Canon Pics

Canon 350D, 2010-

2006-2009

As the Eclipse/Southern Hemisphere trip in June/July 2010 grew closer, I became increasingly concerned about the weight problems in taking the originally planned set up for eclipse and astro photography using my Series 5000 80 mm refractor on my EQ3-2 mount. I considered a premium small refractor, but after considerable web browsing, in particular this site, I invested in the superb Canon EF 400 f5.6L prime telephoto lens. I also managed to reduce the size of the guiding system by using a small 300mm fl mirror lens which strangely although supposedly M42 lens thread screwed easily into the 'T' threaded XY guider without an adapter.

Total weight saving a little over 3 Kg. Doesn't sound much, but with airline weight restrictions....

The lens has a built in retracting hood about 75 mm deep when extended - very useful for protection and stray light exclusion as well as dew prevention. The rig as shown here is in deep sky guiding mode, but for the eclipse photography only the 400L will be used. The odd looking object mounted on the camera 'hot shoe' is a red dot finder for night time use.

Postscript. Would you believe after all that, shortly before the trip I was informed that our luggage allowance was almost twice that originally expected. So no need for the weight worries and I could have stayed with the 80 mm telescope! But in the end I didn't take the 80 mm - even with three suitcases our weight was on the limit for each case, and four cases would have been unmanageable when travelling, particularly in the Motor Caravan in New Zealand!

Of course having bought the 400L lens, I had to test it with the Canon 350D camera. A sequence of 15 x 5 minute sub frames, ISO 800 at f6.3 yielded this shot of M81 and M82.

Full size.

The owner of the 'shootout' site, also devised a system whereby using a Barlow type lens it is possible to use a diagonal and eyepiece. Details here. So I fired up my lathe and made a similar item using the bayonet adapter and other parts of a remarkably cheap but well made extension tube macro ring.

These are readily available on the Internet, particularly Amazon and ebay. Search for 'Macro Extender', be sure to get the correct pattern for your make of camera lens. No need for one with internal wiring. Works well, and I was also able to make a fitting to use the lens with my ST4000 XCM. Unfortunately not enough back focus for the ST-10 with filter wheel.

Later. I eventually managed to make a slimmed down version of the lens adapter which *does* allow the 400 mm lens to reach focus with my ST-10. But only just - my Tamron zoom lens which I used for the wide angle Milky Way shots below still doesn't provide quite enough back focus.

The bayonet section had to be trimmed, losing the spring for the locking pin - an elastic band takes care of that in use! And the insert is very thin to allow the lens to fit - the web is only 0.5 mm! But it does the job. It's epoxied in place, but if I were to make another one I'd probably thread it and the bayonet housing for a more secure fixing, also using epoxy resin or superglue to prevent unscrewing.

Later again (January 2012) My new QSI camera with the ws front fitted allows my Tamron lens to reach focus! The 'T' thread on my home made adapter which only just held firm on my ST-10 was not good enough for the QSI fitting. But a few hours in my workshop and a new part did the trick.

The focal length of the lens with the Barlowed system is around 1300 mm, so a finder is necessary. There was just enough room to fit a red dot unit on the adapter! I had earlier cobbled up a finder mounting block for my camera as also seen in the main picture, so all set :-)

A further experiment with the 400L lens bore fruit! The already good photographs are even sharper when the lens is stopped down to f6.3 or even f7.1 But this introduces substantial diffraction 'Star bursts' on bright stars due to the diaphragm blades. I found that by stopping down the lens using an external mask I obtained images even cleaner than with the diaphragm, and without star bursts. A modified lens cap makes an excellent removable mask, and has the advantage that if I am using the lens with my ST-4000XCM I don't need the Canon camera available to preset the stop.

The star featured here is 2nd magnitude eta Bootis. This system seems to work well on most prime lenses, but experiments with zoom lenses showed substantial vignetting.

Following the 2010 Solar Eclipse in the South Pacific, it was always my intention to photograph the Southern Milky Way, not only in wide field, but also with some more close up images using the 400 mm lens. I had no opportunity on Tahiti or Moorea, and for most of the following two weeks on New Zealand the Moon was intrusive. Towards the end of that stay I obtained this image from a dark camp site (we were in a camper van) at Fairlie in South Island. Lots of trees unfortunately, and the Moon rose before I could go for close ups. But good views of the Clouds of Magellan, the Southern Cross, the Coalsack and Carina nebulae. Composite of 5 x 5 minute exposures at ISO800, Canon 350D and Tamron 17-50 lens at 17 mm and f5.6 Full Size

This image featured in the September 2011 Sky at Night magazine CD 'Hotshots' section.

And some features named. Full size.

NOTE The full size versions of these three deep sky images are all over 1 MB in size

After leaving New Zealand we travelled via Sydney to Tasmania, and I was given a warm welcome by Shevill Mathers who lives on the outskirts of Hobart. He has a large home observatory with superb equipment. Thanks for an enjoyable visit, Shevill. His excellent web site is here.

And just to prove I was there!

