Zooming in..

Mr. Fingers · May 14, 2007

..Hi

I've been Googling different camera's mainly the D40 & i've seen quite a few shots of the moon up close & various stars which looked brilliant, just wondering what type of lens do you need to zoom in this far?
I'm guessing they're very expensive.

http://www.tzecmaun2.org/gallery/d/40-2/moon_ZOOM.jpg
http://www.tkdami.pl/~kornecka/rysio/moon.jpg

Thanks.

Sw1tchFX · May 14, 2007

I think i've seen people on here use telescopes to get that tight.

Garbz · May 15, 2007

The first one looks pretty poor, the second however looks great. Good telescopes can come with camera mounts. We are buying a Nikon F-mount adapter for a friends Celestar scope. The telescope is 1150mm at f/10, and we will be using a magnifying eyepiece for focusing.

You won't get such results with a normal lens unfortunately. The upside is telescopes have other uses (the sky really is very pretty)

CBRfanatic · May 15, 2007

you can use a good telescope like mentioned, or if your just bloody rich you can order canons 1200mm f/5.6 prime lens and slap on a 2x converter! youll probably be able to snap a shot of the land rover!!!!! lol

Mr. Fingers · May 15, 2007

Cheers guys, so there's noway i can get a view like that without spending major dollar?
This one is fantastic
http://www.astroworks.com/gallery/350D/NGC6188.JPG

CBRfanatic · May 15, 2007

pretty much, need a telescope for that picture, or the 1200mm prime with 2x converter. telescope is cheaper

Mr. Fingers · May 15, 2007

Ah O.K, well, one day i hope to own a powerful telescope like that. Could watch up there for hours.

Torus34 · May 15, 2007

You'll also need to be able to reach a place where there is no skyglow from the lights of a nearby town or city.

Prints like that are not easy to achieve.

Patrice · May 15, 2007

Mr. Fingers said:
Cheers guys, so there's noway i can get a view like that without spending major dollar?
This one is fantastic
http://www.astroworks.com/gallery/350D/NGC6188.JPG

This last shot was very likely taken with an 85mm or 50mm prime on a simple digital slr. The trick to getting the photo though is through multiple long exposures and the camera mounted on top of a motorized telescope or on the mount itself. If you are patient you do not need anykind of tracking mount at all, the same can be done with a home made device called a 'barn door tracker.

Check out the Cloudy Nights web site for tips on astro photos.

Pat