Re: [APML] Astrophotography 2004 - Price Shock Horror

["Jeff Crilly" <jlcapml@sbcglobal.net>]

> 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...

(stop there.)  And you can still do that today.

I'm not in this to take the best picture ever.  I'm in it
for my own satisifaction. (and to get a few good shots on
the hallway wall.) A loooong time ago (in this
very galaxy) I considered that astrophotography was
sort of the ultimate in photography.  I'm no expert
photographer, but I appreciate (and try to strive for)
good composition... i.e. as art.

Anyhow, I'm having fun with film.  Its true, you need
good optics.  But I'm having fun with the $100 35mm camera I bought used
(or the hand-me-down).  Even with the widefield stuff.

Its just stunning.

And I'm getting pictures _better_than_ some of the
"pro" pics from the '70s and '80s... probably thanks
to photoshop.

As for the CCD gear... I'm hoping it will drive down
the price of last years gear... i.e. I'm waiting for
$1000 ST-10XE.  (And CCD gear is not the only answer...
you still need technique and patience.)

jeff


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