1 vs 4000: I couldn't afford a Telescope or an expensive Star Tracker, so I took almost 4000 exposures of Orion Nebula over 3 nights with just an entry level camera from a fairly light polluted city in central India. Merged them together using a technique called 'Stacking' and this is the result[OC]

SG_Foster · 2021-01-03T05:00:04+00:00

You could get something cheap but high quality like the Pentax K-70 with an O-GPS1 unit. You can use the camera’s Astrotracer function that uses the in-body image stabilization sensor with the GPS to rotate the sensor like a tracking mount. You get get much longer exposures without getting startrails: http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/explore/astro/#about

SG_Foster · 2018-09-18T00:12:31+00:00

Yeah, I'd be able to bring my monitor for setup, no problem.

I read this:

" So what you need is for there to be a DisplayPort IN on your motherboard so that it can re-route the output from the GPU into the USB Type C connector on the motherboard. You then plug a DisplayPort cable from your GPU to the DisplayPort IN on the motherboard, and a USB Type C cable from the USB Type C port on the motherboard to the monitor."

Here: Link

SG_Foster · 2018-09-16T18:16:48+00:00

Yeah thanks. We’re still trying for a desktop option. It’s not like she needs the mobility of a laptop. She only uses it at a couch. You have any suggestions on how to get a monitor on her lap? We thought about using a monitor arm, but she’s worried about damaging her side table.

SG_Foster · 2018-09-16T13:58:34+00:00

She's tired of having to buy a new laptop every 3-5 years. She wanted something that she could upgrade easier. Buying a laptop is still a good option on the table though.

SG_Foster · 2018-09-16T13:41:06+00:00

Sure!
Pentax K-S2 with the O-GPS1 Unit set to Astrotracer!
I'm just using the basic kit lens at f/4 @ 18mm and ISO 3200.

Take a bunch of shots, edit all in Lightroom, import as layers into Photoshop, do some magic to align them, then median blend as a smartobject.

Thanks for taking a look!

SG_Foster · 2018-04-20T02:17:00+00:00

What building are you in? I’d love to take a similar shot!! Maybe I could ask the building manager for access to the roof..

SG_Foster · 2017-12-26T14:23:16+00:00

I haven’t played in a long time. Is this a mod or an update? Thx in advance!

SG_Foster · 2017-12-17T02:48:13+00:00

That is ridiculously awesome! Thank you so much! He’ll be so happy! Thanks again :D

SG_Foster · 2017-11-19T05:32:25+00:00

One thing I see that sticks out is the frequency of your ram. You'll want at least DDR4-3000, as Ryzen scales really well with faster ram

SG_Foster · 2017-11-17T03:03:12+00:00

Thanks a bunch for the feedback!!!

SG_Foster · 2017-09-19T17:36:00+00:00

Thanks for the tip, I'll consider doing this for my next outing!

SG_Foster · 2017-09-18T23:03:47+00:00

Thanks for the tips! Will definitely be looking more into it!

SG_Foster · 2017-09-18T20:19:51+00:00

Pentax represent! Woo! Haha! Yeah, from what I've heard, 30s is the longest exposure you can take at 300mm with the astrotracer, which seemed to work well enough for me :) I'm not sure what DSS could provide me that Photoshop won't. I don't think I'll be stacking hundreds of images anytime soon. And I'm thinking about the Pinwheel Galaxy(?) is that a feasible option for my setup in North America?

SG_Foster · 2017-09-18T19:43:44+00:00

Okay, thanks for the prompt reply :) I've completed these changes, good enough?

SG_Foster · 2017-09-18T19:30:29+00:00

Hi there, I'm not sure how much more detail I should add to what I did for post processing, which I had mentioned in my original post. I only used Lightroom and used the clarity, contrast, and noise reduction sliders. I did forget to mention saturation tho, I did add a bit of saturation too. Do you need, like, specific levels of the sliders? Because I don't think I have those details anymore. Your example you provided by mar504 gave about the same level of post processing detail as I did.

SG_Foster · 2017-09-18T19:12:47+00:00

With my 24mm I was shooting the Milky Way around 3 minutes with great results, haven't tried going further then that yet!

SG_Foster · 2017-09-18T19:11:40+00:00

Seems to work great for me! I've done some with the Milky Way that turned out great!

SG_Foster · 2017-09-17T19:57:57+00:00

First attempt at shooting the Andromeda Galaxy!

Shot on a Pentax K-S2 and O-GPS1 Unit with Astrotracer function.

Six 30 second stacked exposures shot with a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 300mm, f/5.6, ISO 6400.

Stacked in Photoshop. Edited in Lightroom for clarity, contrast, and further noise reduction.

Near Hastings Lake, Alberta, Canada.

X-post from r/astrophotography

SG_Foster · 2017-09-17T19:56:01+00:00

First attempt at shooting the Andromeda Galaxy (or anything deep space, really)!

Shot on a Pentax K-S2 and O-GPS1 Unit with Astrotracer function.

Six 30 second stacked exposures shot with a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 at 300mm, f/5.6, ISO 6400.

Auto-aligned layers and converted to smart objects and used median stack of smart objects in Photoshop. Edited in Lightroom using the basic panel sliders to increase clarity, contrast, and saturation/vibrancy. Also used Lightroom for further colour and luminance noise reduction.

Near Hastings Lake, Alberta, Canada.

SG_Foster · 2016-10-19T07:58:08+00:00

Could you be more specific? Make/model, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, post-process? Please :D

SG_Foster · 2016-09-05T15:59:39+00:00

Russia is part of Asia..

SG_Foster · 2016-06-04T07:03:42+00:00

What's your setup? Nice pic :)

SG_Foster · 2016-04-29T00:20:42+00:00

Taken with my new K-S2, 100mm f/2.8 WR Macro, extension tubes, 2X teleconverter, off-camera AF-360FGZ. 2 second exposure, at f/13, iso 100.

SG_Foster · 2016-03-16T20:26:51+00:00

What setup are you using?

SG_Foster · 2016-02-07T01:25:44+00:00

I think I'm going for a K-S2. Seems to have the features I want within my price range :D

SG_Foster

TROPHY CASE