Binocular - Camera combination any good?

Greetings,

I'm an EXTREMELY amateur astronomer and photographer. I have a
FujiFilm s602 zoom with no extra lenses--this is a digital SLR. I got
some fairly decent pics of the lunar eclipse that just passed.

I want to take some pics of the space station. I know binoculars are
excellent for viewing, but to capture a photo leaves me out in the
cold if I use them. I see some well-priced binocular-digital camera
combinations out there. Would anyone recommend against them? I'm
looking at the Meade 8x42 CaptureView.

What about getting the telephoto lens for the s602? Anyone out there
using it?

Thanks,

CA
(Go ahead, spam-bots! Do your worst! This addy is
already long since compromised...)

They are fine for terrestrial use, but the lack of exposure length control
(e.g., a "bulb" setting) makes them impracticle for astronomy. Also the
Meade "CaptureView" are 8x22, not 8x42, which makes the objectives too small
even for astronomical observing.

"Chris Andrews" wrote in message
om...
Greetings,

I'm an EXTREMELY amateur astronomer and photographer. I have a
FujiFilm s602 zoom with no extra lenses--this is a digital SLR. I got
some fairly decent pics of the lunar eclipse that just passed.

I want to take some pics of the space station. I know binoculars are
excellent for viewing, but to capture a photo leaves me out in the
cold if I use them. I see some well-priced binocular-digital camera
combinations out there. Would anyone recommend against them? I'm
looking at the Meade 8x42 CaptureView.

What about getting the telephoto lens for the s602? Anyone out there
using it?

Thanks,

CA
(Go ahead, spam-bots! Do your worst! This addy is
already long since compromised...)

Kilolani wrote:

They are fine for terrestrial use

Really? You and I have a different view of "fine",

Phil

"Phil" wrote in message
...


Kilolani wrote:

They are fine for terrestrial use

Really? You and I have a different view of "fine",

Phil


Okay... let me rephrase. They are "only suitable" for terrestrial use.

Okay... let me rephrase. They are "only suitable" for terrestrial use.

Has anyone actually seen any images (not advertising but friends etc) taken
with one of these binocular/camera combinations?

Jon Isaacs

"Roger Hamlett" wrote in message ...

I'm afraid that taking pictures of the space station, is not easy.

If you mean taking pictures that show the space station as an
extended object, yes of course you are right. A decade ago,
that was considered impossible, and even now, it is an extraordinary
feat.

But it occurs to me that taking a "star-trail" of the ISS should
be quite easy -- either a short trail with a camera on a fixed tripod
or a long trail using a crude tracking mount. Might make a fine
picture; maybe I'll give it a try.

In any case, I cannot imagine *any* kind of picture where
binoculars would be a useful accessory.

- Tony Flanders

"Tony Flanders" wrote in message
. ..
"Roger Hamlett" wrote in message
...

I'm afraid that taking pictures of the space station, is not easy.

If you mean taking pictures that show the space station as an
extended object, yes of course you are right. A decade ago,
that was considered impossible, and even now, it is an extraordinary
feat.

But it occurs to me that taking a "star-trail" of the ISS should
be quite easy -- either a short trail with a camera on a fixed tripod
or a long trail using a crude tracking mount. Might make a fine
picture; maybe I'll give it a try.
True.

In any case, I cannot imagine *any* kind of picture where
binoculars would be a useful accessory.
Well, when I am taking pictures, I usually sit close to the scope using
binoculars, so I suppose you could consider them a 'useful accessory' to my
imaging!... :-)

Best Wishes

"Chris Andrews" wrote in message
om...
Greetings,

I'm an EXTREMELY amateur astronomer and photographer. I have a
FujiFilm s602 zoom with no extra lenses--this is a digital SLR. I got
some fairly decent pics of the lunar eclipse that just passed.

I want to take some pics of the space station. I know binoculars are
excellent for viewing, but to capture a photo leaves me out in the
cold if I use them. I see some well-priced binocular-digital camera
combinations out there. Would anyone recommend against them? I'm
looking at the Meade 8x42 CaptureView.

What about getting the telephoto lens for the s602? Anyone out there
using it?

Cameras aimed into binoculars generally work well. Zoom your camera to
medium telephoto rather than wide angle. This should give you very good
shots of the moon, for instance.

However, the International Space Station is not that kind of target. It's
going to look like a bright star. Use the camera on a tripod without the
binoculars, and make a time exposure (of a few seconds) of it passing by.

Tracking a spacecraft or satelite with any kind of telescope or super
telephoto lens is *hard*!

--
Clear skies,

Michael Covington -- www.covingtoninnovations.com
Author, Astrophotography for the Amateur
and (new) How to Use a Computerized Telescope

"Kilolani" wrote in message link.net...

P.S. You had replies within 20 minutes of your posting... you couldn't wait
20 minutes? Say... I've got a (only slightly used) bridge in Brooklyn you
might be interested in.

What can I say? My face is red. And I'm an impulsive shopper. Have
a bridge already, thanks. :P

I do believe I will be returning these binocs. I thought I'd keep
them anyway, nifty gadget, but I already have a digital cam, and the
money'd be better spent on a telephoto lens for it. As for looking at
the station... a pinprick of light coursing through the sky is just as
exciting as a pinprick of light coursing through the field of vision
in the binocs.

Thanks for the tips, all!

I do believe I will be returning these binocs. I thought I'd keep
them anyway, nifty gadget, but I already have a digital cam, and the
money'd be better spent on a telephoto lens for it.

Were you able to try them out and if so, did you get any decent images?

jon