SV: [APML]: AstroPhoto Newbie

["Olle Eriksson" <olle.eriksson@norrkoping.mail.telia.com>]

Hi

Since I don't know how much *you* know about astrophotography it's a bit
diffiuclt to answer your question. I am personally not the right person to
give you advice on which gear to you. I assume you haven't done much or any
astrophotographing.

Start by taking some simple pictures of the constellation with your SLR
camera on that sturdy tripod. It's not as easy as it might sound. Try using
different kinds of lenses from wide angle to about 100 mm. If you then want
to continue to photograph galaxies or nebulas and such you need a telescope
or a longer telephoto lens and some kind of tracking device. A motor driven
telescope can do it for you and also give the oppurtunity to attach the
camera to the outside of the tube and photograph with the telephoto lens
'piggyback'.

To start with unless you have already done this and want to do more advanced
photographing is to just use the tripod and do up to a minute exposures. I
too, was at a point where I had to decide what to do, just like you, half a
year ago. I went with the fixed tripod photos and now I am into building my
own clock drive which will track the camera and it's wide angle lenses for
me.

Just some oppinions to anyone interested.

Olle Eriksson
http://hem1.passagen.se/astrosci/


>I am new to the astrophotography scene.  I am wondering what kind of gear
is
>preferred for ease of use and quality?
>
>I have a 35mm SLR and a very sturdy Bogen tripod....do I also need a small
>telescope or would a long photo lens suffice?  If telescope, how is the
>Meade ETX?  The ads place it very well....how bout the people?
>
>nhluhr