Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/03/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> From: Michael Chan <michaelc@vertex-networks.com> > Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 15:25:38 -0800 > Subject: RE: Astrophotography > > Don, > > Thanks for the advice. But the problem is that Comet Hale-Bopp does not > have a very long tail (10 - 20 degrees from a dark sky). Using a 35 or > 50 mm lens will only show a small blob of the comet in the frame. > > Last year I took some pictures of Comet Hyakutake with my 35mm > Summicron. That comet had a 60 plus degree tail which filled the 35mm > frame very nicely. I got some good shots with 1 minute exposure at f2 on > Kodak Gold 400. There was no star trailing. However, the 35mm Summicron > showed some vignetting and some coma near the edges (very easy to tell > when photographing stars). But considering a wide angle lens at f2, I am > generally quite pleased with the results. > > Michael I live in northern lower Michigan (US) and have gotten some excellent pictures with Ektachrome Elite II 400 taken at an E.I. of 400 and 800. My best pics have been at F1.8 at 15 seconds. I'm currently using Ektachrome P1600 which is supposed to be a superb astrophotography film. The best time to photograph Hale-Bopp at my location is about 3:30 AM EST. At this time of the night, it is just rising over the northeast horizon (tail first!) making for some dramatic pictures (I found it's very helpful to include some sort of foreground in your picture. It seems to put the tail length in proper perspective). I'm suprised that you find the tail not as long as that of Comet Hyakutake. I'm finding just the opposite. Because my M-3 is currently being overhauled by DAG, I'm using my old trusty Canon F-1. While it is good now, the best viewing of this comet is yet to come. By the way, last year I took picture of Hyakutake with my M-3 and a 50mm Summicron. The shots taken wide open at F2.0 were a disappointment. Too much coma for my tastes. Jim Bielecki