Landscapeastro moving towards Astrophotography

[Tri Danimal]

Lately, I have been into Landscape and Landscapeastro photography. I find myself looking to the skies a lot more this past month. I was out at my brothers house this past weekend trying to get a glimps of the Geminis metior shower, sadly nothing was on display for us. I did notice that the skies were super dark and star rich. This had me wishing I had a telescope for capturing photos of the sky. Does anyone here partake in astrophotography? DO you guys have any reccomendations for starter gear?

I am looking at the William Optics Zenithstar 61 for a scope and the Vixen Polarie Star Tracker for a tracker. With this combo, I can get into Astro for under $1000, which is nice for this hobby.

If you have otehr gear that you reccomend please let me know.

[rudi]

Hi Daniel,

WO produces high end, high quality optics. So very good choice IMHO. This one is a 'small' very portable refractor used for wide field deep sky imagary, and not so suitable for landscapeastro photography.
For photography, you also might 'need' a dedicated field flattener, and the apropriate T mount adapter for your camera, which comes with a price tag off course.

The Vixen Polarie Star Tracker is, IMO, suitable for a small DSLR with a wide angle lens, but not the best choice for the heavier combo you are looking at.
Take a look at the iOptron SkyGuider Pro, which is heavier, sturdier, also very portable, easy to setup and comes with a few very usable extra's, off course a bit more expensive...

Don't forget to add a very, very sturdy tripod !!

Iff you live in a light polluted area, you also might consider an Astronomik CLS clip in filter.

HTH, YMMV.

[Tri Danimal]

Rudi,

Thanks for the comments. After some research, it appears you are correct, the polarie is good for camera and lens setups. The polarie is also a pain in the rear end for polar alignment.

A bit more research allowed me to find the WO Zenithstar 61 "kit" for about $1000. I also noticed that WO has the Zenithstar 73 kit for $1150.

Both kits come with a field flattener and it appears a tripod as well.

I guess my next question is for the $150 price increase is the 73 worth it?

[rudi]

Hi Daniel,

Pricewise, two very interesting offers, no doubt about that !! Be sure to check for the necessary accesories though !!

Let me first say that I have no personal experience with the Z61 nor the Z73...

IMO the Z73 is worth the 150$ extra....But, yes there is a but as usual.... :

With the Z61 you are about on the max payload for the iOptron SkyGuider Pro. The Z73 is a lot more scope, heavier, so personally I would use a heavier mount for the Z73 like an EQ-5, which is off course much more expensive, and lets say, less portable than the iOptron….
Iff you persue the astro route, than you probably will add a guide scope, guide camera to the package in the future, adding more load to the mount…..

Iff you shop around, I am sure you can find interesting deals on second hand EQ-5, or EQ-6 mounts.

Don't forget to order a dewheater !


HTH.

[JBW]

I was an avid amateur astronomer and have often considered astrophotography. The first question to ask yourself is: what do I want to photograph. Basically solar system versus deep space. each has its own gear list.

Either option can be done with a DSLR camera and no telescope. Your camera, a good tracking mount and the right lens (I used the Tamron 90mm without a tracking mount and got good results) and you can get into astrophotography for the price of a good DSLR tracking mount (somewhere around 600 dollars)

[Tri Danimal]

After talking about this at length with my wife I, I mean we, decided that it would actually be a better investment for us to get the Sigma 150-600 C with MC11 adapter. This lens will be able to pull tripple duty this year: Rock Climbing, Air Shows, and Astro.

Also after some research, it appears there is no issue stacking EF-mount teleconverters if needed but the E-mount teleconverters only work with the sony GMaster lens types and they are not stackable. I'm not saying Ill need to stack them but its an option doen the road.

[rpcrowe]

Daniel.

I would try the 150-500mm lens on the MC-11 adapter with your Sony e-mount camera before I splurged on the combination.

Here is a listing of lenses which Sigma states will work with e mount cameras.

https://www.sigma-global.com/en/lens...unt-converter/

Although Sigma states that this lens is compatible with the MC-11 lens on an e-mount camera, the actual compatibility has a lot to do with the model Sony mirrorless camera you are using.

Some say that the selected Sigma Canon mount lenses integrate flawlessly with the Sony cameras but. I have found that I really like the capability of the native Sony glass, especially when using a pre A6500 or pre A7iii camera.

The MC-11 adapted lenses do not always have all the auto focus capabilities/speed of the Native Sony glass. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7RBpVHOsPI
Take it for what it is worth but this is not exactly a rave review.

I don't know just how the MC-11 adapted 150-600mm lens will work for you and your camera. It may work just fine but, I would recommend that you try the combination by either stopping by at a brick and mortar store that stocks both items or by renting the lens and adapter for a trial run...

[rudi]

After talking about this at length with my wife ........ to pull tripple duty this year: Rock Climbing, Air Shows, and Astro......

No telescope can beat a tripple duty lens....

[JBW]

No telescope can beat a tripple duty lens....

hmmm, would I trade my Tamron 272E for unlimited Hubble time? in a flash

[Tri Danimal]

hmmm, would I trade my Tamron 272E for unlimited Hubble time? in a flash

Shoot, I'd trade your Tamron 272E for Hubble time too ;-)

[Tri Danimal]

Daniel.

I would try the 150-500mm lens on the MC-11 adapter with your Sony E-mount camera before I splurged on the combination.

I don't know just how the MC-11 adapted 150-600mm lens will work for you and your camera. It may work just fine but, I would recommend that you try the combination by either stopping by at a brick and mortar store that stocks both items or by renting the lens and adapter for a trial run...

Well, the good news is the lens kit gets delivered this Friday (aka tomorrow).

The better news is I ordered from BandH and they have an extended return window until mid-Feb which means I have many opportunities to test out this lens kit. I have a New Years Eve trip planned to be in the local mountains at about just about 5,200ft of elevation (testing out Lunar photography). Jan 11th-13th We will be out at a rock climbing and camping weekend with all kinds of shinaginans happening. Jan 19th we will be camping out in the desert for more astro gazing. Feb 7-11th we will be in Utah for a SnowShoeing excursion (ill probably leave the 150-600 at home and bting the tamron 28-75 for this one).

But basically I have a lot of upcomming opportunities to try out this lens kit to see if it is right for me.