K7 And Astrophotography

Christopher M.W.T · 07-23-2009, 08:05 AM

Has anyone had any luck with their K7 and astrophotography?

I've taken a couple of 30" exposures at 200 - 800 iso, seem to get decent results but im limited with my location been so close to Melbourne.

How have others gone?

Out of focus · 07-23-2009, 02:11 PM

yeah get in contact with Cyclone on this forum, he is vice president of the Newcastle Astronomical Society and he uses a K7 and should be able to help you out

here is there website home

Rener · 07-24-2009, 09:16 AM

I don't know if it is considered astro photography but Pentaxpoke who is a member of this forum has some spectacular shots at the outer edge of the earth's atmosphere, I forgot the link.

cheers,

Rene

jogiba · 07-24-2009, 10:41 AM

Last edited by jogiba; 07-24-2009 at 01:21 PM.

pentaxmz · 07-25-2009, 03:45 AM

Originally posted by C.W Tsorotes

Has anyone had any luck with their K7 and astrophotography?

I've taken a couple of 30" exposures at 200 - 800 iso, seem to get decent results but im limited with my location been so close to Melbourne.

How have others gone?

When the K7 was first announced, I was excited as a 10 year old on Christmas eve, but now that reality has sunk in, I am extremely disappointed and I have no plans to purchase the K7.

The K7 suffers from the same fatal flaw that ruined the K20D for astrophotography and that is the forced DFS.

The 2009 Perseids meteor shower is approaching and I borrowing a Canon to take out as my primary camera. Last year's I missed a very bright fireball (within the field of view of my K20D) because the K20D was doing a 10 minute DFS!! %^$@ was I pissed! I missed many other potentially great photos for the same reason.... but the fireball loss really annoyed me! I still get angry thinking about that!

Sorry to tell you but if you plan to do a lot of long exposures, don't bother with the K20D or the K7.

thibs · 07-25-2009, 06:23 AM

Originally posted by pentaxmz

When the K7 was first announced, I was excited as a 10 year old on Christmas eve, but now that reality has sunk in, I am extremely disappointed and I have no plans to purchase the K7.

Because you'd have bought a K-7 soley for astrophoto?
Seems an expensive option to me ...

Originally posted by pentaxmz

Sorry to tell you but if you plan to do a lot of long exposures, don't bother with the K20D or the K7.

Seems logical conclusion.

thibs · 07-25-2009, 02:24 PM

BTW, I took a 20 seconds Exposure today (granted, it was blank test picture) with the K-7 and there was no slow behaviour AT ALL after the exposure.

Of course I did deactivate the corresponding Custom Function.
Maybe, pentaxmz, you may want to try the body before juming to conclusions ?

ytterbium · 07-25-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

BTW, I took a 20 seconds Exposure today (granted, it was blank test picture) with the K-7 and there was no slow behaviour AT ALL after the exposure.

Of course I did deactivate the corresponding Custom Function.
Maybe, pentaxmz, you may want to try the body before juming to conclusions ?

Someone wrote that it kicks in after some tima anyway - no matter if it's on or off. Was it like 25s or mor?

Quote:

The 2009 Perseids meteor shower is approaching and I borrowing a Canon to take out as my primary camera. Last year's I missed a very bright fireball (within the field of view of my K20D) because the K20D was doing a 10 minute DFS!! %^$@ was I pissed! I missed many other potentially great photos for the same reason.... but the fireball loss really annoyed me! I still get angry thinking about that!

Talk about unfortune. Thats why i love my k200d but im already looking to the canon because of this and removed remote support, those are just a must in a DSLR grade camera. Anyway.. few days ago i was shooting Jupiter.. when i got bored, i pointed my 135/3.5 at some random portion of sky.. just before i was about to shoot, i decided to tune my shutter speed a bit (Jupiter allows for pretty low, compared to plain sky).. the very moment Whhooosh a yellow-red, broad fireband in a perfect composition flew trought my viewfinder (and the faster shutter speed would have been near perfect)...

I was standing for some 5 minutes, thinking how can you randomly point a 135 to the same exact location just before the meteor and acting so logically miss a shot. Decided i must go sleep.

pentaxmz · 07-26-2009, 11:49 PM

Originally posted by thibs

Because you'd have bought a K-7 soley for astrophoto?
Seems an expensive option to me ...

Seems logical conclusion.

My work requires a camera to record low light objects (usually 30 min. exposures). I can't use my K20D for this so I had to get a Canon D50.

I also can't effectively use my K20D for fireworks, lightning, or any sort of long exposure photographer like astrophotography.

In August is the Perseid meteor shower.... I won't be using my K20D for that either... that would be plain silly!

So... that's why I had hoped that the K7 would solve my little ol'problem. I was very disappointed.

pentaxmz · 07-26-2009, 11:52 PM

Originally posted by thibs

BTW, I took a 20 seconds Exposure today (granted, it was blank test picture) with the K-7 and there was no slow behaviour AT ALL after the exposure.

Of course I did deactivate the corresponding Custom Function.
Maybe, pentaxmz, you may want to try the body before juming to conclusions ?

