[VisualDarkness]

One of my first shots with the O-GPS1 and I tried 180s and I'm impressed. Taken from a tall bird observation tower so we hade to be really still while we shot to not induce shake. You can see the uneven speed the different parts of the sky dance around at.

Pentax K-5
Pentax DA 14mm F2.8
Pentax O-GPS1 Astrotracer

[Tsuken]

One of my first shots with the O-GPS1 and I tried 180s and I'm impressed. Taken from a tall bird observation tower so we hade to be really still while we shot to not induce shake. You can see the uneven speed the different parts of the sky dance around at.



Pentax K-5

Pentax DA 14mm F2.8

Pentax O-GPS1 Astrotracer

I still find it amazing what that little thing can do.

[VisualDarkness]

I still find it amazing what that little thing can do.

Yeah, I first thought something was wrong when it told me that the max possible time for the setup was 5min! Apparently it was correct.

[Tsuken]

Yeah, I first thought something was wrong when it told me that the max possible time for the setup was 5min! Apparently it was correct.

Wow - five minutes? That's with the 14mm, I presume; it must alter that based on focal length.

I've done two minutes with my 135mm with no problem. Calibration is key though; I've also done one minute and been full of trails. ;-)

[smigol]

Two nights at my nearby dark sky site Montebello Open Space Preserve earlier last week yielded some useful frames to make a small stack. The sky at this location is pretty dark depending on the cloud layer that can block out the city lights. Not the best night I've seen, but much better than at home.

Total of 15 subexposures for 5 hours of integration. Pentax K10D modified and cooled using Stellarvue SV4 scope.




Annotated shows the areas of interest and some background galaxies:

[pesterle]

A couple more that I took back in March. Still working on the processing part of this stuff. :-/ I could probably stand to bring up the exposure on the summer triangle image, as it's a bit darker than the other.

Both at f/3.5, 120", 18mm, ISO800. Shot with a Pentax K-3, Sigma 18-250 lens, and the Astrotracer function.



signs of summer
by fingolfinPhoto, on Flickr


the northern milky way
by fingolfinPhoto, on Flickr

[MJSfoto1956]

I did this simple test: put a manual lens on my K-3 and told the camera respectively that it was a 50mm, 100mm, 200mm, and 400mm focal lengths. For each of the four focal lengths, I rotated the camera on the tripod aimed at the horizon to point to North, East, South, and West directions. I also repeated these four tests with the camera angled at 45 degrees. For each, I recorded the "Maximum Time" calculated by Astrotracer. What I found is that a 50mm lens (or less) it didn't matter where I pointed the camera: it always said "5 minutes". For the 400mm focal length the times dropped everywhere except pointing directly north at 45 degrees angle (note that I am located at 42 degrees North latitude), where it still recommended 5 minutes max! The lesson is that it is a combination of position in the sky AND focal length that ultimately determines what the max time is.

Michael

[Gimbal]

The lesson is that it is a combination of position in the sky AND focal length that ultimately determines what the max time is.

Good work. (one could also read the manual... )

[Tsuken]

I did this simple test: put a manual lens on my K-3 and told the camera respectively that it was a 50mm, 100mm, 200mm, and 400mm focal lengths. For each of the four focal lengths, I rotated the camera on the tripod aimed at the horizon to point to North, East, South, and West directions. I also repeated these four tests with the camera angled at 45 degrees. For each, I recorded the "Maximum Time" calculated by Astrotracer. What I found is that a 50mm lens (or less) it didn't matter where I pointed the camera: it always said "5 minutes". For the 400mm focal length the times dropped everywhere except pointing directly north at 45 degrees angle (note that I am located at 42 degrees North latitude), where it still recommended 5 minutes max! The lesson is that it is a combination of position in the sky AND focal length that ultimately determines what the max time is.

Michael

Good stuff. Nice and systematic

[Tsuken]

Last night was my first time with all three bits of kit I got originally with the goal of better Milky Way photos than I was getting with my Lumix G10. So, K-30, Sigma 30mm, and Astrotracer O-GPS1. (Also posted in the single in challenge yesterday):


Milky Way, Crux, and Coalsack by -Occasionally Focused-

[pixelsaurus]

Last night was my first time with all three bits of kit I got originally with the goal of better Milky Way photos than I was getting with my Lumix G10. So, K-30, Sigma 30mm, and Astrotracer O-GPS1. (Also posted in the single in challenge yesterday):


Milky Way, Crux, and Coalsack by -Occasionally Focused-

Nice one. Where are you?

[VisualDarkness]

I envy your skills

[steve1307]

Nice one. Where are you?

Yes, very nice

Up in the fresh clear air and away form the city lights(and pollution) of Sydney - I guess.

[Stone G.]

Last night was my first time with all three bits of kit I got originally with the goal of better Milky Way photos....

Now, that's something of a start then. Congratulations!

[Tsuken]

Thanks guys

Yes, very nice



Up in the fresh clear air and away form the city lights(and pollution) of Sydney - I guess.

Yep: lower Blue Mountains. There're too many street lights around for me, but even really close to home (like this, heading toward a fire trail) there are some pretty dark spots.