Re: [APML] Skill [was: Foveon Chip]

[Jeffmight@aol.com]

It's funny the "haves" set-up is $13,000 and the "have nots" set up is $6000. 
Some of us work on a much lower budget (The "less than have nots"?) 
As far as money goes you can just set up a camera on the hood of your car and 
take a star trail astrophoto or even just pull out the leader and point the 
film up to the sky at night. As far as to how cheap you can go - there is no 
limit, (Berry juice painted on cave walls to represent star patterns is quite 
inexpensive.) 
If you want to impress non-astronomers, a tripod and barn door mount will 
work fine. 
If you want to impress astronomers an equatorial mount will be needed
If you want to impress astrophotographers, you will need $$$ and you will 
never be finished upgrading and improving your equipment and technique. And 
anyone with alot of money, average intelligence, better than average 
motivation and infinite patience will eventually be able to repeat any photos 
you have taken. 
       Even though I (again) come off as cynical I have the utmost respect 
for anyone at any level of astrophotography. Instead of being parked at a 
barstool or attached to a TV remote, they are outside trying to gather the 
light of the universe onto a tiny bit of film or CCD chip in order to show it 
to others. Fighting about who's best is just the general competitive side of 
us all showing through. 
                         Jeff

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