Archive 2018 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

Dragonfire
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

...I recently purchased a Canon 1D IV and an EF 24L II 1.4 and yesterday Adorama delivered a complete Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer setup with all accessories to use with a sturdy Manfrotto and a Sirui K40 ballhead.

...I live in NYC and the closest Dark Sky areas are 50 miles away, and I am not a fan of standing in the cold in the middle of the night.

BTW - my shooting partner decided to become a father, so, now I shot alone.

...do I need the Sky-Watcher system to photograph the Milky Way?

Advise please.

Feb 25, 2018 at 10:51 AM

jforkner
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

No!

Feb 25, 2018 at 12:12 PM

01Ryan10
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

I feel you need to have a deep interest in astronomy in the first place if you you're going to shoot astro. Do you watch space related shows on TV or YouTube during your spare time? If not, then you're probably not going to like astro photography.

Feb 25, 2018 at 01:02 PM

lgatlin
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

In response to your question, the answer is no. However, the majority of the Milky Way season occurs during cooler months of the year. I don’t like the cold either, but a beautiful, starry night sky wins out every time.

Feb 27, 2018 at 07:31 PM

Dragonfire
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

Thank you jforkner

Thank you Ryan

How the Universe Works is required viewing as my wife is searching for a way to return me to my home planet.

Thank you lgatlin

The Milky Way is in optimum viewing position during June and July on Long Island.

I returned the Sky-Watchter and will rely on 30 second stacked images for the Milky Way and forego Deep Sky Astro until we relocate to Lower Matecumbe Key.

Ice Fishing is also not my sport

Feb 28, 2018 at 07:18 AM

mhayes5254
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

The Sky-Watcher would be a big help in shooting the milky way by allowing longer exposures at a lower ISO, but is not absolutely needed. However, I think you made the correct decision in returning it; at least for now. You can practice short exposures from the south shore of LI to get a feel for taking and processing sky pictures. If you get the astro bug more seriously, then purchase a Sky watcher, or perhaps a more substantial mount, depending on what else you want to do. As you mentioned, summer is the best season for the milky way. Winter has some other interesting things such as Orion, but most of these require longer lenses.

Feb 28, 2018 at 01:02 PM

Dragonfire
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

Thank you mhayes5254

Astro update - I purchased an iOptron Skytracker for $150 and a Canon 14L II for more than my wife should know, after selling the 24L II and I am going to give astro a shot. I might drive out west.

The 14L on the 1DsIII is fantastic for landscapes and I am certain it will do the job on the 1D IV for astro.

Mar 30, 2018 at 05:19 PM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

If you don't like standing in the cold in the middle of the night why did you buy that contraption?

Mar 30, 2018 at 05:44 PM

Dragonfire
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · To Astro or Not to Astro...

Jeffrey,

The Milky Way shots from Utah and the west are too hard to ignore.

Mar 30, 2018 at 05:51 PM


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