Nightfly
super member
Reged: 06/20/07
Posts: 149
Loc: Sullivan, Maine
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Another frame from my testing of the 300mm SMC Takumar (non-ED version).
July 5, 2008
NGC-7000 North America Nebula
Pentax 67 with 300mm SMC Takumar at full aperture f/4
30 minute exposure on Kodak E200 pushed +2 stops
Some high clouds passed by during exposure making Deneb appear bloated.
Larger version at: http://tinyurl.com/6krl44
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Jim Cormier
Sullivan, Maine, USA
www.nightfly.zoomshare.com
Survey Astronomer - Starlit Communities Project
Full Sky Light Pollution Measurement
Island Astronomy Institute
www.islandastro.org
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ClownFish
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/26/05
Posts: 5464
Loc: Washington, DC
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Now these recent shots show the power of that excellent lens, medium format film, and your skill. Great job!
CF
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Keep it simple, keep it cheap! Meade LXD75 SN8, Orion Guidescope, Olympus OM-1 and STI Stiletto. Celestron 15x70 Binos and SkyWindow. Learn all about POLAR ALIGNMENT with my Drift Method Tutorial and simulator!!
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tommyhawk13
sage
Reged: 09/28/07
Posts: 373
Loc: Jacksonville, Fl
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That's incrdeible!
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Meade Starfinder 8,Meade SN-8 OTA, Orion Atlas, and a handfull of film cameras
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s58y
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/12/04
Posts: 4493
Loc: Eastern NY
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Superb widefield shot. I like the huge number of pinpoint stars. The 60m by 70mm frame really gives a great FOV.
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Hutech 30D, SBIG ST-402 autoguider
SV80S, SV66 guidescope
AP900, G-11, Barndoor tracker
http://www.pbase.com/s58y
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Lee Jay
sage
Reged: 02/27/08
Posts: 260
Loc: Westminster, CO
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Is this taken at a relatively-dark site?
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Nightfly
super member
Reged: 06/20/07
Posts: 149
Loc: Sullivan, Maine
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Quote:
Is this taken at a relatively-dark site?
Very dark. Magnitude limit at my zenith (the area this photo was taken) was a little above 7th magnitude. I am fortunate that I live under this sky. It's right outside my door. 
Jim
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Jim Cormier
Sullivan, Maine, USA
www.nightfly.zoomshare.com
Survey Astronomer - Starlit Communities Project
Full Sky Light Pollution Measurement
Island Astronomy Institute
www.islandastro.org
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Lee Jay
sage
Reged: 02/27/08
Posts: 260
Loc: Westminster, CO
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Quote:
Quote:
Is this taken at a relatively-dark site?
Very dark. Magnitude limit at my zenith (the area this photo was taken) was a little above 7th magnitude. I am fortunate that I live under this sky. It's right outside my door.
Jim
Ah...that explains it. I've taken digital images at faster effective exposures than the one you mentioned, and managed an all-white frame, so I was wondering how you did that on film. A dark site is obviously a big help in the whole sky-glow thing!
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Nightfly
super member
Reged: 06/20/07
Posts: 149
Loc: Sullivan, Maine
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I could not do film based astrophotography under light polluted skies. I suppose that is where CCD's and DSLR's have such huge success. Stacking several short exposures is great (and easy as well as a must)for digital, but less practical for film. It can be done however. I take credit for my successful images, but my dark skies make it possible.
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Jim Cormier
Sullivan, Maine, USA
www.nightfly.zoomshare.com
Survey Astronomer - Starlit Communities Project
Full Sky Light Pollution Measurement
Island Astronomy Institute
www.islandastro.org
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AstroBobo
sage
Reged: 07/04/07
Posts: 381
Loc: Zagreb, Croatia
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Contrast seems pretty high. IMHO, I wouldn't push E200 over 1 stop - pushing increses contrast and E200 seems contrasty enough even without pushing..
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Boris Stromar : AD Infinitum member : Zagreb, Croatia, Europe
P75SDHF : P105SDP : MN71 : HEQ5
http://www.astrobobo.net
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Nightfly
super member
Reged: 06/20/07
Posts: 149
Loc: Sullivan, Maine
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Boris,
Thanks for your take on the image. I agree the contrast is too high in the center of the frame. The lens was wide open and field illumination was not even. These were test shots with the lens. I also had high clouds at the end of exposure. I will expose again and stop down to 5.6 getting rid of the vignetting. The lens seems to have good even illumination at 5.6. I disagree that pushing 2 stops is too much. Perhaps in this case. I will save that for another thread. I do appreciate your criticism.
Have you gotten your 67 working again? Have you tried the 300mm?
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Jim Cormier
Sullivan, Maine, USA
www.nightfly.zoomshare.com
Survey Astronomer - Starlit Communities Project
Full Sky Light Pollution Measurement
Island Astronomy Institute
www.islandastro.org
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AstroBobo
sage
Reged: 07/04/07
Posts: 381
Loc: Zagreb, Croatia
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Quote:
Have you gotten your 67 working again?
Unfortunately, not  Actually I have not been doing much film astrophotography lately, just a couple of quick DSLR shots.
Quote:
Have you tried the 300mm?
Um, no, I don't have the 300mm and no plans to buy one 
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Boris Stromar : AD Infinitum member : Zagreb, Croatia, Europe
P75SDHF : P105SDP : MN71 : HEQ5
http://www.astrobobo.net
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Thick_asa_Planck
Dark Sky Hunter
Reged: 09/04/04
Posts: 3341
Loc: UK
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Fantastic photo!
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It is often commonplace to leave the notation ambiguous - Anonymous
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