With all due respect, it is you that is jumping to conclusions.

We (or at least I) am talking about bulb mode exposures and I am talking about exposures significantly longer than 20 seconds. Try minutes... 5, 10, 15... whatever... each one is doubled, whether on the K20D or the K7.

vizjerei · 07-27-2009, 10:48 AM

Originally posted by pentaxmz

With all due respect, it is you that is jumping to conclusions.

We (or at least I) am talking about bulb mode exposures and I am talking about exposures significantly longer than 20 seconds. Try minutes... 5, 10, 15... whatever... each one is doubled, whether on the K20D or the K7.

Totally agreed.. I am very disappointed on that :ugh:I am not sure why Pentax want to do that to the CMOS sensor...

Ishpuini · 07-27-2009, 11:54 PM

First of all, indeed, DFS is only activated in Bulb mode and if exposure is longer than 30 seconds. So, if you want to expose for several minutes, you have to deal with DFS.

One solution for astroshooters would be to use two bodies. If you set them to use the same exposure times, one of the two should always be available while the other is doing DFS. Of course setting them both up so that there are no parallax problems could be a problem in some cases, but I suspect with most astrophotography that is not a issue?

Wim

vizjerei · 07-28-2009, 08:50 AM

I think the the only way around it is multexposure in body, but then you need to know how many exposure you need and you need to be there pressing shutter control :P

Jonson PL · 07-29-2009, 05:15 AM

Originally posted by Ishpuini

First of all, indeed, DFS is only activated in Bulb mode and if exposure is longer than 30 seconds. So, if you want to expose for several minutes, you have to deal with DFS.

One solution for astroshooters would be to use two bodies. If you set them to use the same exposure times, one of the two should always be available while the other is doing DFS. Of course setting them both up so that there are no parallax problems could be a problem in some cases, but I suspect with most astrophotography that is not a issue?

Wim

Good point, to simply set up two bodies.

I'm blown away by the work of Pentaxian Martin Zalba :
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=29136989

jogiba · 07-29-2009, 06:16 AM

2350mm F10:

YouTube - Pentax K-7 test of the evening moon with Celestron 9.25 ( 2350mm F10) in 1536x1024 *** mode

With F6.3 focal reducer:

YouTube - Pentax K-7 test of the evening moon with 1480mm F6.3

07-23-2009, 08:05 AM	#1
Christopher M.W.T Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,689	K7 And Astrophotography Has anyone had any luck with their K7 and astrophotography? I've taken a couple of 30" exposures at 200 - 800 iso, seem to get decent results but im limited with my location been so close to Melbourne. How have others gone?

07-24-2009, 10:41 AM	#4
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	Pentax K-7 1000mm Pentax lens of Twilight Moon Last edited by jogiba; 07-24-2009 at 01:21 PM.

07-29-2009, 06:16 AM	#15
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	evening moon with Celestron 9.25 2350mm F10: YouTube - Pentax K-7 test of the evening moon with Celestron 9.25 ( 2350mm F10) in 1536x1024 *** mode With F6.3 focal reducer: YouTube - Pentax K-7 test of the evening moon with 1480mm F6.3

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Astrophotography	iClick	Pentax DSLR Discussion	1248	12-19-2021 05:07 PM
Astrophotography	Naturenut	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	4	09-09-2010 07:27 AM
Astrophotography	mithrandir	Photographic Technique	1	11-26-2009 06:56 PM
A first crack at astrophotography	hamidlmt	Post Your Photos!	29	11-20-2007 12:45 PM
Astrophotography	elLuiggi	Post Your Photos!	0	11-01-2007 05:43 PM

07-23-2009, 02:11 PM	#2
Out of focus Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1	yeah get in contact with Cyclone on this forum, he is vice president of the Newcastle Astronomical Society and he uses a K7 and should be able to help you out here is there website home

07-24-2009, 09:16 AM	#3
Rener Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 292	I don't know if it is considered astro photography but Pentaxpoke who is a member of this forum has some spectacular shots at the outer edge of the earth's atmosphere, I forgot the link. cheers, Rene

07-25-2009, 03:45 AM	#5
pentaxmz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 659	Originally posted by C.W Tsorotes Has anyone had any luck with their K7 and astrophotography? I've taken a couple of 30" exposures at 200 - 800 iso, seem to get decent results but im limited with my location been so close to Melbourne. How have others gone? When the K7 was first announced, I was excited as a 10 year old on Christmas eve, but now that reality has sunk in, I am extremely disappointed and I have no plans to purchase the K7. The K7 suffers from the same fatal flaw that ruined the K20D for astrophotography and that is the forced DFS. The 2009 Perseids meteor shower is approaching and I borrowing a Canon to take out as my primary camera. Last year's I missed a very bright fireball (within the field of view of my K20D) because the K20D was doing a 10 minute DFS!! %^$@ was I pissed! I missed many other potentially great photos for the same reason.... but the fireball loss really annoyed me! I still get angry thinking about that! Sorry to tell you but if you plan to do a lot of long exposures, don't bother with the K20D or the K7.

