.astrokrak.pl/sklep/images/fu ... 42_eos.jpg The difference is only inside: thread of T2/Eos has about 37mm (1.25") and M42/Eos has 42mm. By this thread you connect the camera and 2"=>1.25" reduction (which is connected to Synta scope). contrailsUK - 2007-03-02, 08:51 aaaaaaaah now I see! I thing my t-ring is too big, so the camera isnt close enough to the focuser of the telescope. Ive just had a go with taking a pic, it seems to work now Its going to be hard to get used to the image being the right way up after so long of looking at upside down planes grztus - 2007-04-25, 13:54 Last few days I have received an e-mail from our Belgium friend. Becouse I cannot send him a reply message (the server is returning some problem with his e-mail adress) I will give my answer here, hope that Stef sometimes are visiting our forum: Here is the message from Stef: Cytat: Hi, I'm Stef from Belgium and am taking for quite some years contrail pictures. Recently, switched to a 8" Skywatcher and am experimenting with a short barlow 2x lens of TAL which goes straight into the tube without eyepiece. Seems when using the barlow, I get always a brighter spot in the middle of my picture, this due to the spider vain (to hold the secondary mirror). I wonder if you encounter the same problem when using your barlow, so pls check the picture in attach: any feedback welcome. Regards, Stef contrailsUK - 2007-04-25, 15:47 Yes, Stef is on www.luchtzak.be I have informed him of this forum grztus - 2007-04-25, 17:27 Thank you, I was wondering if you know him. If you have any contact with, please let him know about my answer. contrailsUK - 2007-04-25, 18:01 I have sent your reply to him on the luchtzak.be forums. contrailsUK - 2007-04-29, 18:46 Hi, Grztus, I have noticed you have taken pictures of the sun, and therefore have a solar filter. I just wanted to know what kind of filter you are using as I am thinking of getting one. Also, Stef says thanks very much!! grztus - 2007-05-03, 00:41 For this kind of spotting I'm using a solar foil http://deltaoptical.pl/deltasklep/shopp ... 00&lang=en. I have bought it with telescope. I was thinking of getting also some special solar filter to it (H-alpha or Solar Continuum), but they are a little expensive for me, so I'm using only this Baaders foil. Of course you need to get as many foil, as your telescope diameter, becouse you must mount it behind the telescope tube (not in the focuser ). On Monday I have seen the ISS station with Sun in background, I was ready for this with my camera, but the transit was really short and I was late with shutter button... When you will have your foil, check http://www.calsky.com/ Of course you will need to synchronize your clock, I'm using http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/what1.html contrailsUK - 2007-05-03, 06:00 Hi, I have gone for the cheap option and chosen baader planetarium astrosolar film (comes in A4 size), which is sort of like yours, except you have to build the filter yourself. I too was thinking of getting a h-alpha filter, but I also need to save up. contrailsUK - 2007-05-15, 16:35 Hello, My solar filter has arrived and is up and running. I have managed to have a look at the sun and took a picture: http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n58/ ... _5379o.jpg I have also edited the photo to give it a more sun like effect. Maybe not as interesting as it would be with H-alpha, but its great to see the sunspots grztus - 2007-05-15, 16:59 Nice photo, better than mine. I have a problem with waveing of warm air and the image isn't sharp. contrailsUK - 2007-05-16, 20:14 Thanks, Im not an expert on viewing the sun but your waves may be because of various reasons. My guess is that your telescope is on a roof, or balcony and heatwaves are rising off this. My telescope is on a Balcony, however the sun at that time of day wasnt very powerful and the balcony floor wasnt very hot. Perhaps when you took your photo the sun was more powerful creating a large amount of heatwaves to pass in front of your field of view. Maybe you coluld try taking your telescope in the garden? Anyway I hope this helps Masterploxis - 2008-08-26, 18:24 Hello All, i am quite new to contrail spotting. The first pics i saw have been from conrtrailsuk on flickr. After i saw his pics i was amazed. Now i have a Maksutov 127 / 1540 telescope with a Nikon D80 mounted via T Ring. The best pic i was able to take was this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/masterploxis/817432945/ The pic was taken in würzburg (there is a VOW nearby and busy airways, Frankfurt Apt is also 1h away). Now i tried many times again but the main problem i have is the focussing. When the cam is attached to the Mak (direct without lens of course) i can get an image through the cameras viewfinder which is quite sharp and focused. After taking the picture the final result is not sharp and kind of blurry. How do you keep the fast moving plane in the small field of view and how do get the perfect focus ??? I have big problems moving the telescope to keep the plane in the field of view and just try to shoot as many photos while slowly turning the focus wheel on the telescope hoping that one pic is ok with sharp details and plane in middle of fov. But as i said, the results are poor. Greetings from germany Andy grztus - 2008-08-26, 22:40 Hello Andy, nice to meet you We have here some friends (like Maciejh76, panmichu), who are taking pictures with Maksutov scopes and DSLr body (you can try to write them private message). Mak 127 is unfortunatelly quite dark scope, so you need to use ISO 400 or higher in the middle of the day. There is also small problem with air inside the scope, try to use it in shadow (behind the tree, house etc...), when the scope is colder, the pictures are usually quite better. One more thing, are you taking pictures from the house (for example from the window)? If yes, this is your biggest problem, warm air from the walls is the killer of images. Try to get photos from the ground (park, street etc.) If you don't have remote cord for your Nikon, get some money and buy it (about 25-30 Euro for MC-DC1 cord). In my opinion it is very useful for contrail spotting via telescope. By the way, on the picture you have A340 (I'm not shure if it is A346) not B747 You can see the differences in the distance between engines and fuselage at those pictures: A346 vs B747 |