Although Shevill lives only a few miles outside Hobart, nevertheless he has very good sky conditions. This is a photo he took from his home. Single frame, Canon 450D 10 seconds static shot with a Sigma 30mm lens at f/2 and ISO 1600. Wish I had skies like that!

From Hobart, we moved North to stay with relations near Launceston. With four nights there I expected to be able to enjoy the night sky - New Moon and a dark site. But it was not to be - cloud and rain alas. The only remaining opportunity was from the next stop with relations on the Gold Coast near Brisbane. But there was light pollution and a brightening Moon. Nevertheless I obtained this pic of the heart of the Milky Way - a couple of constellation figures in for identification. Canon 350D, 5 x 5 minute sub frames at ISO 800, Tamron lens at 17 mm. Constellation figures also on the medium size image (click on thumbnail).

Full size.

All the 17 mm shots were taken unguided on my EQ3-2 mount - the mount tracking was accurate enough at the short focal length, and I had a good Polar alignment. So to finish off, I zoomed the lens up to 50 mm, just for a try. And indeed the unguided tracking was good enough at that focal length as well. This shows the Southern Cross and Coalsack area. So although I had a guide camera with me, I never used it. Full size.

I guess I'll have to return South some time. Maybe in 2012 for the Transit of Venus !

At the same time as I was collecting colour data for NGC 1961 on the night of 15th November, I imaged much of Ursa Major wide field with my Canon 350D and Tamron 17-50 zoom lens at 17 mm f5.6 Unguided on my EQ3-2 mount. 14 x 5 minutes at ISO 800, stacked in Deep Sky Stacker, final processing in Photoshop. Cropped a little - some coma. How many galaxies can you find? You'll be surprised how small they are in this wide field context! M51 is particularly interesting.

This image was used in the December 2010 Sky at Night BBC TV programme.

Full Size (1.1 MB!)

When I'd finished messing about with my earlier ST-4000XCM offering of a wide field Orion, I got to wondering how my modded Canon 350D would cope with the subject. So while out on the evening of 8th February 2011, I left it running unguided on my EQ6 mount for a couple of hours with this result. I'd felt the slightly smaller pixels might resolve the stars better than the SBIG ST-4000XCM, but there's nothing in it - the SBIG version looks more fussy simply because more background stars are visible!

I'd intended to image at ISO800, but in fact (I was in a hurry and didn't check!) ended up with ISO 1600. 14 x 10 minute subs, same Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lens at approx 30 mm, f5.6. Dark frame subtracted of course, and it was pretty cold, so not much noise anyway. Considering the SBIG was cooled to -30 deg C and I used 15 minute subs for that pic, I think the Canon has acquitted itself quite well. But IMHO the dedicated camera wins - so it should for the money!

Again used StarSpikes Pro to bring up the main stars. Full size (2 MB!)

Still those dratted power line shadows. I don't think I'll get another proper chance this winter. Maybe next season if I and the world survive .

On 2nd September 2011 comet P1 Garradd was due to pass close to the 'hook' of Collinder 33 - the Coathanger asterism. But the forecast for that night (and those either side) was dismal, and unfortunately proved to be correct for my part of the country. However the weather did relent briefly on the evening of 30th August, and I was able to get a wide field image of the comet and Coathanger prior to the close encounter. 10 x 5 minute exposures with my Canon 350D camera and a 200 mm camera lens. Larger image.

This image appeared in the Gallery section of the November 2011 Astronomy Now magazine, and again (cropped) in the April 2012 'Sky Diary' section

There was a fine conjunction of Venus with the Pleiades on the night of 5th April 2012. But so bright in comparison! Stack of 5 x 5 minute subs with darks, Canon 350D with Canon 400L prime lens and f7 round mask. The mask is to reduce diffraction spikes, but it would appear that I've either got diffraction circles (!) or multiple internal reflections. A strange effect!

Larger image.

