Otherwise known as camera-on-tripod astroimaging, this basic method provides the foundation you will need to get a feel for what astrophotography is and challenge you to work your way up the learning curve.
Where to Start
Many astroimagers find that entering the shallow end of the pool with the basic level provides them with enough challenges and rewards without moving on to higher steps. It all depends on your interests, time, budget and motivations. A 35mm SLR camera, film or digital, a cable release (film camera) or remote shutter release (digital camera) and a lightweight but sturdy tripod is all that is needed. Choosing your recording medium comes next. 35mm film or digital sensor?
Astroimaging With Film
If you plan on using film, obtain a fully-manual and mechanical 35mm SLR with the ability to set to Bulb. This will allow you to do long-exposures, often required in astroimaging, without concern for depleted batteries. Author H.J.P. Arnold, a well-known professional photographer and science writer, says of selecting a proper camera, "Cameras made by the likes of Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Minolta, Practika, Contax and Leica come immediately to mind." Furthermore, Arnold says, "Classic examples of such cameras will be readily recognized by older, experienced photographers - Nikon FMs, Olympus OM-1s, Canon F1s, SRT-101s from Minolta and not to forget the Pentak K-1000." Astrophotography: An Introduction to Film and Digital Imaging, Firefly Books Ltd., 2003, p.29.
35mm color print film from Fuji or Kodak in the ISO 25-400 range is good. Print film can be adjusted at the lab since its exposure latitude is more forgiving then slide film.
35mm color slide film is usually a favorite among astrophotographers since they produce vibrant images and are easier to catalog and use for presentations. The main disadvantage to slide film is its exposure latitude. With slides, "what you see is what you get' and the celestial imager must be more accurate with exposure settings.
Author Jeffrey R. Charles says, "For astrophotography, the subjects you shoot and how you intend to display your images will have a lot to do with which basic type of film you should use." Practical Astrophotography, p.12, Springer 2000.Shooting Digitally
Here is a list of items to remember when pursuing digital astroimaging:
- Digital 35mm SLR (6 megapixels or more)
- A light-weight but sturdy tripod with ball head or 3-way pan head
- Standard to wide-angle lenses with fast optics
- Remote shutter release
- Memory card with enough memory and spare
- Fully-charged battery and spare
- Electrical power supply (optional)
- Lens cleaning cloth or brush
What is a DSLR?
Author Michael A. Covington in his new book says, "A DSLR is a digital camera that is built like a film SLR (single-lens reflex) and has the ability to interchange lenses. You can attach a DSLR to anything that will form an image, whether it's a modern camera lens, an old lens you have adapted, or a telescope, microscope, or other instrument." Digital SLR Astrophotography, p.3, Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Some of the best digital SLR's for astroimaging are manufactured by Canon and Nikon, although other camera makers such as Leica, Sony, Pentax and Olympus also provide good choices. You can buy the best digital or film camera but without a proper support system your imaging will be fruitless. An astroimager may be somewhat successful with short exposures of a bright object such as the moon while handholding the camera. The moon is big and bright providing enough light for your meter and with an image-stablizing lens (IS) attached, you might get a "keeper."
The Camera and Tripod – A Crucial Connection
Tripods are a "must" for astrophotography in which long exposures from 1 sec to as much as 6 hours are routinely done. The tripod must be lightweight so that it is easy to carry, assemble and deassemble in the field but also must be sturdy to hold the weight of the camera and to prevent induced vibrations caused by nature's elements such as wind.
Also of importance is using high quality glass and fast optics. This is especially true of higher quality DSLRs. Using a 12-, 15- or 22-megapixel camera with a $130 lens defeats the purpose of obtaining high quality images. Try to purchase fixed focal-length lenses with fast optics in the f2-f2.8 range. If not, zoom lenses today are also good but be sure to buy "fast glass".
- For more extensive information on astrophotography techniques go to Jerry Lodriguss's site called "Catching the Light" at www.astropix.com
- For an informative personal article "Introduction to Basic Night-Sky Photography" go to www.ronaldzinconephotography.com and click on "Astrophotography Tips."
In the next article, you will be introduced to the typical and not so typical celestial objects you can image as a fixed-tripod astrophotographer.
Ronald Zincone - Based in Richmond, Rhode Island, Ronald Zincone, C.P.C., is a certified photographic consultant and an award-winning astrophotographer. He ...
