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Canon 450D + Skywatcher 80ED (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Musoman
- Start date
Wow!
I have just read this whole thread and my head is spinning a little. I'm new to birding and to photography, but totally fascinated by both. I've been reading everything I can find on the net and eventually ended up in this thread
I was very fortunate to receive a Nikon D5000 for Christmas, but have not yet bought a scope. I must admit after seeing the photos by Paul and DiegoBE I really don't want to try any scope other than the SW 80ED now
It looks very complicated setting it all up - could you kindly give me a summary of what I absolutely need to start making some good bird shots with my camera and the Skywatcher? (There's a German shop that is still selling the gold version for just over £300, but I'm a little confused about the other pieces of gear I need)
I've bookmarked this thread so I can keep coming back as I understand more
Thanks
Marco
I have just read this whole thread and my head is spinning a little. I'm new to birding and to photography, but totally fascinated by both. I've been reading everything I can find on the net and eventually ended up in this thread
I was very fortunate to receive a Nikon D5000 for Christmas, but have not yet bought a scope. I must admit after seeing the photos by Paul and DiegoBE I really don't want to try any scope other than the SW 80ED now
It looks very complicated setting it all up - could you kindly give me a summary of what I absolutely need to start making some good bird shots with my camera and the Skywatcher? (There's a German shop that is still selling the gold version for just over £300, but I'm a little confused about the other pieces of gear I need)
I've bookmarked this thread so I can keep coming back as I understand more
Thanks
Marco
Musoman
PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter
Howdy Marco!
Well you've come to right the place, obviously
Paul C is the chap who will best answer you, as he's experimented with just about all there is to experiment with.
My only advice would be start a complete new thread with your question, otherwise your question is now a thread within a thread, and is virtually hidden to others who would be seeing the title of 450D + Skywatcher.
If you were to start a new " Need help with Skywatcher parts " or something similar, everyone looking in the Astroscoping forum will see your thread, rather than being buried within this one
Does that make sense ? :t:
Well you've come to right the place, obviously
Paul C is the chap who will best answer you, as he's experimented with just about all there is to experiment with.
My only advice would be start a complete new thread with your question, otherwise your question is now a thread within a thread, and is virtually hidden to others who would be seeing the title of 450D + Skywatcher.
If you were to start a new " Need help with Skywatcher parts " or something similar, everyone looking in the Astroscoping forum will see your thread, rather than being buried within this one
Does that make sense ? :t:
Musoman
PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter
..and to keep you busy, you've seen Pauls and Diegos photos, so now have a look at this guys' collection using the SW 80ED
http://fernandobatista.smugmug.com/Galeria/Aves-Birds/3540865_6D86H#211104996_SETUP
http://fernandobatista.smugmug.com/Galeria/Aves-Birds/3540865_6D86H#211104996_SETUP
Hi Musoman
Yeah, good call on starting a new thread, I'll do that now
Thanks for the link too - just stunning, and very exciting to see what can be achieved
BTW I'm a muso too. I play guitar and write and record in my home studio.
I'm going to be flogging guitars too - one way or another ebay's gonna be making big $$$ out of me
Marco
Yeah, good call on starting a new thread, I'll do that now
Thanks for the link too - just stunning, and very exciting to see what can be achieved
BTW I'm a muso too. I play guitar and write and record in my home studio.
I'm going to be flogging guitars too - one way or another ebay's gonna be making big $$$ out of me
Marco
Musoman
PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter
Twas a fab day today - sun everywhere, and almost cloudless, so i race off to the bird reserve so fast i forget my W/A lens, and wireless remote.
Well, ya cant trust Britain can you ? Sun can go in at the drop of hat. You have to move !
Anyways - i've just captured my prize - a Barn Owl flapping about in mid afternoon. Extraordinary !!
I almost burst a seam just trying to get focus, i was shaking and all fingers and thumbs, cos at first i couldnt get proper focus ( ext tubes problem with scopes ) so i had to whip 50mm of tube off the set up, i thought typical - i'll never get this Owl. I've never seen one in the flesh, ever, and now here's one in the midle of the afternoon, which is not common at all, being night hunters.
Anyways - i got the ext. tube off and whistled off 2 shots before he left. My heart sunk like a stone, for pretty much one reason....the distance he was at.
I just checked it out on Google Earth, and it was 197 metres ( 640ft ) ! ! !
I knew it was a long way, and i felt that it was just too far for getting a sharp shot.
But...when i saw the RAW file, i was almost in tears !!
IMO - i was so unbelievably lucky to get a decent shot at such a range. Yes, its small - but i may never see another Barn Owl as long as I live, and at least its not a blurry mess like i feared.
