Hello from Winnipeg, Canada - Forums

Topic starter

Apr 18, 2020 · Edited: Apr 18, 2020

Hello all,

My name is Ian, and while I have been posting on Astrobin for 7 months, I haven't introduced myself. I am a basic science researcher at U of Manitoba with an interest in molecular biology. Thanks to the Salvatore of this site for doing such a nice job.

I enjoy using my Canon 60D and a 10 mm Rokinon, or a 135 mm Rokinon to take image of wide field, and more limited star fields and nebula.

I am a beginner, doing unguided work only (Ioptron Skyguider pro mount on a Vanguard tripod) at present. My rig is kind of low budget and most of my stuff is purchased used - nonetheless I am slowly discovering the nice rewards of this pursuit.

I can definitely see how folks become addicted or obsessed with imaging.

Soon I will like to try some Narrow band imaging, so that I can combine those with my colour shots, and also take images in the presence of the moon.

Anyway thanks for reading to the bottom, I am really enjoying this great community.

Kind regards,

Ian

Respectful

Dan Kusz

IOTD Staff

Apr 18, 2020

Welcome to Astrobin Ian! Its a great community here with lots of talent and experience to reach out to! Nice to see another fellow Canadian here! Im out west in Vernon BC.

Clear skies
Dan.

Dave Erickson

Apr 18, 2020

Hi Ian,
Welcome!
Regards,
Dave

Ian Dixon

Topic starter

Apr 19, 2020

Dan Kusz:
Welcome to Astrobin Ian! Its a great community here with lots of talent and experience to reach out to! Nice to see another fellow Canadian here! Im out west in Vernon BC.Clear skies
Dan.

Hi Dan,

Thanks for your kind words! I've learned a lot from folks in this site. I didn't really know how to manually focus a fast lens like my Rokinon 135mm but found lots of help here. Great site.

CS,
Ian

Well Written Respectful Supportive

Ian Dixon

Topic starter

Apr 19, 2020

Hi Ian,Welcome!
Regards,
Dave

Hi Dave,

Thanks very much!

Best,
I

astropical

Apr 20, 2020

Hi Ian, the Rokinon/Samyang 135mm is a most rewarding investment producing high resolution images that can be cropped faithfully.

Mine is plugged into a Nikon D5500 (unmodded) and seated on an Star Adventurer. Since I haven't yet managed sufficiently accurate tracking I keep my exposure times short (30 sec max) at ISO800/1600 (to minimize noise) and try and take as many light frames as clouds, planes, satellites, UFOs, ravens and power lines allow.

Next to a clear view up and accurate focusing, integration time is the key to great wide field images with this prime lens, which is comparable with a decent 65mm APO with built-in field flattener.

Since, like my SA, your iOptron SkyGuider Pro has an ST4 port you may wish to autoguide. Though only in RA, it does make a notable difference.

Anyway, watch out, I'm following you from Okinawa :-)

Cheers
Robert

Helpful Engaging Supportive

Ian Dixon

Topic starter

Apr 20, 2020 · Edited: Apr 20, 2020

Hi Ian, the Rokinon/Samyang 135mm is a most rewarding investment producing high resolution images that can be cropped faithfully.Mine is plugged into a Nikon D5500 (unmodded) and seated on an Star Adventurer. Since I haven't yet managed sufficiently accurate tracking I keep my exposure times short (30 sec max) at ISO800/1600 (to minimize noise) and try and take as many light frames as clouds, planes, satellites, UFOs, ravens and power lines allow.

Next to a clear view up and accurate focusing, integration time is the key to great wide field images with this prime lens, which is comparable with a decent 65mm APO with built-in field flattener.

Since, like my SA, your iOptron SkyGuider Pro has an ST4 port you may wish to autoguide. Though only in RA, it does make a notable difference.

Anyway, watch out, I'm following you from Okinawa :-)

Cheers
Robert

Hi Robert,

From Okinawa - wow!

Thanks for your welcoming post, and very informative comments! I began with the Rokinon lens after buying it used (local shop) last fall. Its been a journey to figure out fine focus (manually - using the red shift defocus and back to focus method on a bright star with high ISO) and also how to keep the mount steady.

