Hi,

Have a look at GeoSetter. A freeware program that lets you tag files (pef, dng and jpg) and in the most recent version also supports some GPS-tagging devices. Export to Google Earth is also an option.

I can really recommend it.

Roger.

I used to use a M auto bellows, combined with a 70 mm 2,8 lens. The problem for me was that the lowest magnification with the bellows was still to large and without the bewllows, the magnification was way too low. The problem is that the bellows themselves take up some space between lens and sensor. And those millimeters are just to much if you want to work in a more or less common macro range.
Besides, working with bellows requires more 'fiddling' than a dedicated macro lens.

My suggestion would be to use a bellows for reproduction larger than 1:1 and to use a macro lens for everything else. After looking around a bit, I decided on the Tamron 90 mm 2,8 macro. Is is a great, sharp lens. I really recommend it.

Roger.

Impressive effort! Looking forward to your postings.
Roger.

Hi Ian,

Orion comes out very nice. I hadn't noticed the house in the lower left part, 'till I read your comments. The shot of the moon apears a bit unsharp.

BTW, how do you test for accurate focus for your astro-images? I find it particularly difficult and am considering a right angle finder and immediate check of the focus on a laptop (using tethered shooting).

Any ideas (apart from the Hartmann masks etc)?

Greetings,
Roger.

@ John & Tyr,

Thanks for your comments.

The Multi Exposure could be a real benefit here, though the problem will be the accurate tracking so that stars remain points of light instead of becoming tracks. But nonetheless, it is worth trying, and I think I'll try it first with stills or landscapes.

Roger.

M42 , (the Orion Nebula ) Soon to be admired again.

I made this photograph with the K10D and a 600 mm F 7,5 telescope (Skywatcher ED 80 Pro) on a Meade mount. The image is a stack of about 15 exposures, ranging from 10 to 60 seconds. The shot was unguided.




C&C welcome by the way.

Roger.

Hi, I have used the K10D for astrophotography. I'm not very experienced with astrophotography, but I find the K10 certainly usable.
I took some photos of the Moon and of M42. After some stacking, I find the results okay for a newbie in astrophotography.

Sorry, no photos at the moment...

Hi,
I own both the lenses and for me the choice comes down to portability. The Pentax is small and leightweight, the Sigma is heavier and larger, but it also adds semi-macro capability and additional zoom range.

When I'm doing landscape photography, I usually opt for the Sigma. But when I need to travel light, I opt for the Pentax.

IQ is quite comparable in my opinion.

Perhaps you should ask yourself what you can do without: the macro and the zoom range of the Sigma, or the portability of the Pentax.