"Sam" wrote in message ...
Rob wrote:

"Sam" wrote in message
...

Hi guys.
Am interested in digital astrophotography, but will probably start with
using a digital hand-held camera for prime-focus, before moving up to
dedicated CCD-type devices.
My question is... does this forum cover the lower end digital camera
style of astrophotography or just the higher spec end?


Probably, but there's not a lot of traffic here..
My advice would be to get yourself a Canon 350D (aka Digital
Rebel), and google for something like "canon 350D astro image"
which will give you a plethora of wonderful sites/forums etc.
If you don't want to spend that much, consider starting with a
modified webcam. Some commercial astrocams are, in fact,
exactly that..
Google for "QCUIAG" if interested in long-exposure modification
of cheap webcams.
HTH,

Sorry, just to clarify... don't have a Canon, so any guidance to
newsgroups dealing with generic digital photography would be greatly
appreciated!

A really good one is IceInSpace - Aussie-based, so good for you
in the Southern hemisphere and they cover just about everything!
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?home
Other sites with good forums I visit a lot:
http://www.cloudynights.com/
http://ukastroimaging.co.uk/forums/index.php

I often use IceInSpace myself, depite being in the UK. You have
some lovely dark skies down there - I've considered emigrating
many, many times!
Cheers,
--
Rob (~52N, ~1W)