Astrophotography

Aaron28 · 10-13-2019, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by agukha

I'm not very good to join the two after, but here it is :

it takes some practice and will improve....still learning myself but 'getting better' all the time.....awesome location!

Unregistered User · 10-25-2019, 03:40 AM

I was trying to use a Pentax 150-450mm lens on a K-1 to take pictures of stars, and discovered it was impossible, at least unless one wished to do so at the minimum focal length. The telescoping part collapses when you point that lens upward. I've invented a highly technical and advanced solution to that problem, though - a couple of those long rubber bands that keep file folders together, doubled over and looped over the moving part of the lens body, and scrunched down all the way tightly with the focal length set to 450. (Technical term, "scrunched".)

Any other solutions come to mind?

y0chang · 10-25-2019, 06:39 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by dlh

I was trying to use a Pentax 150-450mm lens on a K-1 to take pictures of stars, and discovered it was impossible, at least unless one wished to do so at the minimum focal length. The telescoping part collapses when you point that lens upward. I've invented a highly technical and advanced solution to that problem, though - a couple of those long rubber bands that keep file folders together, doubled over and looped over the moving part of the lens body, and scrunched down all the way tightly with the focal length set to 450. (Technical term, "scrunched".)

Any other solutions come to mind?

That is what I did with my Sigma 170-500mm, but even with the rubber band sometimes there is a zoom or worse a focus shift. I was thinking about gaffer tape, which should leave no residue but I had misgivings about putting sticky tape on my 300 dollar lens, let alone your DFA 150-500mm. The 170-500mm worked remarkably well for astrophotography though with the Astrotracer - see below with the K-3, astrotracer and 170-500mm

**Mikesul** · 10-25-2019, 09:34 AM

I think gaffer tape would be the solution. There should not be any residue if done carefully.

Kaladran · 10-29-2019, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by agukha

I think it was 90s for the stars (just one photo with astrotracer, no stacking), and another one for the background, I'm not very good to join the two after, but here it is :

Considering there is no stacking that is a really great sky, gives me some hope as I was always intimidated by stacking.

Aaron28 · 11-03-2019, 07:28 AM - **1 Like**

4 frame composite....3 frame pano...K-1 fa35/f2

Aaron28 · 11-16-2019, 03:58 PM - **2 Likes**

K-r....bower 14/f2.8......af160 fired each side during a 30 sec exposure

Last edited by Aaron28; 11-17-2019 at 08:09 AM.

**SunValley** · 11-17-2019, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by Aaron28

K-r....bower 14/f2.8

Nicely done!

Aaron28 · 11-17-2019, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by SunValley

Nicely done!

thank you

Aaron28 · 11-26-2019, 09:03 PM - **2 Likes**

21ltd....K-r

Aaron28 · 11-28-2019, 05:37 PM - **1 Like**

several frames from the above star trail stacked in dss making an ok milky way composite

Aaron28 · 11-29-2019, 05:49 PM - **3 Likes**

bower 14/f2.8....k-50

Aaron28 · 12-03-2019, 07:23 PM - **1 Like**

fa35...k-1

Aaron28 · 12-17-2019, 09:14 PM

cosina 24/f2.8 macro...k-1

Snapppy · 12-17-2019, 09:29 PM - **1 Like**

First try with Orion Nebula
Pentax K-1 + Samyang 135mm f2 and astrotracer. 8 40-second exposures stacked.

Quite a bit cropped, second is the uncropped photograph for reference.

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10-13-2019, 06:51 PM	#1156
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	Originally posted by agukha I'm not very good to join the two after, but here it is : it takes some practice and will improve....still learning myself but 'getting better' all the time.....awesome location!

10-25-2019, 03:40 AM	#1157
Unregistered User Guest	I was trying to use a Pentax 150-450mm lens on a K-1 to take pictures of stars, and discovered it was impossible, at least unless one wished to do so at the minimum focal length. The telescoping part collapses when you point that lens upward. I've invented a highly technical and advanced solution to that problem, though - a couple of those long rubber bands that keep file folders together, doubled over and looped over the moving part of the lens body, and scrunched down all the way tightly with the focal length set to 450. (Technical term, "scrunched".) Any other solutions come to mind?

10-25-2019, 06:39 AM - 2 Likes	#1158
y0chang Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: United States Posts: 793	Originally posted by dlh I was trying to use a Pentax 150-450mm lens on a K-1 to take pictures of stars, and discovered it was impossible, at least unless one wished to do so at the minimum focal length. The telescoping part collapses when you point that lens upward. I've invented a highly technical and advanced solution to that problem, though - a couple of those long rubber bands that keep file folders together, doubled over and looped over the moving part of the lens body, and scrunched down all the way tightly with the focal length set to 450. (Technical term, "scrunched".) Any other solutions come to mind? That is what I did with my Sigma 170-500mm, but even with the rubber band sometimes there is a zoom or worse a focus shift. I was thinking about gaffer tape, which should leave no residue but I had misgivings about putting sticky tape on my 300 dollar lens, let alone your DFA 150-500mm. The 170-500mm worked remarkably well for astrophotography though with the Astrotracer - see below with the K-3, astrotracer and 170-500mm

10-25-2019, 09:34 AM	#1159
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	I think gaffer tape would be the solution. There should not be any residue if done carefully.

10-29-2019, 01:06 PM	#1160
Kaladran Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 196	Originally posted by agukha I think it was 90s for the stars (just one photo with astrotracer, no stacking), and another one for the background, I'm not very good to join the two after, but here it is : Considering there is no stacking that is a really great sky, gives me some hope as I was always intimidated by stacking.

11-03-2019, 07:28 AM - 1 Like	#1161
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	4 frame composite....3 frame pano...K-1 fa35/f2

11-16-2019, 03:58 PM - 2 Likes	#1162
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	K-r....bower 14/f2.8......af160 fired each side during a 30 sec exposure Last edited by Aaron28; 11-17-2019 at 08:09 AM.

11-17-2019, 07:53 AM	#1163
SunValley Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 573	Originally posted by Aaron28 K-r....bower 14/f2.8 Nicely done!

11-17-2019, 08:08 AM	#1164
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	Originally posted by SunValley Nicely done! thank you

11-26-2019, 09:03 PM - 2 Likes	#1165
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	21ltd....K-r

11-28-2019, 05:37 PM - 1 Like	#1166
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	several frames from the above star trail stacked in dss making an ok milky way composite

11-29-2019, 05:49 PM - 3 Likes	#1167
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	bower 14/f2.8....k-50

12-03-2019, 07:23 PM - 1 Like	#1168
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	fa35...k-1

12-17-2019, 09:14 PM	#1169
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	cosina 24/f2.8 macro...k-1

12-17-2019, 09:29 PM - 1 Like	#1170
Snapppy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 485	First try with Orion Nebula Pentax K-1 + Samyang 135mm f2 and astrotracer. 8 40-second exposures stacked. Quite a bit cropped, second is the uncropped photograph for reference.