This is a quick list of Equipment I have and what I want. I have yet to have the time to get any spectacular images yet, but I think I could get some good ones given some practice. This is mainly a list for myself, but in case anyone else is interested in what to get for starting out in astrophotography, here’s a reference point. My next post on this topic will likely be a description of how I plan to use this to take wicked pics of planets, nebulae, and hopefully some galaxies.
- Meade LX-10 telescope with declination motor kit (no longer sold new, but check craigslist)
- Hacked together arduino system for guidance
- HD Webcam for guidance and tracking
- Green laser pointer for pointing at stars and such to make show people what I’m talking about (pointing into the sky with your finger is useless…) Make sure there are NO aircraft in your entire field of view before using this! While they don’t make the exact one I have anymore, this one seems to be the closest I can find.
- I have a set of spirit (bubble) levels. I like using the T-type level to level my tripod and the top of my tube when polar aligning, and I use a torpedo level to level my forks. I got all of mine at a discount hardware store and all together they costs like $8, and this included a line set level.
- Meade 1.25″ diagonal prism
- 26mm plossi lens
- 2x barlow lens
- Extension tube (Mine’s a meade, but they don’t seem to make them anymore)
- Canon T-ring for my friend’s 5D
- Nikon T-ring for my Fuji and Nikon
- The book Nightwatch: A practical guide to viewing the Universe. I literally keep this in my telescope bag and bring it with me everywhere I go!
- My Red head lamp is priceless out in the field! I love the ability to flip it up and down when I’m using it. Be aware though because it turns the white LED on first, the second time you push the button it turns on the red LEDs so hold your hand over it until the red LEDs come on to save your nightvision.
- A must-have is this wireless shutter-release for my Nikon. It uses radio, not IR so I can literally be inside my car or house and set the thing to take an image. This is great for winter nights. It has other modes on it as well.
- You can also use an android or iOS app called DSLRDashboard which controls your DSLR via a tablet or phone. It gives you control of pretty much all the camera settings (except manual settings such as the autofocus switches on the lenses) from a tablet or cell phone. With this, you’ll simply need a USB “On The Go” OTG cable and your camera’s USB cable. The OTG cable allows you to plug devices such as cameras, keyboards, mice, flash drives, etc. into your tablet or phone. I prefer using the 90-degree cables to keep all the cables clean and out of the way.
- Though, I’ve really been considering getting this wireless adapter for my Nikon because it will replace the wired setup mentioned above. This will be mainly for if it is too cold for comfort.
When I’m roughing it, and my wife won’t let me use the Nikon, I use my old Fuji DSLR. I have my manual cable release for it so I can do long exposures the old-fashioned way.
My low-cost DIY Dew Sheild. - And since I mentioned it, my telescope bag didn’t cost me much.
My next purchases:
- An 8″ dewsheild Honestly, I think that since I’m in the humidity of the southeastern US, a heated dewshield might be better, but they are a hassle trying to get a battery to run them all night, especially if it is cold out. They also cost more like $80 as opposed to my dollar store windsheild reflectors.
- Teleview powerview 4 1.25″ diameter (The 5 seems even better!)
- Teleview T-ring adaptor
- 3X barlow. This will fit inside by extension tube so I can get 3X zoom to my camera mounted at prime focus: