getting started help required

[gordonm]

Hi to all
Although I am a keen amatuer photographer I have never really tackled astromony photography.
I have a 6" atlas Explorer telescope and an Olympus E500 camera and an olmpus adapter that will attatch the two together via the viewing lense on the telescope.
Why can't I see an image through the camera when the camera is attatched and why when I take photgraphs (having first focused the telescope) I don't get an image, I have tried shutter speeds from 1/25 th to 4secs.
Any help or advice would be gratefully recieved
regards
gordon

[DogHeadGod]

Even though you're using a long exposure you will need to set the aperture wide open to let in enough light.

Set your camera to manual, set the aperture to f4 (or whatever the widest opening is, smaller the number the wider the opening) and go with a 30 second shutter speed to start with.

You may also want to change the ISO to a faster speed, e.g. ISO800

--edit

I just re-read your post, you might not be able to change the aperture given the camera is connected to the telescope. So just go with high ISO and 30second + shutter speed.

[Trik]

Although most of the members of Canon Digital Photography Forums are Canon users, as the name suggests, if you had a look at the Astronomy & Celestial forum you will pick up lots of tips. Be warned, though, some of the shots taken are absolutely stunning, especially of star clusters, nebulae, etc, and you may find yourself wishing you could empty your bank account to buy the gear they use!

Trik

[nytecam]

Originally Posted by gordonm

I have a 6" atlas Explorer telescope and an Olympus E500 camera and an olmpus adapter that will attatch the two together via the viewing lense on the telescope.

With a DSLR you don't need to record through the telescope eyepiece [adding unnecessary glass] but attached the camera direct to the telescope drawtube via a 'T' adapter and then focus the image manually via the focusing knob on the telescope. A Barlow lens between drawtube and camera will double the image scale to get 'closer'.

Start with bright objects like the moon and planets. DSO [deepsky objects] by comparison are inordinately faint and will need long exposures of seconds or minutes. Your telescope will need to accurately track the stars for the duration of the exposure so must be setup accordingly. Even with an accurately aligned telescope I limit my exposures to 20s - 30s and take a series of exposures and later stack them in freeware like DeepSkyTracker to build a 'deeper' image.

If the telescope tracking is still producing trailed star images with these exposures then use even shorter exposures and or a focal reducer lens between drawtube and camera to reduce the overall telescope focal length for a wider view.

Good luck in your quest

Here's a pic taken New Years Day etc of M31 Andromeda Galaxy taken with a 350mm fl f/5 lens plus mono CCD camera and 85mm f/2 lens - latter slightly out of focus

[gordonm]

Many thanks Nytecam looks like some more kit is required, T adapter for a start.
I'll let you know how I get on.
regards
Gordon

[gordonm]

Hi to all
The telescope I have is a 150mm reflector telescope, the adaptor I have is a T mount (nothing like a T shape though)
The only place to attatch the camera is the telescope viewing port.
Do I need a different telescope for astro photography or is there some other kit I can buy.
Any help appreciated
regards
Gordon

[nytecam]

We're fishing in the dark Post a pic of telescope, eyepiece end and camera.