Pentax k10d in space III

PentaxPoke · 03-19-2010, 04:52 PM

Originally posted by johnmflores

Excellent as always!

Quick question - what's the limiting factor in the altitude? Sounds like the balloon popped. Was it thermal stress or something exotic like outer space particle or radiation?

Thanks. Yes, these are Kaymont weather balloons and are designed to burst when they reach a certain diameter. The pressure difference causes them to expand. You can't get a balloon much higher than 120k ft. since the atmosphere at that level is so thin. Think about releasing a ball under water. It will keep rising until it reaches the top, and there is no more buoyancy to lift it. If our balloons were not designed to burst, they would "float" until the sun degraded the latex. We have a remote cut-down system just in case it doesn't burst.

Originally posted by jjdgti

Thanks for the response. Did you use some kind of time lapse to take the pictures? Or it was controlled by a PC on the ground and one device on the camera?

Did the lens was exposed to any moisture? A WR lens would be more appropriated?

We use a Pclix lt100 to do the time lapse. The lens is exposed to the atmosphere. I don't think a WR is necessary since condensation on the descent would not be reduced. If it were sealed, the pressure difference may blow the seals out.

Originally posted by jbinpg

I would love to see you launch a 21Ltd glued to f8 on the next launch!!
Are you using Totex 800 gram balloons, btw?

We are using Kaymont 3000g balloons. 21mm would be ok, but f/8 may be a problem if you want to keep ISO low. The biggest problem with exposure and maintaining sharpness is not aperture. The biggest problem is motion. If you could see the payloads swinging and spinning around during the flight, you would see what I mean. A fast shutter is extremely important. Even 1/3000s is sometimes too slow. For this flight I set to 1/4000s which is as fast as the k10d can go. The second biggest issue with sharpness is atmospheric "seeing" conditions, similar to issues in astronomy. The conditions were quite poor yesterday with stratified haze all the way up. You can see the layers in the high altitude pictures from yesterday. The Tamron at f/2.8 is sharper than many lenses stopped down, so you would see little effect of stopping down the aperture since the other issues above dominate the sharpness.

Last edited by PentaxPoke; 03-19-2010 at 05:06 PM.

Raybo · 03-19-2010, 04:59 PM

Another outstanding series PP, you are one of my heros!

Ray

Nomad · 03-19-2010, 06:10 PM

Bravo

I love the peak altitude ones!!

PeteyJ · 03-19-2010, 07:28 PM

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. What a great idea!

reeftool · 03-19-2010, 07:51 PM

Another excellent series. Thanks for sharing.

Raybo · 03-19-2010, 07:55 PM

Originally posted by PeteyJ

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. What a great idea!

Check out his avitar Petey, here is a better image of it.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/43930-pentax-k10d-space-ii.html

wed7 · 03-19-2010, 09:55 PM

way too cool!

BillM · 03-19-2010, 10:11 PM

Hi all,
use to launch model rockets,record sound and determine velocity by doppler shift.
how times have changed.
Great job folks, this is the kind of thing I want my kids to see.

fearview · 03-19-2010, 11:30 PM

*bow down*

great job.

MRRiley · 03-26-2010, 08:20 AM

You should be using a Canon P&S for these though. Then you'd be hitting the international news like this guy....

Million Dollar NASA Photos Beaten by Budget Balloon

British aerospace enthusiast takes NASA-style photographs using a helium balloon and a pocket camera | Mail Online

Pictures From Above - West Yorkshire Uk

and on MSNBC... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/36043526#36043526

Mike

Naim Khan · 03-26-2010, 08:43 AM

Originally posted by MRRiley

You should be using a Canon P&S for these though. Then you'd be hitting the international news like this guy....

Million Dollar NASA Photos Beaten by Budget Balloon

British aerospace enthusiast takes NASA-style photographs using a helium balloon and a pocket camera | Mail Online

Pictures From Above - West Yorkshire Uk

and on MSNBC... NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: News and videos from the evening broadcast NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: News and videos from the evening broadcast- msnbc.com

Mike

You beat me to it Mike - I was going to write about this guy - I live in West Yorkshire and he was on local breakfast TV yesterday!

Riktar · 04-01-2010, 08:21 PM

Originally posted by flyer

It could well be, but this could be overcome with a simple pressure release valve. There must be some other practical reason to have the balloon popping around that altitude.

For the sake of argument let's consider that PentaxPoke did not give the actual reason so I can post the wise-ass response:

So he can get his camera back!

Riktar · 04-01-2010, 08:22 PM

And in all seriousness:

GREAT shots. My hats off to you for the ingenuity.

Daveinozbikes · 04-02-2010, 05:53 AM

These projects excite my imagination and questions pop into my mind...I was wondering that if the balloon had a pressure relief valve fitted, what would be the maximum theoretical height it could reach ?? Thanks for a wonderful series,,,

VF-19 · 04-02-2010, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by Daveinozbikes

These projects excite my imagination and questions pop into my mind...I was wondering that if the balloon had a pressure relief valve fitted, what would be the maximum theoretical height it could reach ?? Thanks for a wonderful series,,,

If it got high enough, you might as well ask the folks at the ISS to grab it!

03-19-2010, 06:10 PM	#18
Nomad Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 408	Very very cool!! Bravo I love the peak altitude ones!!

