Astrophotography equipment! Starting Astrophotography - for Lazy People!! Episode 2

[@ShevillMathers]

What a fantastic white background you have, which is ideal for your video presentations. I jest of course, but such soft lighting is so good for many types of photography but a pain when one wants a clear sky for solar (daytime imaging) and for night sky adventures. Great series for newcomers to astrophotography. A good way to isolate your mount from external sources, is to have three small containers filled with sand, say small plastic containers 6’’ square and about 2’’ deep, size is not at all critical. On top of the sand is piece of thick wood, 1/2’’ plywood for example, not touching the box sides. The reason it works is that the sand does not transmit any vibration due to its fine particulate nature. Used this same techniques when taking photographs through a microscope. Works with many instruments that are sensitive to vibration, analytical balances etc. a lot cheaper than buying anti-vibration tables and such. Worth a try with some plastic food containers, minimal cost and some sand from the beach. Best regards from Tasmania 42 South. 👍🇦🇺🔭

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Hahaha, yes indeed! I'm getting that white background far too often these days... The worse is when it is super sunny during the day, and it gets cloudy right at the end of the astronomical twilight...Thanks for the feedback on the series - I'll keep going with it, but with of course other videos on other topics as well. Excellent idea on the sand-based vibration pads! I just need to get sand (the beach is far!) and some wooden pieces, but I'm going to try that. Thank you for the recommendation.

[@ShevillMathers]

Cuiv, The Lazy Geek A hardware or garden centre will have sand in small quantities, so it is easy to obtain and worth the effort. Clear skies my Astro friend. 👍😁🔭🇦🇺

[@MrMidiman]

Fantastic videos Cuiv, truly inspirational. I'm a "theoretical astrophotographer" at the moment and trying to understand the theory before buying equipment. I'm curious about the equipment you're using for your portable setup you mention at the end. I don't suppose you've posted a list of that gear anywhere on the web? Once again, a heartfelt thank you for sharing your incredible knowledge with us!

[@asinghbamo87]

This is a great series Cuiv, for someone who is new to astrophotography, I haven't come across such a simple and well thought out explanation. Thank you!

[@iskandarthegreat6657]

I’m a beginner in astrophotography since 4 years. Lazier than you (much much more). Great video, thank you for all the explanations, the whys and the hows.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

My pleasure, Iskandar! I can always appreciate lazy people, especially when they are lazier than me!

[@Hot-Dog-Racing]

I saw your link in the Astro FB group and man, all I can say is I hope your channel grows quickly. You definitely deserve it. I love these videos.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you so much! I have the same hope - it might fizzle, it might snowball, but I hope for the latter! :)

[@redabdab]

at 19:40 you said something like "...you want to use the second, to avoid like humidity forming all over the equipment.." I didn't understand what you meant there. Are you saying you need something as well as the telescope cover? If so, what? Thanks!

[@tarangan.chinchwad]

Thank you Sir, Putting great video. I will get appropriate of knowledge About deepsky astrophotography. Regards Anand India, Pune.

[@JeffHorne]

Just started watching this video, but I have to comment already. I’m so glad you’re back to being lazy...you were such a hard worker for a minute, writing your own drivers! 😂

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Hahaha, thank you! Well I was writing my own drivers to be lazy in the end - all my efforts lead to being lazy, being lazy is my purpose of life. It is my way of exercising my right of pursuing laziness :D

[@xs4allan]

You are putting some very nice videos you online! And a lot! Am saving some for when I move on to a Dedicated AP camera because you seem to give the right amount of details/information. The rate you release content isn't lazy at all by the way:) But then again. Being lazy in Japan must be a hole different experience than being lazy in The Netherlands;)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Hahaha, thank you! Yes I've have several people call me out on my video release schedule. I'll probably get videos out less frequently at some point, but for now it's just too fun! Maybe I should call myself "the selectively lazy geek" :-)

[@xs4allan]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek I like the lazy approach tough. First thing I did when I got the hang out of imaging a little bit was throw an UTP cable out of the window to the backyard to control everything from my loungechair.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

That's the spirit! :)

[@nn1982in]

Great video. Would love to hear more about what equipment you use, specifically the portable set up. Thanks so much.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you! On the portable setup, I have a Crux 140 Traveler (review here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpXFloKNeZqta7c ), although a CEM25P or the SmartEQ Pro (tuning necessary), or the AZ-GTi (+wedge, and some luck of the draw) would work just as well! The lens is a standard Canon-compatible lens (Sigma 135mm f1.8), controlled via an Astromechanics adapter (review here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaXSqXWjaMmtf6c ), and the camera varies, but right now it's a 533MC Pro (review here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ope0kKeGpLWUgs0 ). Cheers!

[@cryptoalchemist10minutes44]

I know what you mean about backspacing, spent last 2 nights getting it to an acceptable level and its 2.2mm longer than specified. Tonight although there is no astonomy darkness in the south of the UK I will get around 3 hours of nice imaging hopefully :)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Backfocus and backspacing can be really, really painful. I've been wanting a Petzval design like the Star71 because of that, since from what I understand spacing can be flexible up to a certain point!

[@ChrisTurchin]

Great video Cuiv. Now I can hone my own laziness by just directing people to your video when they ask what that stuff on my roof is 😊

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Haha, my ultimate objective, make other people lazy as well! Thank you :)

[@cryptoalchemist10minutes44]

Another nice video. Got a dozen from my user group and also my astronomy club to subscribe. 1k next week :)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you! I hope the members of your club will like the videos, but please don't force them to subscribe!! :-) We'll see about 1K, we are indeed inching closer to that milestone, but I don't think we'll reach it in just another week! We shall see...

[@netmaster78]

Cuiv, could you do a video on collimating the newtonian? I´ve bought a concenter and unfortunally don´t get it to fully understand :( Your style of explaining things would probably help much

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I bought that particular Newt specifically because it didn't need to be collimated! That way, I don't ever need to touch it between imaging sessions. That being said, for a standard Newt, I found that Barlowed Laser collimation is the easiest (simple laser collimation does not provide precise results). You take a red laser, add a barlow lens on that, put a cardboard mask on the end of that barlow with a circle cut out in it. This was explained in an article in Sky and Telescope in 2003 if I remember correctly - you should be able to find it online. If I ever get my hands on a Newt that does need to be collimated (e.g. not mine), I will make a video on the process! Good luck and clear skies!

[@educationalquickflicks]

Great videos Cuiv! I just bought the same mount and can not for the life of me understand how to get/use PEC/PEC training/PEC anything and then use it with PhD2. Are you using PEC? If so, any chance for a tutorial!!?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I have used PEC in the past with this mount (and others), and can absolutely do a video on that (assuming I get clear skies anytime soon...). Added to my list of ideas!

[@troyhunter4740]

How do you have time for all these videos cuiv? .. i cant keep up watching them all!, Keep up the great work!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

It's just so much fun to make these videos! I don't think I'll be able to keep up that rhythm for too long, but I'm sure trying :)

[@javiercuellolopez5610]

Hi. What mini pc do you use for astrophoto?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I have a video about it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roTLpaCbnJWhpas . It's only sold in Japan, and that particular version is now discontinued as far as I can tell... But in that video I explain the things I look out for when choosing a mini PC.

[@qwmjml]

It seems that I have misunderstood what it means to be a lazy astrophotographer. I think what I’m looking for is ghetto astrophotography. Lol.

[@BrokenPik]

Im the lazy Astrodude...

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

But a general geek at heart :-)