I appear to be babbling - apologies Still very hyped about this and its nearly 2.45 am in the morning, and cant sleep
Well, ya cant trust Britain can you ? Sun can go in at the drop of hat. You have to move !
Anyways - i've just captured my prize - a Barn Owl flapping about in mid afternoon. Extraordinary !!
I almost burst a seam just trying to get focus, i was shaking and all fingers and thumbs, cos at first i couldnt get proper focus ( ext tubes problem with scopes ) so i had to whip 50mm of tube off the set up, i thought typical - i'll never get this Owl. I've never seen one in the flesh, ever, and now here's one in the midle of the afternoon, which is not common at all, being night hunters.
Anyways - i got the ext. tube off and whistled off 2 shots before he left. My heart sunk like a stone, for pretty much one reason....the distance he was at.
I just checked it out on Google Earth, and it was 197 metres ( 640ft ) ! ! !
I knew it was a long way, and i felt that it was just too far for getting a sharp shot.
But...when i saw the RAW file, i was almost in tears !!
IMO - i was so unbelievably lucky to get a decent shot at such a range. Yes, its small - but i may never see another Barn Owl as long as I live, and at least its not a blurry mess like i feared.
I appear to be babbling - apologies Still very hyped about this and its nearly 2.45 am in the morning, and cant sleep
Attachments
Paul Corfield
Well-known member
Good stuff musoman. Barn Owls can often be seen in the day, especially in winter. I got my best views of one flying one afternoon last winter. I spoke to the farmer that was there and he said he saw it flying most days, morning and afternoon. Food is more scarce this time of year which brings them out in daylight looking for a meal.
The post processing is getting better too.
Paul.
The post processing is getting better too.
Paul.
Musoman
PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter
Cheers Paul - yes i did wonder about the afternoon flight, but explained nicely
I was horrified at the distance of that Owl - i never thought it'd come out as well as it did
I am now opening as 16 bit Tiff and using Save for Web, so i wonder if those make a difference
PS - i keep trying with that DOI 2x , and I just cant get focus with it. The IQ is awful, and i dont know why. I'm reluctant to spend
any more money on something like a Kenko, at 10 times the price of the DOI, if this is the quality i can expect
I was horrified at the distance of that Owl - i never thought it'd come out as well as it did
I am now opening as 16 bit Tiff and using Save for Web, so i wonder if those make a difference
PS - i keep trying with that DOI 2x , and I just cant get focus with it. The IQ is awful, and i dont know why. I'm reluctant to spend
any more money on something like a Kenko, at 10 times the price of the DOI, if this is the quality i can expect
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Hi - musoman. Congrats for the shots. You're a little ahead of me on the learning curve, but I'm encouraged by the quality of shots you're getting already
The barn owl is still one to treasure, even at this distance. I love seeing this bird.
The last time I saw a Barn Owl was a few years back at dawn on the way to hospital with my wife who was about to give birth to our second child. We had a cranky old Citroen Dyane and I was crawling up a hill when I spotted a the Barn Owl sitting on a post right next to the road. I slowed down to a near stop and was totally transfixed. I said to my wife something like "look at that beauty, I've only seen 2 or 3 Barn Owls in my life before" She replied "F*** the Barn Owl, get me to f***ing hospital. NOW!!!"
Wish I'd had a camera, although it may have been shoved somewhere. |:d|
The barn owl is still one to treasure, even at this distance. I love seeing this bird.
The last time I saw a Barn Owl was a few years back at dawn on the way to hospital with my wife who was about to give birth to our second child. We had a cranky old Citroen Dyane and I was crawling up a hill when I spotted a the Barn Owl sitting on a post right next to the road. I slowed down to a near stop and was totally transfixed. I said to my wife something like "look at that beauty, I've only seen 2 or 3 Barn Owls in my life before" She replied "F*** the Barn Owl, get me to f***ing hospital. NOW!!!"
Wish I'd had a camera, although it may have been shoved somewhere. |:d|
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Musoman
PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter
Thanks Marco !
I've missed lots of shots of birds i've seen while out and not had a camera. Red Kites , Buzzard , Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Jay.
Still a learning curve for me too :t:
This scoping lark is not as easy as it sounds, after you've been spoilt by lenses with adjustable aperture, image stabilisation, zoom, etc.
I've missed lots of shots of birds i've seen while out and not had a camera. Red Kites , Buzzard , Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Jay.
Still a learning curve for me too :t:
This scoping lark is not as easy as it sounds, after you've been spoilt by lenses with adjustable aperture, image stabilisation, zoom, etc.
