4x5 PRIME FOCUS Astrophotography

[Master_of_Reality]

Greetings all, as i am new to this website. I actually came to know about it as i just googled 4x5 astrophotography and a forum on this site showed up.

But alas, that forum was not all that helpful (unless you need a very complex crash course in aperture v. f ratio).

So what i'm here to ask is about 4x5 prime focus photography. I am getting a 4x5 camera soon (a post war 4x5 speed graphic), and my friend has a Takahashi FSQ-106, wich is known to be one of the only (if not THE only) telescopes that will use up a good portion of a 4x5in frame (i believe the image circle is somewhere around 114mm).

ANYWAY, wondering if anyone has ever done this before, your experiences, what kind of adaptors you bought\machined, ect.

I'm also wondering what regular lenses people have astro experience with. I like the price of the Nikkors (and the fact that there contrasty), but the Schneiders (sp, ??) seem appealing also; and there supposedly "apo" ... i have a hard time believing that entirley, but whatever. maybe i should lower my standards. :confused:

peace,
michael

 

[Pinholemaster]

Have you seen this? Might be cool to hook up a super fast WW II Aero-Ektar to your camera?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kodak-Aero-Ekta...ryZ30076QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

 

[Master_of_Reality]

that would look pretty kool on the graphic... but an optic that old isnt worht the money for me.

 

[Terence]

And you can get them much cheaper . . .

 

[konakoa]

I use a Nikkor 300mm f/5.6 all the time for astrophotography. In fact, It's my main lens for it. I have no complaints with the Nikon at all. I don't think you could go wrong with any lens from Nikon, Schneider or Rodenstock.

What a nice friend. What you'll probably want is the Takahashi 4x5 astrocamera. (http://www.takahashiamerica.com/catalog/charts/FSQ-106 Photo-Visual System Chart.pdf) A quick search of the web found one for about $1,000 at a shop in Japan. How badly do you want to use a 4x5 on your friend's Takahashi?

 

[Master_of_Reality]

i want those big slides BAD. (i shoot E100VS and Provia). thing is that i dont have $2285. so i'm going for a Speed Graphic for a modest $295.. big difference.

hopefully, then i can machine lens boards that will adapt to 2" and 4" focusers.