As the Eclipse/Southern Hemisphere trip in June/July 2010 grew closer, I became increasingly concerned about the weight problems in taking the originally planned set up for eclipse and astro photography using my Series 5000 80 mm refractor on my EQ3-2 mount. I considered a premium small refractor, but after considerable web browsing, in particular this site, I invested in the superb Canon EF 400 f5.6L prime telephoto lens. I also managed to reduce the size of the guiding system by using a small 300mm fl mirror lens which strangely although supposedly M42 lens thread screwed easily into the 'T' threaded XY guider without an adapter. Total weight saving a little over 3 Kg. Doesn't sound much, but with airline weight restrictions.... The lens has a built in retracting hood about 75 mm deep when extended - very useful for protection and stray light exclusion as well as dew prevention. The rig as shown here is in deep sky guiding mode, but for the eclipse photography only the 400L will be used. The odd looking object mounted on the camera 'hot shoe' is a red dot finder for night time use. Postscript. Would you believe after all that, shortly before the trip I was informed that our luggage allowance was almost twice that originally expected. So no need for the weight worries and I could have stayed with the 80 mm telescope! But in the end I didn't take the 80 mm - even with three suitcases our weight was on the limit for each case, and four cases would have been unmanageable when travelling, particularly in the Motor Caravan in New Zealand!
Of course having bought the 400L lens, I had to test it with the Canon 350D camera. A sequence of 15 x 5 minute sub frames, ISO 800 at f6.3 yielded this shot of M81 and M82. Full size.
The owner of the 'shootout' site, also devised a system whereby using a Barlow type lens it is possible to use a diagonal and eyepiece. Details here. So I fired up my lathe and made a similar item using the bayonet adapter and other parts of a remarkably cheap but well made extension tube macro ring. These are readily available on the Internet, particularly Amazon and ebay. Search for 'Macro Extender', be sure to get the correct pattern for your make of camera lens. No need for one with internal wiring. Works well, and I was also able to make a fitting to use the lens with my ST4000 XCM. Unfortunately not enough back focus for the ST-10 with filter wheel. Later. I eventually managed to make a slimmed down version of the lens adapter which does allow the 400 mm lens to reach focus with my ST-10. But only just - my Tamron zoom lens which I used for the wide angle Milky Way shots below still doesn't provide quite enough back focus. The bayonet section had to be trimmed, losing the spring for the locking pin - an elastic band takes care of that in use! And the insert is very thin to allow the lens to fit - the web is only 0.5 mm! But it does the job. It's epoxied in place, but if I were to make another one I'd probably thread it and the bayonet housing for a more secure fixing, also using epoxy resin or superglue to prevent unscrewing. Later again (January 2012) My new QSI camera with the ws front fitted allows my Tamron lens to reach focus! The 'T' thread on my home made adapter which only just held firm on my ST-10 was not good enough for the QSI fitting. But a few hours in my workshop and a new part did the trick. The focal length of the lens with the Barlowed system is around 1300 mm, so a finder is necessary. There was just enough room to fit a red dot unit on the adapter! I had earlier cobbled up a finder mounting block for my camera as also seen in the main picture, so all set :-)
A further experiment with the 400L lens bore fruit! The already good photographs are even sharper when the lens is stopped down to f6.3 or even f7.1 But this introduces substantial diffraction 'Star bursts' on bright stars due to the diaphragm blades. I found that by stopping down the lens using an external mask I obtained images even cleaner than with the diaphragm, and without star bursts. A modified lens cap makes an excellent removable mask, and has the advantage that if I am using the lens with my ST-4000XCM I don't need the Canon camera available to preset the stop. The star featured here is 2nd magnitude eta Bootis. This system seems to work well on most prime lenses, but experiments with zoom lenses showed substantial vignetting.

Following the 2010 Solar Eclipse in the South Pacific, it was always my intention to photograph the Southern Milky Way, not only in wide field, but also with some more close up images using the 400 mm lens. I had no opportunity on Tahiti or Moorea, and for most of the following two weeks on New Zealand the Moon was intrusive. Towards the end of that stay I obtained this image from a dark camp site (we were in a camper van) at Fairlie in South Island. Lots of trees unfortunately, and the Moon rose before I could go for close ups. But good views of the Clouds of Magellan, the Southern Cross, the Coalsack and Carina nebulae. Composite of 5 x 5 minute exposures at ISO800, Canon 350D and Tamron 17-50 lens at 17 mm and f5.6 Full Size This image featured in the September 2011 Sky at Night magazine CD 'Hotshots' section. And some features named. Full size. NOTE The full size versions of these three deep sky images are all over 1 MB in size
After leaving New Zealand we travelled via Sydney to Tasmania, and I was given a warm welcome by Shevill Mathers who lives on the outskirts of Hobart. He has a large home observatory with superb equipment. Thanks for an enjoyable visit, Shevill. His excellent web site is here.
And just to prove I was there!
Although Shevill lives only a few miles outside Hobart, nevertheless he has very good sky conditions. This is a photo he took from his home. Single frame, Canon 450D 10 seconds static shot with a Sigma 30mm lens at f/2 and ISO 1600. Wish I had skies like that!
From Hobart, we moved North to stay with relations near Launceston. With four nights there I expected to be able to enjoy the night sky - New Moon and a dark site. But it was not to be - cloud and rain alas. The only remaining opportunity was from the next stop with relations on the Gold Coast near Brisbane. But there was light pollution and a brightening Moon. Nevertheless I obtained this pic of the heart of the Milky Way - a couple of constellation figures in for identification. Canon 350D, 5 x 5 minute sub frames at ISO 800, Tamron lens at 17 mm. Constellation figures also on the medium size image (click on thumbnail). Full size.
All the 17 mm shots were taken unguided on my EQ3-2 mount - the mount tracking was accurate enough at the short focal length, and I had a good Polar alignment. So to finish off, I zoomed the lens up to 50 mm, just for a try. And indeed the unguided tracking was good enough at that focal length as well. This shows the Southern Cross and Coalsack area. So although I had a guide camera with me, I never used it. Full size. I guess I'll have to return South some time. Maybe in 2012 for the Transit of Venus !