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…
Astro Photography Tool for Camera Control
I have recently installed the Astro Photography Tool camera control software on my dedicated astrophotography laptop. From my very first imaging sequence, I knew I was going to like this application. There is no better way to learn a new imaging application than to put it to use for a night of deep sky imaging. With clear night ahead of me, I dive into Astro Photography Tool to plan my Whale Galaxy astrophotography project. In the video below, I also discuss my ongoing transition from a DSLR camera to a cooled CMOS camera. The process of controlling a dedicated astronomy camera like the…
Astrophotography: Markarian’s Chain in Virgo Cluster
Markarian's Chain is an impressive photography subject for those with a camera and telescope to capture it. This string of 7 distinct galaxies is a member of the Virgo Cluster and epitomizes the types of astrophotography subjects available during galaxy season. On Friday Night (Good Friday), I was spoiled with a second consecutive clear night sky. The moon would rise above the horizon by 11:30 pm, so I had a few hours of moonless imaging time to squeeze in. Markarian's Chain is a prominent feature within the impressive Virgo Cluster of galaxies. M87 is the brightest member of t…
