Re: [APML] digital cameras for astrophotography

["Joseph O'Neil" <joneil@multiboard.com>]

> > I'm looking at a digital camera to assume the duties of my non-astro
> > photography. I came across the new Nikon Coolpix 5700. It has shutter
> > speeds up to 8 seconds and bulb up to 5 minutes.

-snip-

Hi Chuck;
         I am still very much a  "silver man", most of what I pick up is 
hainging around the local photo shops and listening to what they all 
say.  However, if I were to spend big bucks on a digital, the Nikon Coolpix 
line is the one that gives me the "warm and fuzzy feeling deep down inside."
         The one real problem I have reccomending anything in digital 
cameras is they do litterally change from week to week 9well, it seems that 
way :).

         Two thing syou do however with any digitla camera, in any use:
         1) get a smart card/smart media reader.  personally I do not know 
enough to say if smart media cards are better worse than any other portable 
medium, but I do know attaching your camera directly to computer for 
download a pain in the butt for a few rason, also, the battery drain while 
downloading is tremendous.
         I bought a couple of Sandisk (there are many brands at all the 
same general price)  smart media card readers at $40 Cdn (about $25 US) 
each, one for my laptop, one for my desktop, and they work like a 
dream.  Not only that, you find you can use smart media cards for just 
transfering files from one machine to another real easy,  For the price, 
they are very handy.

         2) Battieries.  Stay away  - if possible - from cameras that use 
some weird, specific, odd sized lithium battery.  Unless you own stock in 
the company that makes that specific battery.  :)   When you set any 
digital camera to high resolution, and even more so if you use the preview 
screen a lot, the amount of battery use on any digital camera is 
awesome.  Any money you think you will save on film goes kaputz on 
batteries.  I have tried even some of the new rechargeables, but like the 
battery on your laptop, after so many uses, they loose potency too.  Maybe 
it is just me, but you know how you get maybe 6 good months out of a laptop 
battery?  I find even good, rechargable AA's, all types,  seem to have an 
even shorter life, depending on useage.  Your milage may vary of course, as 
the saying goes.

         Give you an example on power useage - I had an old Agfa digital 
camera (well, about 4-5 years old), not a good one by any means, (heck, the 
ones they sell with Barbie dolls are probally better now  :)  but the AC 
power supply for that little sucker had a ONE AMP draw when downloading to 
the computer.  One amp!  Shessh!

         My Olympus, which again is no great heck, but still cost me a few 
hundred last year, uses plain old AAs.  Give you another example, I drove 
the family last year 12 day vacation to Florida, and i had two devices that 
used AAs - my digital camera and my Etrex GPS.  Both suck batteries dry 
bad, like a thirsty vampire in a bloodbank.    I went to Wal-Mart at the 
start of the trip and bought one of those 16 pack of alkaline AA bateries 
you see at the photo counter.  By the end of the trip, between the Olympus 
and the Etrex, I used up all of that pack and almost a second 16 battery pack.

         I dunno what the answer is, just be aware of the battery useage, 
and plan ahead for it.  All digital cameras seem to have horrible pwoer 
useage, from the best Nikon coolpix to even those crappy little logitech 
quick cams that are powered through your USB port.   Again, your milage 
will vary, but just be ready for it.

         Finally, having ruined one digital camera this way, be aware that 
unless they say "waterproof" they are very sensitive to wet weather.  I 
don't mean rain, just moisture.  I was out on one of those misty days, not 
really rain, but overcast and wet, enough to slowly get all your clothes 
damp if you are not wearing a good rain jacket.  Anyhow, my Agfa puked 
after that day.  I have used my old film Nikons no problem in that kind of 
weather, but the new digital stuff can be real touchy.    If you spend the 
big bucks on a good digital camera, check/ask how weather or waterproof it 
is, and unless you know 100% for sure, keep it put away in any sort of damp 
weather, at a seaside, or even if you plan to use it on your telescope 
during a night with lots of dew.  Just not worth it.

         Oh yes - one more "finally" - no matter how many smart media cards 
(or equivalent) you have, or how big the capacity is on them, like hard 
drives, there just never seems to be enough room or storage space.  And 
they get lost in the crack of your car seat really  easy too.  :)
joe











http://www.oneilphoto.on.ca
http://www.multiboard.com/~joneil
"Una salus victus nullam sperare salutem"


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