[LeFanch]

a Specific Mount is an EQuatorial Mount, you cant get it together with the Scope (Reflector or Refractor) or separately then 3 ways mounting your camera : - Camera mounted to the Scope with a T2 Adapter = Prime Focus - Camera with a Lens, attached to the Scope = Piggyback - Camera with a Lens, attached to the Mount with a Special Plate

Thanks for the info geo444!

[ThorThum]

This was taken with the K5 and Vivatar Komine 28mm @ 2.0 stacked in PS





For more info on this image and the back story see my blog: WELCOME TO AGASSIZ IMAGING BLOG: Oak Creek Spire

I wasn't overly impressed with the noise on some high ISO test shots, but still have to experiment some more. What I loved about the K5 was the lack of amp glow found on longer exposures compared to the K200D below (Seen on the upper left.)

[Skymist]

This was taken with the K5 and Vivatar Komine 28mm @ 2.0 stacked in PS

Excellent rendering of star color on that one!
Lack of clear skies at my location is frustrating, but at least I can enjoy pictures like this.

[KansasHorizons.com]

I think it does excellent even in single captures like on the Zodiacal light.



F/4, ISO 3200, 65 seconds.

[Col]

I think it does excellent even in single captures like on the Zodiacal light.

What a beauty. Having had to describe Zodiacal light in words only I'm envious of your example.

Here's a very interesting announcement of a new Pentax device.

Digital Cameras and Accessories - Official PENTAX Imaging Web Site

[Nass]

Clever little accessory, if the "astrotracer" aspect is as good as described, it'd seem to be most perfect for "Milky Way" type shots in the middle of nowhere. Tilting the sensor - clever.

Also, quite a remarkable turnaround - the K-7 was prettymuch hopeless for astro with its built in noise reduction above 30s, whereas the K-5 not only eliminates this but also adds superb high ISO performance AND now this astrophotography accessory.

[TOUGEFC]

Yeah the K-5 coupled with this new astrotracer is surely going to atract the astro photographers.

[fisheye freak]

Looks like the astrotracer could compensate for minor errors with my tracking for those milky way widefields. Will be interesting to see how it goes for compensating for through the telescope shots. Mind you, it could not possibly match some of the rigs members of my astronomy group have- guide cameras attached to their own telescopes to track guide stars, cooled specialist CCD cameras (top of the line SBIG is around US 11,000) ,massive motorized mounts,meticulous pointing to the celestial pole, dew heaters for the optics, main optics with apertures 12 inch (300mm) or more and buckets of post processing and image stacking. Alas, I do not have the perseverence or time for full -on astrophotography.

[KansasHorizons.com]

Astrotracer for astrophotography
The O-GPS1offers the advanced PENTAX original Astrotracer function,* which works with the PENTAX Shake Reduction (SR) system on select cameras for tracking and photographing celestial bodies. The unit calculates the movement of stars, planets, and other bodies using the latitude obtained from GPS data and the camera’s alignment data (horizontal and vertical inclinations and aspect) obtained from its magnetic and acceleration sensors. Then, the unit shifts the camera’s image sensor in synchronization with the movement of the object(s).** As a result, stars and other bodies are captured as solid points rather than blurry streaks, even during extended exposures. The unit also simplifies astrophotography by requiring only a tripod and eliminating the need for additional accessories such as an equatorial telescope.
* This function is available only when the O-GPS1 is mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body equipped with a magnet-driven SR system.
** The duration of Astrotracer operation may vary depending on photographic conditions.

How far could it possibly shift? 2 minutes worth on the South views?

[Dr_who]

How far could it possibly shift? 2 minutes worth on the South views?

Guess it depends where the camera is also pointing. If directly at the north star the sensor would have to rotate more then shift over in a particular direction. It would be nice to see some reviewers post some images or pentax release some sample pictures with some camera settings so we can get at least some sort of idea.

[KansasHorizons.com]

Guess it depends where the camera is also pointing. If directly at the north star the sensor would have to rotate more then shift over in a particular direction. It would be nice to see some reviewers post some images or pentax release some sample pictures with some camera settings so we can get at least some sort of idea.

I did locate this:

the "ASTROTRACER" function allows the ability to shoot long-exposure images that are automatically corrected to render stars and planets as sharp points, rather than moving trails. The duration that can be corrected for depends on the camera body, lens / focal length, and declination for any given shot. Shooting with a 200mm lens at 0° declination, the K-r can correct for an 80 second exposure, while the K-5 allows a 110 second correction. At higher declinations, shorter focal lengths, or both, this can increase to as long as a 300 second correction for either camera.

[dmort]

I had started another thread, but I guess this is really the right place for this question...

If you want to get into astrophotography and you want to avoid star trails, you need some sort of computerized mount correct? People have recommended building a barn door setup but frankly I don't want to make anything... Call me lazy!

I was looking at the celestron LCM computerized mount:

LCM Computerized Mount (item #91206) / Mounts / Products / Celestron.com

Could I attach a camera to this, tell the computer to track a certain star, and have the mount follow the star throughout the exposure? Initially, I'm only looking to take wide angle photos of the milky way and the like. (well not the like, not other galaxies, but other wide angle photographs of groups of stars...) Is there a camera adapter or something?

And if there isn't a camera adapter, can someone recommend a reasonably priced computerized mount that can do what I want? I know that the GPS unit can do it, but the gps unit isn't out yet.

[pixelsaurus]

Unless you set this up as an equatorial mount, (with all its' fiddling and correct orientation north/south), you will have a problem with field rotation. You can solve the latter by a) using a field rotator ( to keep the camera correctly orientated to the sky) or b) short exposures which can then be stacked in software. These types of mounts are designed primarily for visual instruments and require little knowledge of celestial mechanics from the user. If you want to get serious about astro, it might be better to get a mount designed to do the job. Then there is the learning curve. Barn door mount, even the simple Haig mount, is a good start. If you don't want to make one, there are commercial units available.

[Gimbal]

I had started another thread, but I guess this is really the right place for this question...

If you want to get into astrophotography and you want to avoid star trails, you need some sort of computerized mount correct? People have recommended building a barn door setup but frankly I don't want to make anything... Call me lazy!

Or wait a month and see how well/bad the new O-GPS1 and a normal tripod works.

[KansasHorizons.com]

I have heard those are junk. Give this a thought. Astrotrac I have heard lots of good things about this one.

I had started another thread, but I guess this is really the right place for this question...

If you want to get into astrophotography and you want to avoid star trails, you need some sort of computerized mount correct? People have recommended building a barn door setup but frankly I don't want to make anything... Call me lazy!

I was looking at the celestron LCM computerized mount:

LCM Computerized Mount (item #91206) / Mounts / Products / Celestron.com

Could I attach a camera to this, tell the computer to track a certain star, and have the mount follow the star throughout the exposure? Initially, I'm only looking to take wide angle photos of the milky way and the like. (well not the like, not other galaxies, but other wide angle photographs of groups of stars...) Is there a camera adapter or something?

And if there isn't a camera adapter, can someone recommend a reasonably priced computerized mount that can do what I want? I know that the GPS unit can do it, but the gps unit isn't out yet.

Or wait a month and see how well/bad the new O-GPS1 and a normal tripod works.

That's where I am at.

Also: