camera for night sky

Glaucus · 22 Feb 2014 at 13:02

Is it possible to get a camera for £200, second hand is fine that would be good for taking pictures of stary night sky.
I see things like canon eos 10d/20d/400d are very cheap second hand but with out lenses. But what camera and lens would be suitable, would also like a lenses for general landscape, waterfalls, rock formations that sort of thing. Reading guides, they seem to say any lens will work, but ones with a low f rating are ideal f/2.8 or smaller.

Glaucus · 22 Feb 2014 at 13:46

This sort of lens?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-35mm-1-8G/dp/B001S2PPT0

And this body?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-D80-D...cs&ie=UTF8&qid=1393076728&sr=1-2&keywords=d80

Glaucus · 22 Feb 2014 at 21:44

You saying get a manual focus lens for the night sky.
As auto focus would be useful for taking landscape and such pictures.

Can you guys link to products.

Glaucus · 22 Feb 2014 at 23:36

32mm or lower, wider the better, the pros use the 14mm lens. But they're pricey. For the star shots.

A variable would probably be useful for the other stuff, but would probably come the next pay check.

Glaucus · 23 Feb 2014 at 00:15

cwgk91 said:
Since you'll be going for an APS-C sized sensor camera, there is a 1.5x crop factor involved, so to get 30mm you'd have to find a 20mm lens which can be quite pricey.

d!

Can Yu convert this to English please, if you haven't guessed I really don't know anything. Only reason I've been able to give numbers is due to guides.

Glaucus · 23 Feb 2014 at 15:07

I know how to stack, been learning that with some remote telescope photography. Assuming Maxim DL5, can use RAW files. rather than FIT.
So what body and lens would you recommend PUZE?
If I get into it, then I can add more lenses latter. As long as a starter kit would get some half decent stuff.

I'll be taking it to dartmoor and other dark places, and then towards the end of the year Kilimanjaro, which should provide some very good night skies.

Glaucus · 23 Feb 2014 at 20:49

Thanks what lens should I be looking for in the kit. I take it the 18-55mm as that's what most seem to come with.

Glaucus · 23 Feb 2014 at 21:22

Ta, is the 600d better or worse than the 500d seem to be similar prices second hand, we'll 600d slightly more.

I hate these naming conventions, its so confusing.

Glaucus · 23 Feb 2014 at 22:26

Ta will see what I can get, pay days Friday. Following a couple so we shall see what turns up.

Glaucus · 24 Feb 2014 at 03:18

London camera exchange? Seems to be sod all on their and expensive.

Glaucus · 24 Feb 2014 at 22:53

What's Rebel t3i & kiss x5 mean on the 600Ds?

Glaucus · 25 Feb 2014 at 17:03

Is there any difference? As they go for less. Or is it Identical and just an import, in which case would make no difference with second hand goods.

Glaucus · 25 Feb 2014 at 22:41

PU7E said:
They're exactly the same, only difference is the badge and the lack of an EU warranty. If you're not fussed about either of these then go for one, just check the model names against the UK ones towards the bottom of the wiki article to be sure you're getting what you think you are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EOS

Thanks.

TheOtherOption said:
I have a fully working 18-55 Canon kit lens that I got with my old 500D that you could have for a few bob - the 500D has a dodgy shutter now so isn't in working order anymore!

Will keep in mind, but most come with that lenses anyway.

Glaucus · 3 Mar 2014 at 14:28

PU7E said:
Did you manage to find a cheap camera?

Not yet. Bid on a couple, several d600s and one 500d but didn't win.
Another 500d tonight, so will try again.

Glaucus · 3 Mar 2014 at 21:01

500d slightly over budget £220 hey ho. Just hope it turns up and works fine.

Glaucus · 4 Mar 2014 at 16:42

Ta, its been shipped so should have it Thursday hopefully.
In the mean time I purchased PhotoPlus magazine. I know now what all these random numbers mean and its got several guides I want to use, long exposure of water falls, combining two photos for skyline and ground. HDR image combining.

One thing it doesn't say is what version of PhotoShop is used to combine all these images, as there's so many these days. Going by adobe website. Lightfoot 5 seems the most likely candidate, is that right?

Also I need a remote. Will any do, can some do more than others?

Glaucus · 6 Mar 2014 at 12:02

Got my hands on it

Now need to learn how to use it.

Also need the smallest lightest bag for it any ideas? Likely to get two more lenses.
A prime wide angle and a prime 500mm would something like this be ok for moon shots?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/500mm-F6-...=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item51b9f7b195
Or something else?
And any reasonable and sub £100 2x teleconvetters to boost it up?

But need to get a bag and a remote, those are the priorities.

Glaucus · 6 Mar 2014 at 12:24

Is there any decent shops to go have a look at, which have a decent range?

The thing is the camera is going to be used mainly on ultrahigh hiking. So needs to fir in rucksack with all my camping kit, food etc.

How about a remote, are there certain remotes that you can change settings and thus making sure the camera doesn't move so you can combine images easily.

Glaucus · 7 Mar 2014 at 13:41

Unless I'm being dumb the 18-55mm lens doesn't have focusing guide for manual focus. Can I tell where infinity is? Is it just all the way in one direction or?

Glaucus · 7 Mar 2014 at 14:58

Any idea which way?

Going to go for a walk in a bit and hopefully Clifton suspension bridge will look good at dusk. There's also a few tracks with trees over the top which may or may not look good. An abandoned round stone building. So will basically have a play. Then get some mean critiques as they're bond to be rubbish.