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I was able to get decent photos by using a general exposure setting on the K-70 and just before the beginning of totality setting for continuous exposures. I was able to get the Diamond ring and the pre-spark as the sun shone through a deep valley on the Lunar rim too. Using a Mead F-11 1000mm with a Celestron T-mount that otherwise does not allow F control other than the F-11 of the optic. I was not sure all would fall into place, but when I got the raw images into Lightroom I was able to compensate for the exposure and you can see the result. I shot these from northern Oregon on BLM land outside the circus of the city of Madras and was 3.5 miles south of the mapped line of totality. I was not able to process the shots until I was back from the trip, so was sweating the whole way.

Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF 06-27-2017, 04:04 AM

Astronomy suggestions with the K-70?
Posted By ZeroGhost

Replies: 7
Views: 3,159

That should be a good visual experiment. 4K and low noise is my sky target.
:cool:

Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF 04-04-2017, 01:40 PM

Astronomy suggestions with the K-70?
Posted By ZeroGhost

Replies: 7
Views: 3,159

Thanks for the resources.

I'll likely have a second and third camera for the totality but was thinking that a K-70 auto exposure and sequenced shots 1 minute or less apart, but so far don't know how to do that.

I would need another K-70 to get a 4K time exposure. So while I would like that, I would need to also mount that on an equatorial with a drive. So unless I set up a crowd funding campaign I am out of luck. I can see if a friend has a good scope with a drive, buy another camera eyepiece adapter that's cheap enough.

If I have to choose the type of record I would be more interested in good high resolution the K-70 affords. The K-70 has an Astrotracer function using the shake reduction feature, but that has only a 5-minute duration. So I might be getting the iOptron Sky Tracker Pro [URL="https://goo.gl/TixTXP"] so I can do timed exposures without recentering the camera on the disk of the eclipse. Then using the WiFi capability I can maybe control the camera exposure and sequencing somehow from a tablet/phone, maybe I can get a perfect astronomical sequence of high-resolution shots. Exposures will be the challenge however and not sure how I could use autoexposure for that.

I'm just not a camera-technical photographer and will need to study and practice for that. I was hoping someone with experience could help, if not someone from the manufacturer themselves. It would be a complex setup with a very limited shoot time, so mistakes would be catastrophic.

I have two other Pentax DSLRs but at 7MP for the *ist DS and at 10MP for my K10D so should make use of them. Maybe my video camera at maximum too. So I have lots of shooting planning to consider.

I talked to the APOD editor a few years ago, and he said he would have used my video for the APOD for the Day! So literally I'm shooting for that too!

Any references or links are greatly appreciated and thank you for your answer. Anything helps this amateur photo astronomer.

Garret

Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF 04-03-2017, 12:20 AM

Astronomy suggestions with the K-70?
Posted By ZeroGhost

Replies: 7
Views: 3,159

Hi,

I'm getting ready for the total eclipse this year in WA, OR, ID, WY... I just got the K-70 and want to understand how to get the most out of it for the once in a lifetime event. I will be at center-line in northern Oregon and try to duplicate what I did with my *ist DS in 2012 for the eclipse I caught perfectly in Nevada.

I'm finally getting weather for astronomy and want to put my new K-70 on my Mead F-11 and Dob-10" Telescope. I want to bone up on settings for this, like time exposure and other new settings I can get. The last eclipse I was at a perfect center and weather held for 75% of the eclipse. After processing, I made a video and poster from the best exposures. This time I can do proper time exposures and at higher resolution with the Mede F-11 as my lens.

Video:

Youtu.be

Youtu.be

src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LG8JtvXtrY4?controls=1" allowfullscreen><br />

Art: Behance

I really need to know this camera better and got the book (Pentax K-70 Everything you need to know... and then some) here that seems like a great resource, if I can sit long enough to read it. I could use some advice for this. I have all I need except the direct experience with this camera, and what it can do that my *ist DS could never dream of. I can't miss this opportunity.

Thanks,
:)
Garret Moore

Forum: Post Your Photos! 06-25-2016, 12:12 PM

Abstract Old Pentax and new images.
Posted By ZeroGhost

Replies: 1
Views: 731

Introductions,

My first real SLR was an ME Super, and had a couple of those, but then after some other digital cameras the first DSLR , and as an early adapter, I got an ist-Ds then a K-10D so have been using those for general work, limited horribly in the last several years, needing better with no $.

I'm an illustrator, graphic designer and have worked in digital imaging since 1980's so most my bucks go for systems and software. A couple of my illustrations are below (comets in space, the dual was one of many even before Shoemaker-Levi I knew would exist so illustrated them). But I am also an ameteur astronomer and have done some astrophotography over the years. Hale Bopp was with my ME super for instance and a strait lens.

I'm published all over the world since the 90's for art and my covers for books, magazines and more. (see my Behance) So I use my camera for so many things, including studio and portraits, landscapes and studies, product and every day. I just saw the K-70 and have the hots for that, but just starting a new business on the street, so need to plug along till I get paid. That might be a while.

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