Recommended Lens for K3-II Astrophotography Produced Anything But Stars

Dr_who · 11-02-2019, 09:07 PM - **1 Like**

Your not doing yourself any favours by using a lens with a Mac aperture of 3.5. for long exposures with tracking is fine but I think you would get more out of a rokinon 14 f2.8 or something.

ecostigny · 11-03-2019, 04:10 PM

I never heard of the red intensifier or didymium filters, but I'm intrigued after googling them. Have you tried them, and how well have they worked for you?

SSGGeezer · 11-05-2019, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by ecostigny

I never heard of the red intensifier or didymium filters, but I'm intrigued after googling them. Have you tried them, and how well have they worked for you?

Yes I have two smaller ones, and even though I am in a very dark area, sky-wise, I still have some small cities nearby so yes, I found that they helped even when doing single exposure star images. I need to step up and get a 77mm for my FA* and DA* lenses since winter is the best time for astro here in Maine. But I am working full time so staying up till 2 and 3AM is not as easy. (That and shoveling snow take up my energy!

)

ecostigny · 11-05-2019, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by SSGGeezer

Yes I have two smaller ones, and even though I am in a very dark area, sky-wise, I still have some small cities nearby so yes, I found that they helped even when doing single exposure star images. I need to step up and get a 77mm for my FA* and DA* lenses since winter is the best time for astro here in Maine. But I am working full time so staying up till 2 and 3AM is not as easy. (That and shoveling snow take up my energy!

)

Winter is the best time for astrophotography here in Connecticut as well, but the light pollution is so much worse than it is in Maine. I'm trying to find dark skies that are relatively close to where I live.

SSGGeezer · 11-05-2019, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by ecostigny

Winter is the best time for astrophotography here in Connecticut as well, but the light pollution is so much worse than it is in Maine. I'm trying to find dark skies that are relatively close to where I live.

Here is a useful site for forecasting the quality at your location. Clear Sky Chart Homepage

If you get up to Maine, The Acadia, Mount Desert Area have pretty good night skies even close to Bar Harbor.

ecostigny · 11-06-2019, 05:16 PM

Originally posted by SSGGeezer

Here is a useful site for forecasting the quality at your location. Clear Sky Chart Homepage

If you get up to Maine, The Acadia, Mount Desert Area have pretty good night skies even close to Bar Harbor.

I've been using this one: Light pollution map

PDL · 11-08-2019, 09:59 PM

The 8mm Ultrawide is a fisheye lens. Objects at infinity are extremely small. On my cameras, the lens has a 167degree field of view from corner to corner, even though the box says it is 180 degrees. I am not sure that this lens would be a good one for astrophotography. As for using filters, I do not know of any since my lens has no method of fitting a filer on the lens.

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11-02-2019, 09:07 PM - 1 Like	#16
Dr_who Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 777	Your not doing yourself any favours by using a lens with a Mac aperture of 3.5. for long exposures with tracking is fine but I think you would get more out of a rokinon 14 f2.8 or something.

11-03-2019, 04:10 PM	#17
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	I never heard of the red intensifier or didymium filters, but I'm intrigued after googling them. Have you tried them, and how well have they worked for you?

11-05-2019, 07:12 AM	#18
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Originally posted by ecostigny I never heard of the red intensifier or didymium filters, but I'm intrigued after googling them. Have you tried them, and how well have they worked for you? Yes I have two smaller ones, and even though I am in a very dark area, sky-wise, I still have some small cities nearby so yes, I found that they helped even when doing single exposure star images. I need to step up and get a 77mm for my FA* and DA* lenses since winter is the best time for astro here in Maine. But I am working full time so staying up till 2 and 3AM is not as easy. (That and shoveling snow take up my energy! )

11-05-2019, 02:57 PM	#19
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	Originally posted by SSGGeezer Yes I have two smaller ones, and even though I am in a very dark area, sky-wise, I still have some small cities nearby so yes, I found that they helped even when doing single exposure star images. I need to step up and get a 77mm for my FA* and DA* lenses since winter is the best time for astro here in Maine. But I am working full time so staying up till 2 and 3AM is not as easy. (That and shoveling snow take up my energy! ) Winter is the best time for astrophotography here in Connecticut as well, but the light pollution is so much worse than it is in Maine. I'm trying to find dark skies that are relatively close to where I live.

11-05-2019, 03:43 PM	#20
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Originally posted by ecostigny Winter is the best time for astrophotography here in Connecticut as well, but the light pollution is so much worse than it is in Maine. I'm trying to find dark skies that are relatively close to where I live. Here is a useful site for forecasting the quality at your location. Clear Sky Chart Homepage If you get up to Maine, The Acadia, Mount Desert Area have pretty good night skies even close to Bar Harbor.

11-06-2019, 05:16 PM	#21
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	Originally posted by SSGGeezer Here is a useful site for forecasting the quality at your location. Clear Sky Chart Homepage If you get up to Maine, The Acadia, Mount Desert Area have pretty good night skies even close to Bar Harbor. I've been using this one: Light pollution map

11-08-2019, 09:59 PM	#22
PDL Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: PNW USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,127	The 8mm Ultrawide is a fisheye lens. Objects at infinity are extremely small. On my cameras, the lens has a 167degree field of view from corner to corner, even though the box says it is 180 degrees. I am not sure that this lens would be a good one for astrophotography. As for using filters, I do not know of any since my lens has no method of fitting a filer on the lens.