07-25-2009, 06:23 AM	#6
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by pentaxmz When the K7 was first announced, I was excited as a 10 year old on Christmas eve, but now that reality has sunk in, I am extremely disappointed and I have no plans to purchase the K7. Because you'd have bought a K-7 soley for astrophoto? Seems an expensive option to me ... Originally posted by pentaxmz Sorry to tell you but if you plan to do a lot of long exposures, don't bother with the K20D or the K7. Seems logical conclusion.

07-25-2009, 02:24 PM	#7
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	BTW, I took a 20 seconds Exposure today (granted, it was blank test picture) with the K-7 and there was no slow behaviour AT ALL after the exposure. Of course I did deactivate the corresponding Custom Function. Maybe, pentaxmz, you may want to try the body before juming to conclusions ?

07-25-2009, 02:58 PM	#8
ytterbium Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,076	Quote: BTW, I took a 20 seconds Exposure today (granted, it was blank test picture) with the K-7 and there was no slow behaviour AT ALL after the exposure. Of course I did deactivate the corresponding Custom Function. Maybe, pentaxmz, you may want to try the body before juming to conclusions ? Someone wrote that it kicks in after some tima anyway - no matter if it's on or off. Was it like 25s or mor? Quote: The 2009 Perseids meteor shower is approaching and I borrowing a Canon to take out as my primary camera. Last year's I missed a very bright fireball (within the field of view of my K20D) because the K20D was doing a 10 minute DFS!! %^$@ was I pissed! I missed many other potentially great photos for the same reason.... but the fireball loss really annoyed me! I still get angry thinking about that! Talk about unfortune. Thats why i love my k200d but im already looking to the canon because of this and removed remote support, those are just a must in a DSLR grade camera. Anyway.. few days ago i was shooting Jupiter.. when i got bored, i pointed my 135/3.5 at some random portion of sky.. just before i was about to shoot, i decided to tune my shutter speed a bit (Jupiter allows for pretty low, compared to plain sky).. the very moment Whhooosh a yellow-red, broad fireband in a perfect composition flew trought my viewfinder (and the faster shutter speed would have been near perfect)... I was standing for some 5 minutes, thinking how can you randomly point a 135 to the same exact location just before the meteor and acting so logically miss a shot. Decided i must go sleep.

07-26-2009, 11:49 PM	#9
pentaxmz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 659	Originally posted by thibs Because you'd have bought a K-7 soley for astrophoto? Seems an expensive option to me ... Seems logical conclusion. My work requires a camera to record low light objects (usually 30 min. exposures). I can't use my K20D for this so I had to get a Canon D50. I also can't effectively use my K20D for fireworks, lightning, or any sort of long exposure photographer like astrophotography. In August is the Perseid meteor shower.... I won't be using my K20D for that either... that would be plain silly! So... that's why I had hoped that the K7 would solve my little ol'problem. I was very disappointed.

07-26-2009, 11:52 PM	#10
pentaxmz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 659	Originally posted by thibs BTW, I took a 20 seconds Exposure today (granted, it was blank test picture) with the K-7 and there was no slow behaviour AT ALL after the exposure. Of course I did deactivate the corresponding Custom Function. Maybe, pentaxmz, you may want to try the body before juming to conclusions ? With all due respect, it is you that is jumping to conclusions. We (or at least I) am talking about bulb mode exposures and I am talking about exposures significantly longer than 20 seconds. Try minutes... 5, 10, 15... whatever... each one is doubled, whether on the K20D or the K7.

07-27-2009, 10:48 AM	#11
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	Originally posted by pentaxmz With all due respect, it is you that is jumping to conclusions. We (or at least I) am talking about bulb mode exposures and I am talking about exposures significantly longer than 20 seconds. Try minutes... 5, 10, 15... whatever... each one is doubled, whether on the K20D or the K7. Totally agreed.. I am very disappointed on that :ugh:I am not sure why Pentax want to do that to the CMOS sensor...

07-27-2009, 11:54 PM	#12
Ishpuini Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,727	First of all, indeed, DFS is only activated in Bulb mode and if exposure is longer than 30 seconds. So, if you want to expose for several minutes, you have to deal with DFS. One solution for astroshooters would be to use two bodies. If you set them to use the same exposure times, one of the two should always be available while the other is doing DFS. Of course setting them both up so that there are no parallax problems could be a problem in some cases, but I suspect with most astrophotography that is not a issue? Wim

07-28-2009, 08:50 AM	#13
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	I think the the only way around it is multexposure in body, but then you need to know how many exposure you need and you need to be there pressing shutter control :P

07-29-2009, 05:15 AM	#14
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Originally posted by Ishpuini First of all, indeed, DFS is only activated in Bulb mode and if exposure is longer than 30 seconds. So, if you want to expose for several minutes, you have to deal with DFS. One solution for astroshooters would be to use two bodies. If you set them to use the same exposure times, one of the two should always be available while the other is doing DFS. Of course setting them both up so that there are no parallax problems could be a problem in some cases, but I suspect with most astrophotography that is not a issue? Wim Good point, to simply set up two bodies. I'm blown away by the work of Pentaxian Martin Zalba : http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=29136989