20D First Day OutPosted By Steve Stonehill |
Mallard.
Posts Made By: Steve Stonehill
March 18, 2005 10:00 PM
Forum:
Birding Optics and Photos
March 19, 2005 09:09 PM
Forum:
Wildlife Photography
Backyard CrittersPosted By Steve Stonehill |
Squirrel shot with same set-up as Chipmunk.
March 27, 2005 04:16 AM
Forum:
Birding Optics and Photos
SLR advice for bird scopingPosted By Steve Stonehill |
Hi James,
I've only been into digital photography for a short time but I've used a Digital Rebel and a 20D for shooting through scopes, both at prime and digiscoping. I've shot through MCTs, SCTs, and apo refractors. I prefer the refractors by a large margin. I can wholeheartedly recommend a Digital Rebel, they're excellent cameras. I own two. Some people, like Tyler Allred, have had incredible success at hand holding scopes but I always use a tripod. The tripods and heads that are useful for refractors are no small investment in themselves and even the more compact types of scopes need solid support in most situations. The quality of the photos that a good scope can produce are worth the time and expense, IMHO. If you'd like I'll email you pics of the tripods and gear that I'm currently using.
Hope This Helps,
Steve
I've only been into digital photography for a short time but I've used a Digital Rebel and a 20D for shooting through scopes, both at prime and digiscoping. I've shot through MCTs, SCTs, and apo refractors. I prefer the refractors by a large margin. I can wholeheartedly recommend a Digital Rebel, they're excellent cameras. I own two. Some people, like Tyler Allred, have had incredible success at hand holding scopes but I always use a tripod. The tripods and heads that are useful for refractors are no small investment in themselves and even the more compact types of scopes need solid support in most situations. The quality of the photos that a good scope can produce are worth the time and expense, IMHO. If you'd like I'll email you pics of the tripods and gear that I'm currently using.
Hope This Helps,
Steve
August 20, 2005 11:02 AM
Forum:
Takahashi
5mm LE in a TEC 6.Posted By Steve Stonehill |
Hi Steve,
I just received Charlie Ryder's TEC 6 last night and had abou 45 minutes of observing before the clouds rolled in. I was able to use a Vixen Lanthanum 5mm EP on Vega, the double double, and Polaris. The skies were at best a 6/10 but I was still able to tell that 360x is no problem for the TEC. These TEC Maks are very, very nice scopes.
Clear Skies,
Steve
I just received Charlie Ryder's TEC 6 last night and had abou 45 minutes of observing before the clouds rolled in. I was able to use a Vixen Lanthanum 5mm EP on Vega, the double double, and Polaris. The skies were at best a 6/10 but I was still able to tell that 360x is no problem for the TEC. These TEC Maks are very, very nice scopes.
Clear Skies,
Steve
August 31, 2005 01:21 AM
Forum:
Politics
Looters---after the stormPosted By Steve Stonehill |
I would protect my own property with deadly force. I also feel that in times of crisis like this humanitarianism is the government's first responsibility, property protection a distant second. It would, IMHO, be proper for the government to deputize civilians that are willing to patrol the streets armed with camcorders and firearms to curtail looting. I can understand taking food, water, and infant supplies when none is available to purchase but looting other goods should be dealt with harshly and immediately.
Clear Skies,
Steve
Clear Skies,
Steve
September 25, 2005 01:22 PM
Forum:
Mounts
Mount for a 4" Refractor..Please HelpPosted By Steve Stonehill |
Hi Steve,
Any of the CG5 mounts from various sources will be more than adequate, I've owned the Orion SVP and used it successfully with 4" f9 and 4" f6.5 refractors. Another more expensive mount but great choice would be a Celestron ASGT, they're very stable for their size and the GOTO works extremely well.
Hope This Helps,
Steve
Any of the CG5 mounts from various sources will be more than adequate, I've owned the Orion SVP and used it successfully with 4" f9 and 4" f6.5 refractors. Another more expensive mount but great choice would be a Celestron ASGT, they're very stable for their size and the GOTO works extremely well.
Hope This Helps,
Steve
November 12, 2005 03:38 PM
Forum:
Chinese Optics Imports
I find it shameful...!Posted By Steve Stonehill |
Jeffrey Kurtz said:
...anyone know how long their website has been providing this sort of misinformation!
Ever since its inception.
Clear Skies,
Steve
November 24, 2005 06:34 PM
Forum:
Reflectors
Cood down times?Posted By Steve Stonehill |
Hi Dennis,
Like Jarno said it depends on the scope's construction. I have had great success with closed tube Newts by installing fans. One at the back of the mirror and one on the side of the tube approximately one inch above the primary mirror with corresponding vents drilled opposite the fan. With this system my 6" f8 cools down in thirty minutes or less. The difference before and after the fans were installed was profound.
Clear Skies,
Steve
Like Jarno said it depends on the scope's construction. I have had great success with closed tube Newts by installing fans. One at the back of the mirror and one on the side of the tube approximately one inch above the primary mirror with corresponding vents drilled opposite the fan. With this system my 6" f8 cools down in thirty minutes or less. The difference before and after the fans were installed was profound.
Clear Skies,
Steve
November 26, 2005 04:49 PM
Forum:
Equipment Talk
CELESTRON ADVANCED SERIES MOUNTSPosted By Steve Stonehill |
Hi Anil,
First let me say, I am no astrophotographer. There are far better qualified people to answer your questions but I thought this might be of interest to you. I shot this last night in poor seeing from a roughly polar aligned ASGT mount. I used a Canon 20D at ISO 1600 for 30 seconds at the prime focus of a Tak FS-102. The only processing other than resizing is increasing the contrast to darken the sky. I enjoy this mount immensely for not just the GOTO feature but its sturdiness and decent tracking for visual astronomy.
Clear Skies,
Steve
First let me say, I am no astrophotographer. There are far better qualified people to answer your questions but I thought this might be of interest to you. I shot this last night in poor seeing from a roughly polar aligned ASGT mount. I used a Canon 20D at ISO 1600 for 30 seconds at the prime focus of a Tak FS-102. The only processing other than resizing is increasing the contrast to darken the sky. I enjoy this mount immensely for not just the GOTO feature but its sturdiness and decent tracking for visual astronomy.
Clear Skies,
Steve
November 26, 2005 05:05 PM
Forum:
Equipment Talk
so many tec maks, so little cashPosted By Steve Stonehill |
Hi Glenn,
Walter got my TEC6 and all I got in return was his crummy Tak FS-102 and a bunch of second rate Tak accessories!
I loved that TEC6 but my local seeing conditions in winter, my favorite time to observe, aren't CAT friendly at all. Yuri's Maks are works of art not just scopes and I would recommend them for that reason amongst others. My problem is the fact that I live directly west of a large shallow bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The constant temp fluctuations and fronts make CATs frustrating to use especially when you know that you have some of the best optics available but rarely have the seeing to enjoy them. 
I also have a Nexstar 9.25 that doesn't get used half as much as my little refractors.
Clear Skies,
Steve
Walter got my TEC6 and all I got in return was his crummy Tak FS-102 and a bunch of second rate Tak accessories!
I loved that TEC6 but my local seeing conditions in winter, my favorite time to observe, aren't CAT friendly at all. Yuri's Maks are works of art not just scopes and I would recommend them for that reason amongst others. My problem is the fact that I live directly west of a large shallow bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The constant temp fluctuations and fronts make CATs frustrating to use especially when you know that you have some of the best optics available but rarely have the seeing to enjoy them. I also have a Nexstar 9.25 that doesn't get used half as much as my little refractors. Clear Skies,
Steve
