Astro Photography

[By-tor]

I'm interested in Photographing the moon and whatever else I can through a telescope. I'm a clean sheet of paper with no knowledge of this hobby..

I use the Fujifilm X mount camera system and would like to mount one of my bodies to a telescope and maybe do HDMI out to a monitor or TV.

I would like to start out with something on the cheap, but not total garbage.

I'm not looking for something that can see into the future just something to get some good pictures with.

Can someone suggest a telescope that would work for me?

TY

[Star Dad]

Photographing the Moon is quite different from Deep Sky Objects or even planets. So advice on a telescope depends on what you want to photo. My scope is great for the Moon and DSOs, but is of very limited use for planets. You need long focal length for planets to magnify them enough to be of use. A focal photography can be used - and I've had several people take phone camera shots afocally through my 9mm lens (110x). But doing standard AP through my telescope results in very tiny planets - not worth taking at all. So, I think we need more info. I think most folks here would agree that you really need two different setups (telescopes) for DSO and planetary AP.

[JayTee]

Photographing the Moon is as close as you're going to get to a "point and click" approach to astrophotography. Every other object is as far away from "point and click" as you could possibly get. It takes specialized equipment and it's not easy. It doesn't mean you can't do it, it's just that you have to adopt a mentality that it's a long and usually an expensive journey requiring specialized equipment to get there.

I don't mean to harsh your buzz, just injecting a little reality here.

Cheers,
JT

[Lokifish]

I wrote a long post about how a wide field rig would be a good start and not cost a lot of money (respectively), then I saw the part about HDMI to a TV. It sounds like you want to do one shot or real time imaging of targets. If that's the case then let us know, that's a fairly specialized area of astrophotography.

[SkyHiker]

For the Moon you can get any scope and just point and click as JT said, no special gear such as a motorized tracking mount needed.

For DSOs it's a whole different story, one where a tracking mount is needed because you probably want to try exposure times of 10 to 30 seconds. Many of us would recommend the AVX for that, it is a beginner/intermediate level mount. A 6" or 8" astrograph would work well for a low price, see the Orion website, look for "reflectors for astrophotography". For instant viewing you need a low F ratio such as the F/4 of those scopes. The 8" will give you a larger image.

I have a Fuji X-a1 myself, I have never figured out how to display a picture on my TV. If you know how to, I would like to hear.

[Voyageur]

Pretty sure you can connect the camera to a TV using a cable with HDMI micro or mini (not sure which) connected to the camera and regular HDMI connected to the TV for playback of images or video already recorded and saved.

I do not think it is possible to record video or photos with the camera using a TV as a live display, i.e. EAA or NRTV.

I'm not sure which you had in mind, but it sounded like the latter, and I don't think that is possible.

[SkyHiker]

Pretty sure you can connect the camera to a TV using a cable with HDMI micro or mini (not sure which) connected to the camera and regular HDMI connected to the TV for playback of images or video already recorded and saved.

I do not think it is possible to record video or photos with the camera using a TV as a live display, i.e. EAA or NRTV.

I'm not sure which you had in mind, but it sounded like the latter, and I don't think that is possible.

I think what the OP wanted is to just open the Fuji shutter for X seconds then there is an image recorded in the DSLR's flash. Then browse the flash and display the image on the TV that you hauled outside. Makes sense to me.

I tried what you said on my Fuji but it didn't work for unknown reasons. I will try it again right now!

[Voyageur]

Let me know if it works. I feel that I did this with my little Sony some time ago, but I can't try it now because I don't have the right cable here with me in Mexico.

[UlteriorModem]

When ever one of these posts come up I always think back on my own learning curve!

Always recommend this series of videos for the beginner!

This is the first of a multi part series, I suggest looking at them all

[SkyHiker]

Let me know if it works. I feel that I did this with my little Sony some time ago, but I can't try it now because I don't have the right cable here with me in Mexico.

Ah it works! Last time I tried it I must have forgotten to press the "Play" button on the camera.

So I guess you can only display it with HDMI if you're not taking a picture. Maybe it's possible to hook it up with a USB cable to a laptop and display it while taking another picture.

[yobbo89]

I would recommend the essential tracking (heq5 or avx )mount and a refractor over 400mm fl ,not particularly cheap ( 1.5 k to 2 k price range, but that way you have more options to track some dso objects as well. i think as a beginner who would be interested in imaging and digital observing that this would be a gratifying choice.

[Baurice]

Look up "afocal projection", which is a posh term for "sticking a camera at a telescope eyepiece". I did this for several years and still use it sometimes for solar photography. Also Google "Tony Buick" who was a pioneer at this many years ago.

If you have a DSLR you can attach it to a telescope using a T-ring and adaptor unique to your camera. It is just like using a DSLR with camera lenses, except that the focal length is much longer. By using two Barlow lenses, I have used an effective focal length of over 9 metres.

As for feeding a live view to a monitor, you can use a webcam or an "electronic eyepiece". I use a Bresser Electronic Eyepiece, which sends live images to a laptop. You can also save the live images to a movie file.

[depratnt]

I have written up a little article explaining most of what you need to know to make a first dive into this hobby! GOOD LUCK! Astrophotography is extremely rewarding as it is frustrating. And also very very fun.

https://depratnt.wixsite.com/astrophotography

[Lokifish]

Right now I think we are shooting in the dark (pun intended) until we get some clarification from the OP. As it stands, everything from a startracker and some primes to a full on AP rig would get the job done.

[By-tor]

I may have settled on a scope to start with. The Celestron NexStar 4se.

Has anyone used one of these?

Thank you all for posting..

[UlteriorModem]

The 4SE is an alt az mount. You could use it for lunar imaging or short duration of bright deep sky objects. Other than that it wont work well for astrophotography.

If you plan on getting into AP to any depth you will quickly outgrow the alt az mount.

If there is any one thing you should NOT skimp on for AP it is the mount. It really is "ALL ABOUT THE MOUNT!" I personally went through three mounts till I got one I was satisified with.

Here is part 2 of Forrest Tanaka's videos where he discusses mounts.

[By-tor]

The 4SE is an alt az mount. You could use it for lunar imaging or short duration of bright deep sky objects. Other than that it wont work well for astrophotography.

If you plan on getting into AP to any depth you will quickly outgrow the alt az mount.

If there is any one thing you should NOT skimp on for AP it is the mount. It really is "ALL ABOUT THE MOUNT!" I personally went through three mounts till I got one I was satisified with.

Here is part 2 of Forrest Tanaka's videos where he discusses mounts.

Great video. Learned a lot that I didn't know.. There is a lot more to this than I ever thought and not sure I want to get that deep into the hobby or spend a lot of money to give it a try...

Thanks for posting..

[JayTee]

There is a lot more to this than I ever thought and not sure I want to get that deep into the hobby or spend a lot of money to give it a try.

You are a good listener and a wise individual for admitting that upfront. We are always here to answer any more questions and provide advice where needed.

Cheers,
JT

[By-tor]

There is a lot more to this than I ever thought and not sure I want to get that deep into the hobby or spend a lot of money to give it a try.

You are a good listener and a wise individual for admitting that upfront. We are always here to answer any more questions and provide advice where needed.

Cheers,
JT

Thanks