Re: [APML] Astrophotography 2004 - Price Shock Horror

["Alson Wong" <alsonwong@charter.net>]

Chris,

Although I was partly responsible for what was presented at the RTMC AE, I share some of the same feelings as you do on this subject. Even though I am financially secure (physician's income, single, no debts besides mortgage) I still am amazed at the amount of money that people spend on the latest equipment ($10,000 for a Paramount ME, $50,000 for a 20" R-C, $13,000 for an STL camera). I did spend a lot on an ST-10XME camera two years ago, but I'm still using the same mount (G-11, with Gemini added) and optics (C-9.25 and Vixen 102-ED) that I did when I was shooting film. Granted, I'm not producing the results of Gendler and Hallas, but I'm still pretty satisfied with what I've done so far with what I consider to be moderately priced equipment (other than the CCD camera) purchased over a number of years.

Films have improved a great deal over the past decade or so (lower reciprocity failure, less need for hypering, finer grain), but I think we're approaching the limits of what can be done with film. Steve already mentioned the DSLR, which is becoming more and more affordable, and for which increasingly sophisticated software and techniques are being developed. In a technology-driven hobby such as astrophotography, however, staying on the cutting edge is usually expensive. That's not to say that impressive results can be obtained with more modest equipment, as a lot of people of shown.

Alson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Schur" <comets133@yahoo.com>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 1:35 PM
Subject: [APML] Astrophotography 2004 - Price Shock Horror


> 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 ?
> 
> 
> 
> 
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