In a message dated 6/2/04 3:37:07 PM, comets133@yahoo.com writes:
Hi all,
The all too depressing financial reality set in for me
this weekend at the RTMC from the current trends I am
seeing in the amateur skyshooters options. A decade
ago, you could take a home made mounting, a less than
a hundred dollar 35m SLR, and a 3 buk roll of film and
with a lot of care and patience, get stunning images
that could rank up there with the best
astrophotograhers, and get those images published in
the magazines.
Now all of that has changed. Exept for mine, all of
the talks this year were centered on digital or CCD
imageing. Must-have gear includes the $4000 to $8000
ccd cameras, a new $12K mount because that mount that
worked so well with film isnt good enough anymore, and
of course a complete digital darkroom wtih the
software alone costing more than the 35mm SLR was.
Dont get me wrong, I do like to see the hobby
advancing, but to now the playing field is no longer
level - highly skilled astrophotographers can no
longer compete on the world playing field without
being very well to do financially as well. This was
painfully apparent when most of the old time friends,
which were the best of the best film photographers
only what seems a short while ago simply can no longer
afford a fraction of the gear needed to show off thier
SKILLS.
The trend that seems to be geling is that most imagers
of today must be both competent in both making money
as well as have the rudiments of sky shooting skills.
I love change, but is this really fair?
Any comments ?
Chris:
You didn't sign your post???
I agree, however amateur astronomy and astrophotography has always been a rather expensive avocation. My other pastime has been fly fishing and even though graphite and boron or bamboo fly rods and machined reels cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, the cost of an AP mount or refractor or even a G-11 or C8 will by a hell-of-a-lot of flies. I don't play golf but it's equipment is pricey not to mention the recurring green fees.
Kent Kirkley
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