Accessories for AP - Forums

Topic starter

Mar 30, 2017 · Edited: Mar 30, 2017

Hi again,

So, the next month is almost coming, and within 1 week or 2 i will get a budget, so i can't wait to order the mount if possible and see where i will go with it.

But while i am getting the mount and still no scope, i want to know what accessories i need so i can use the mount with DSLR or for AS shooting DSO? i don't want to buy the mount and finding that i need some necessary or essential accessories so i can start with the mount immediately, rather than i order the mount and wait another long time to order the right accessories, so it is wasting time.

Also want to know more about which filters can be helpful in my situation, i know i will buy so many filters no doubt, but i want a filter that helping me to start for AS before i get more for more results.

If some accessories are not expensive i may buy them very soon before the mount or alongside with the mount if not from the same store, but i want accessories that doesn't do with the scope because i won't buy the scope any soon, so later when i decide to order the scope then i will buy necessary accessories for the scope, but now i look for accessories used with DSLRs only without scopes if there is such...

bobzeq25

Apr 2, 2017 · Edited: Apr 2, 2017

An intervalometer or a computer program to control the camera, so you're not sitting there operating the shutter.

For filters, here's a surprise. None. They don't help all that much, and they make processing difficult. By the time they'll be useful,
you'll know what you want. But they're more a visual thing.

You'll need software for stacking and processing.

That will do if you're using a camera and a lens.

When you start using a scope, you'll need something to connect the DSLR to the scope. A "t-ring" and suitable extensions to reach focus.

You'll also want an autoguiding setup sometime soon after getting the scope. Guidescope, guide camera, hardware to mount it very
securely, laptop computer. You'll be using the PhD2 software (free download).

Helpful Concise

Tareq Abdulla

Topic starter

Apr 2, 2017

Thank you very much!

Intervalometer i already have for my DSLR and even my mirrorless camera.

Filters i mentioned because i live in a light-polluted urban, and i have no plan to drive far for darker sky that if i can find any in my country anyway, so i mostly will shoot from my backyard and maybe some area away from the cityscape a bit for less light pollution, so that i thought there are filters for this kind of pollution as i read.

Software for stacking i have one, later will think about something else or more, and also i have Photoshop CC for final editing.

I once bought a telescope but never took it out from the box as i returned it after i asked about that model and they told me it is not good for AP, just good for visual, and while i was at it the salesman gave me that T-ring or adapter and that long extension, but i returned them back too, so i already know them and i can buy them cheap anytime once i decide on the scope.

I will give that PhD2 a try, for now i am trying to understand DSS, but i am not in rush, once i buy the mount then i can think about the software immediately.

Also i have a chair, i have a laptop, but anything else i need more than what you mentioned already?!!!

Matt Fulghum

Apr 3, 2017

One thing you're definitely going to need is a dovetail bar to attach your camera to the mount.

Well Written

Tareq Abdulla

Topic starter

Apr 3, 2017

I will definitely get the dovetail.

bobzeq25

Apr 3, 2017 · Edited: Apr 3, 2017

I don't think so, but something will probably come up. In addition to DSS, you will need a processing program. DSS does stacking well,
it's very bad at processing, you have to be sure not to let it try.

Light pollution filters probably do not do what you might think. The first step in dealing with light pollution is to learn how to do
gradient reduction in processing. It's a good bit more effective.

Filters are a tweak, possibly to be applied after you have experience doing that. To get one first is to put the cart before the horse.
They are very far from being a magical solution, and have downsides in complicating processing.

I'm probably getting my first one soon. I've been doing this for 2-1/2 years, almost entirely from a light polluted backyard.
Bortle 7, mag per arc sec 18-18.5.. If you look at my astrobin page, nothing used a light pollution filter, although there are
some narrowband images. Narrowband images basically use the ultimate in light pollution filters. They only work on certain
targets, few imagers start with them.

Helpful Insightful

Tareq Abdulla

Topic starter

Apr 3, 2017

I don't think so, but something will probably come up. In addition to DSS, you will need a processing program. DSS does stacking well,it's very bad at processing, you have to be sure not to let it try.

Light pollution filters probably do not do what you might think. The first step in dealing with light pollution is to learn how to do
gradient reduction in processing. It's a good bit more effective.

Filters are a tweak, possibly to be applied after you have experience doing that. To get one first is to put the cart before the horse.
They are very far from being a magical solution, and have downsides in complicating processing.

I'm probably getting my first one soon. I've been doing this for 2-1/2 years, almost entirely from a light polluted backyard.
Bortle 7, mag per arc sec 18-18.5.. If you look at my astrobin page, nothing used a light pollution filter, although there are
some narrowband images. Narrowband images basically use the ultimate in light pollution filters. They only work on certain
targets, few imagers start with them.

I can't or didn't understand your post very well.

So, it is like you are telling me i should do AP without much accessories or software or tools, so it is just a mount and scope pointing towards something in the sky and viola? regardless how clear or polluted the sky it is like i don't need to use anything else? or if i have to use then i don't know what things to use from your post, and i didn't ask for accessories to give me magic for my photos, i know doing AP means i may spend days or weeks for one image or 2, so i know how long time i need for getting results, even with the mount i decided to buy soon it shows me that it is not the top high end one and it is already very expensive, and even not sure about the scope, so to me it is like i should just forget about AP completely if i can't afford tools, and if i buy some of those expensive not so much it will not give me results as i want.

I started to give it AP even before i start, i don't want to start then if it will take me long time and i know my first spending will not cut it forever or so long because i will be forced to spend again and again, so even the expensive equipment i want to start with aren't going to cut it, filters aren't good to be used, then why there are filters in sale if they are no use or not handy or won't give as expectations?

Tareq Abdulla

Topic starter

Apr 25, 2017 · Edited: Apr 25, 2017

So far only 2 filters to start with, cheap filters anyway, and i am planning to add one more, Ha 7nm because i could get it with discount so it won't cost me fortune anyway, and that can be my testing filter until i understand more about filters and afford something better.

Thank you very much!

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