03-19-2010, 10:11 PM	#23
BillM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ferguson, Mo. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,348	Space Hi all, use to launch model rockets,record sound and determine velocity by doppler shift. how times have changed. Great job folks, this is the kind of thing I want my kids to see.

04-02-2010, 05:53 AM	#29
Daveinozbikes Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dawesville,Western Australia. Photos: Gallery Posts: 128	Ascending K10D.... These projects excite my imagination and questions pop into my mind...I was wondering that if the balloon had a pressure relief valve fitted, what would be the maximum theoretical height it could reach ?? Thanks for a wonderful series,,,

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03-19-2010, 04:52 PM	#16
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411 Original Poster	Originally posted by johnmflores Excellent as always! Quick question - what's the limiting factor in the altitude? Sounds like the balloon popped. Was it thermal stress or something exotic like outer space particle or radiation? Thanks. Yes, these are Kaymont weather balloons and are designed to burst when they reach a certain diameter. The pressure difference causes them to expand. You can't get a balloon much higher than 120k ft. since the atmosphere at that level is so thin. Think about releasing a ball under water. It will keep rising until it reaches the top, and there is no more buoyancy to lift it. If our balloons were not designed to burst, they would "float" until the sun degraded the latex. We have a remote cut-down system just in case it doesn't burst. Originally posted by jjdgti Thanks for the response. Did you use some kind of time lapse to take the pictures? Or it was controlled by a PC on the ground and one device on the camera? Did the lens was exposed to any moisture? A WR lens would be more appropriated? We use a Pclix lt100 to do the time lapse. The lens is exposed to the atmosphere. I don't think a WR is necessary since condensation on the descent would not be reduced. If it were sealed, the pressure difference may blow the seals out. Originally posted by jbinpg I would love to see you launch a 21Ltd glued to f8 on the next launch!! Are you using Totex 800 gram balloons, btw? We are using Kaymont 3000g balloons. 21mm would be ok, but f/8 may be a problem if you want to keep ISO low. The biggest problem with exposure and maintaining sharpness is not aperture. The biggest problem is motion. If you could see the payloads swinging and spinning around during the flight, you would see what I mean. A fast shutter is extremely important. Even 1/3000s is sometimes too slow. For this flight I set to 1/4000s which is as fast as the k10d can go. The second biggest issue with sharpness is atmospheric "seeing" conditions, similar to issues in astronomy. The conditions were quite poor yesterday with stratified haze all the way up. You can see the layers in the high altitude pictures from yesterday. The Tamron at f/2.8 is sharper than many lenses stopped down, so you would see little effect of stopping down the aperture since the other issues above dominate the sharpness. Last edited by PentaxPoke; 03-19-2010 at 05:06 PM.

03-19-2010, 04:59 PM	#17
Raybo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 872	Another outstanding series PP, you are one of my heros! Ray

03-19-2010, 07:28 PM	#19
PeteyJ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago/Cleveland Posts: 176	This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. What a great idea!

03-19-2010, 07:51 PM	#20
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	Another excellent series. Thanks for sharing.

03-19-2010, 07:55 PM	#21
Raybo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 872	Originally posted by PeteyJ This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. What a great idea! Check out his avitar Petey, here is a better image of it. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/43930-pentax-k10d-space-ii.html

03-19-2010, 09:55 PM	#22
wed7 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 1,421	way too cool!

03-19-2010, 11:30 PM	#24
fearview Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jakarta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,067	bow down great job.

03-26-2010, 08:20 AM	#25
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	You should be using a Canon P&S for these though. Then you'd be hitting the international news like this guy.... Million Dollar NASA Photos Beaten by Budget Balloon British aerospace enthusiast takes NASA-style photographs using a helium balloon and a pocket camera \| Mail Online Pictures From Above - West Yorkshire Uk and on MSNBC... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/36043526#36043526 Mike

03-26-2010, 08:43 AM	#26
Naim Khan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire Posts: 177	Originally posted by MRRiley You should be using a Canon P&S for these though. Then you'd be hitting the international news like this guy.... Million Dollar NASA Photos Beaten by Budget Balloon British aerospace enthusiast takes NASA-style photographs using a helium balloon and a pocket camera \| Mail Online Pictures From Above - West Yorkshire Uk and on MSNBC... NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: News and videos from the evening broadcast NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: News and videos from the evening broadcast- msnbc.com Mike You beat me to it Mike - I was going to write about this guy - I live in West Yorkshire and he was on local breakfast TV yesterday!

04-01-2010, 08:21 PM	#27
Riktar Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Neosho, Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 115	Originally posted by flyer It could well be, but this could be overcome with a simple pressure release valve. There must be some other practical reason to have the balloon popping around that altitude. For the sake of argument let's consider that PentaxPoke did not give the actual reason so I can post the wise-ass response: So he can get his camera back!

04-01-2010, 08:22 PM	#28
Riktar Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Neosho, Wisconsin Photos: Gallery Posts: 115	And in all seriousness: GREAT shots. My hats off to you for the ingenuity.

04-02-2010, 06:46 AM	#30
VF-19 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ottawa Posts: 364	Originally posted by Daveinozbikes These projects excite my imagination and questions pop into my mind...I was wondering that if the balloon had a pressure relief valve fitted, what would be the maximum theoretical height it could reach ?? Thanks for a wonderful series,,, If it got high enough, you might as well ask the folks at the ISS to grab it!