For the mount steadiness I found that suspending a portly 10 lb iron weight off the tripod makes a difference, but more so simply keeping everything low to the ground - perhaps 1.5 metres, tops. This way I can run 120 or 180 second subs at this focal length (with dropped height and central stabilizing weight). 800 ISO at 2.8f (just stopping down the lens a tiny bit) is the sweet spot for noise, too.

I really would like to try autoguiding, I think 300 second subs would be in the cards, ha ha. Any suggestions for a nice light camera?

Again thanks for the welcome, looking forward to sharing stories.

Best,
Ian

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wsg

Apr 20, 2020

Hello Ian! Former Winnipeger here, not missing the long winters at all. Nothing wrong with a Skyguider and a 135mm lens, thats for sure. I started with a 5DII and a Star Adventurer. Everyone here loves widefields, welcome to Astrobin.

Scott

Supportive

astropical

Apr 21, 2020

Ian Dixon:
Thanks for your welcoming post, and very informative comments! I began with the Rokinon...

Hi Ian,
Yeah, we have no frost here, but rainy seasons and typhoons :-)

Suggestions:
1. Low-cost, low-weight, pure guiding solution:
ZWO (or similar) Ø30mm F4 guidescope and an ASI120MM camera controlled by PHD2 (needs a laptop).

2. Future-proof camera:
The ASI290MM has smaller pixels, is more sensitive, therefore offering higher guiding accuracy.
I am using the ASI290MM for both, autoguiding and lunar imaging with a Newtonian, thus justifying additional (officially approved) 200 bucks.

3. Standalone autoguiding
The latest MGEN 3 is mouth-watering but carries a mighty 800 bucks US price tag and is currently sold out. Its predecessor MGEN 2 may soon be sold at a much lower price tag until all stocks exhausted, or, try and get it used. Still need a guide scope though. Ver 2 is certainly accurate enough for guiding 135mm even in RA only. With an optional cable you can control your Canon, including dithering in between exposures.

Equipped either way, 300 seconds @ISO800 may not disappoint.

Perhaps you may first of all need a heater to get rid of the frost :-)

Take care and Cheers
Robert

Helpful Respectful Supportive

Ian Dixon

Topic starter

Apr 21, 2020

Hello Ian! Former Winnipeger here, not missing the long winters at all. Nothing wrong with a Skyguider and a 135mm lens, thats for sure. I started with a 5DII and a Star Adventurer. Everyone here loves widefields, welcome to Astrobin.Scott

Hi Scott,

Thanks! Great to be here. My father used to refer to summer as "those months with poor sledding".

Kind regards,Ian

Well Written

Ian Dixon

Topic starter

Apr 21, 2020

Ian Dixon:
Thanks for your welcoming post, and very informative comments! I began with the Rokinon...
Hi Ian,
Yeah, we have no frost here, but rainy seasons and typhoons :-)

Suggestions:
1. Low-cost, low-weight, pure guiding solution:
ZWO (or similar) Ø30mm F4 guidescope and an ASI120MM camera controlled by PHD2 (needs a laptop).

2. Future-proof camera:
The ASI290MM has smaller pixels, is more sensitive, therefore offering higher guiding accuracy.
I am using the ASI290MM for both, autoguiding and lunar imaging with a Newtonian, thus justifying additional (officially approved) 200 bucks.

3. Standalone autoguiding
The latest MGEN 3 is mouth-watering but carries a mighty 800 bucks US price tag and is currently sold out. Its predecessor MGEN 2 may soon be sold at a much lower price tag until all stocks exhausted, or, try and get it used. Still need a guide scope though. Ver 2 is certainly accurate enough for guiding 135mm even in RA only. With an optional cable you can control your Canon, including dithering in between exposures.

Equipped either way, 300 seconds @ISO800 may not disappoint.

Perhaps you may first of all need a heater to get rid of the frost :-)

Take care and Cheers
Robert

Robert,

Thanks for your thoughtful answer, much appreciated. I could do lunar imaging with my Newt and the 1290 mm.. stand alone sounds great too. Dithering would be a huge advantage, too.

Regards,
Ian