Narrowband Images with a Color Camera
Narrowband imaging with a color camera is not only possible, but I have found it to be an excellent way of adding detail and structure to my astrophotography images. If you currently own a one-shot-color camera or DSLR, I highly recommend trying some narrowband filters with it such as Ha (Hydrogen-alpha). Ideally, you'll use a monochrome astronomy camera for narrowband (and LRGB) images, yet owners of color cameras can still tap into the benefits of narrowband filters before taking the big leap to mono. An example scenario is someone with a one-shot-color cooled astronomy camera such as…
iOptron SkyGuider Pro Review
The iOptron SkyGuider Pro is a portable EQ mount that offers a reliable solution for astrophotography on the go. The SkyGuider Pro makes shooting long exposure nightscapes without star-trailing possible. On a stationary tripod mount, star trailing begins to show in exposures longer than 25 seconds. Depending on your camera's focal length, the stars could begin to trail even sooner. To combat this, amateur astrophotographers counteract the rotation of the Earth using a tracking equatorial mount. The problem is, these EQ mounts can be heavy and obtrusive, making them spend more time indoor…
Altair Hypercam 183C Review
Thanks to my friends at Ontario Telescope and Accessories, a brand new Altair Hypercam 183C arrived at my door last week. The striking purple exterior color of this one-shot color CMOS camera makes a bold statement, but it's the deep sky imaging capabilities of the cooled sensor that have captured my attention. There are many options available for deep sky astrophotography these days, and traditional DSLR images such as myself are left with some tough decisions. One look at the data captured using a cooled CMOS sensor, and you will notice the astonishing difference this can make…
Remarkable Dark Skies at Cherry Springs
The Cherry Springs Star Party is an annual astronomy event held in Coudersport, PA. This incredible gathering of amateur astronomers always coincides with the new moon for truly breathtaking views of the Milky Way. The lack of light pollution in this area is the reason for a truly unforgettable view of the night sky. This year, my Fiance and I made the 3 and a half hour drive from Ontario to Cherry Springs State Park for 3 nights of astronomy camping. This is the closest dark sky preserve from my home in St. Catharines, Ontario. Naturally, I brought all of my astrophotogra…
Short Nights and Hot Sensors
The hot nights of early summer astrophotography start late and end early. The warm temperatures at night make their presence known in my DSLR images in the form of noise. My latest deep-sky project involves capturing data on NGC 6888 in H-Alpha with a DSLR. My highly portable astrophotography equipment allows me to move the entire rig around the yard based on my imaging target. This month, I have been getting a head start on summer Astro targets in Sagittarius such as the Omega Nebula. This means waiting until after midnight for my targets to rise high enough in the Southeast f…
SkyTech Canon Astrophotography Filter Review
If you shoot in light polluted skies with a DSLR, listen up. I've recently got my hands on an affordable new astrophotography filter for my Canon T3i. Whether you shoot with a modified camera through a telescope or a stock DSLR with a camera lens attached, a light pollution filter will help you shoot longer subs. Longer image exposures mean a deeper view on your subject. The SkyTech Canon EOS Clip Filter In the past, I have used light pollution filters such as the Astronomik CLS, and IDAS LPS clip-in models on my Canon DSLR. In this review, I will be testing 3 filters from SkyTech tha…
The Altair Hypercam 183C – Color CMOS Sensor Camera
I am extremely excited to review a new astronomy camera from Altair Astro, the Hypercam 183C. This is a CMOS color deep sky imaging camera and boasts some impressive astrophotography features out of the box. I should be receiving the Hypercam as early as next week, and I will be providing a video review of its deep sky imaging capabilities. At under $1000 (CDN), this astronomy camera is a solid contender for those looking for an upgrade to their stock DSLR. This is an affordable Color CMOS digital camera with impressive astrophotography features. Thanks to my friends at Ontario Te…
DSLR Photography Tips: Shooting the Milky Way on a Tripod
It's time for another Photoshop tutorial, along with some night sky DSLR photography tips. This time, the subject is our glorious Milky Way galaxy. There is nothing more humbling than spending a night under the band of stars seen from within our barred spiral galaxy. The true beauty of our universe is displayed in the arching collection of stars known as the Milky Way. In the image processing video below, I'll show you how to use Adobe Camera Raw to get the most out of your DSLR image. I'll also cover some online photography schools available for those who wish to learn…
