Andy,

You can get to the pictures by clicking on the DIGITAL link under Astrophotography, or try following the link

http://www.berkeley-observatory.co.uk/index_files/Page390.htm

This should take you directly to the moon pictures.

Regards,

Steve.

Thanks George.

Too hasty in typing the web site name.

Thanks for the correction.

I've just posted some pictures of the Moon I took using my 12" f/10 (in effect a 3,000mm f/10 telephoto)Scmidtt-Cassegrain as the lens on my web site:

www.Berkely-Observatory.co.uk.

(I don't know how to post them here)

I took three pictures of first quarter moon, then used elements to stitch them together. (It did it automatically - no problems).

Any thoughts or comments.

Steve.

Bristol Rovers supporter, known as Gas-heads.
Name given to Rovers supporters by Bristol City supporters.

Hence the name GlosGAS!

Yes, I live in the UK.
Gloucestershire to be exact.

Thanks for your reply.

I've updated the firmware in the camera with the latest published on the Pentax website, still no luck. I was hoping the the 'Remote Assistant' would allow you to set 'long' exposure times on the 'B' setting, but I can't get it to do that either.

Did you have any luck with that ?

The *istD comes with software that can control the shutter exposure via the USB port. This doesn't appear to work with the *istDS.

Does anyone out there know of a programme that can control the camera via its USB port ?

Has any clever person written their own programme ?

I would like to control the camera through the USB port to take long duration astronomical photographs. Controlling the camera from a PDA would be the ideal solution, although I'd settle to be able to control it from a Laptop.

John,

Thanks for replying

Yes, I've already seen and installed the updated firmware from the Pentax website. I'm still not sure how long an exposure I can make though. (And how to keep the shutter closed for a long time [it will drain the batteries])

The only sites where I've found astronomical photographs are taken using multiple exposures of 30s, or so, then added together.

I'll publish pictures on my website when I've taken some!

Regards,

Steve.

I've been after a 500mm mirro telephoto lens for my istDS. I was going to get the Tamron, but I had trouble getting a 'K' adapter. I saw todat that Jessops are having a clearance sale and are selling a Centon 500mm f/8 mirror lens, which has a 'T2' mount for a bit over £49. That's half price!

I've just bought one and a 'K' to 'T2' adapter.
I've only taken a couple of shots, but the lens appears to work perfectly with the camera in Aperature priority mode.

On another point, one of my other hobbies is astronomy. Astro-photography needs long exposures, both when using didgital and film.

I know that Canon make a 'programmable timer' that allows multiple and long 'B' exposures.

Is there anyting similar for the Pentax digital cameras ? (I know the pin-out of the 2.5mm Jack, I am considering making some sort of timer - unless anyone has already done it.)

What's the longest 'B' exposure that can be made before the picture is overrun with elctronic noise ?

I think that the noise problem could be overcome by taking a long exposure picture, then a picture of the same exposure lenght with the lens covered (a picture of nothing).

The first picture will contain the required picture + noise.
The second picture will contain just noise.

If the second is subtracted from the first, then the result will be the wanted picture.

It might mean colour separating the pictures into R-G-B before subtracting, then recombining the R-G-B.

Any thoughts, or help ?