THESE TWO PICTURES WERE TAKEN WITH MY CELESTRON C8 USING EYEPIECE PROJECTION, ASA800 COLOR PRINT FILM, EXPOSURE ABOUT TWO SECONDS.
THIS IS ONE ARRANGEMENT I USE. THE CAMERA IS ON ITS OWN TRIPOD AND NEVER TOUCHES THE TELESCOPE. THIS AVOIDS ANY SHUTTER VIBRATION AND MAKES FOR CLEAR PICTURES.
THIS IS HOW I TAKE PICTURES WITH MY CHEAP DIGITAL CAMERA. IT IS CALLED AFOCAL (AS OPPOSED TO EYEPIECE PROJECTION). THE CAMERA IS JUST ALIGNED WITH THE EYEPIECE AND LOOKS INTO IT JUST AS THE HUMAN EYE DOES. I USE THE LCD SCREEN ON THE REAR OF THE DIGICAM TO COMPOSE THE PICTURE. JUST FOCUSING THROUGH THE EYEPIECE WITH MY EYE IS GOOD ENOUGH, THEN I MOVE THE CAMERA INTO POSITION. NOTE THE TWO 90 DEGREE DIAGONALS THAT HELP ME ACHIEVE ANY ANGLE THAT I NEED. KEEPS MY NECK FROM GETTING SORE, AS DOES THE RIGHT ANGLE FINDER I JUST BOUGHT. BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT ON THIS HOBBY.
THE INTERIOR OF CLAVIUS CRATER IS RENDERED WITH MUCH MORE FINE DETAIL WITH A CHEAP DIGITAL CAMERA THAN WITH MY 35MM SLR. SEE PAGE ONE OF THIS WEB SITE FOR PICS OF CLAVIUS TAKEN WITH A 35MM SLR.
THE CRATER CHAIN BETWEEN CRATER ERATOSTHENES (JUST OUT OF THE PIC TO THE LEFT) AND CRATER COPERNICUS (THE LARGE CRATER IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THE FRAME) IS RESOLVED NICELY WITH DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY.
BUT, WITH EYEPIECE PROJECTION AND SOFTWARE TO COMBINE EXPOSURES (ONE SHOT OF THE SOUTHERN HALF AND ONE SHOT OF THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE MOON), ONE CAN STILL CREATE NICE PICTURES WITH A 35MM SLR ON ASA100 BLACK AND WHITE FILM THAT COVER MORE AREA THAN ONE CAN GET WITH A DIGICAM AND THE AFOCAL TECHNIQUE. NOW IF I COULD AFFORD A DIGITAL SLR FOR SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS....HMMMM.
ANY QUESTIONS/COMMENTS PLEASE EMAIL ME AT:
BENFOW@AOL.COM