[Harry Hayfield]

and would like to know if the more expert photographers could assess if I have done the right thing by changing from a 3MP camera with no optical zoom and 8 x digital zoom (which produces pictures like this)

(First attachment)

to a camera with 7.8MP, a 10x optical zoom and a 40x digital zoom that produces pictures like this

(Second attachment)

[sgcullen]

Welcome Harry. Well, let's see, 3MP vs. 7.8MP...seems like a good move. And, 8X digital zoom vs. 10x optical zoom...check...seems like a good move too. I would stay away from using the digital zoom on the 7.8MP camera, you will end up with some pixelated images, especially if you zoom in a lot. What are your plans for your camera...astrophotography?

[slotdrag]

I think you made a good choice just stay away from the high power zoom if you can youll get better pictures.

[Harry Hayfield]

Originally Posted by sgcullen

Welcome Harry. Well, let's see, 3MP vs. 7.8MP...seems like a good move. And, 8X digital zoom vs. 10x optical zoom...check...seems like a good move too. I would stay away from using the digital zoom on the 7.8MP camera, you will end up with some pixelated images, especially if you zoom in a lot. What are your plans for your camera...astrophotography?

In a nutshell yes, but primarily for recording solar and lunar events. For instance I tried it out today with the sun (for the first time since I got the camera) and had a wonderful time getting a good clear image of the sun using a solar viewer (as you can see). The next challenge will be to see what sort of moon image I can get (when there aren't any clouds) and then start with the planets working inwards (so first will be Neptune, followed by Uranus and so on)

By the way for any Americans reading this it is pronounced Your ran us not the rude way that gets so many potty laughs on shows such as Animaniacs!

[sgcullen]

Harry-

You might want to try bumping up the f-stop on the camera and/or speeding up your shutter speed. Your sun image appears to be over saturated. Bumping up the f-stop will also ensure that you are using less of the lens which will give you more detail/less distorted images. I don't believe there are any sunspots visible currently, but you probably won't capture them at the levels you have your camera set at anyway. The sun is really bright so you don't need much to get enough light to your CCD.

Steve

[Harry Hayfield]

Originally Posted by sgcullen

Harry-

You might want to try bumping up the f-stop on the camera and/or speeding up your shutter speed. Your sun image appears to be over saturated. Bumping up the f-stop will also ensure that you are using less of the lens which will give you more detail/less distorted images. I don't believe there are any sunspots visible currently, but you probably won't capture them at the levels you have your camera set at anyway. The sun is really bright so you don't need much to get enough light to your CCD.

Steve

Thanks for that advice Steve, the only downside is that this camera is totally automatic (therefore I have no idea how to bump the f-stop or to speed up the shutter speed!). What I will do is experiment tomorrow (sun permitting) with the various functions and see what I come up with

[Harry Hayfield]

If so, it was achieved by nothing more technical than a tripod!

[sgcullen]

The image looks much better. Unfortunately there are no sunspots right now to really tell if you've got it nailed. It looks like you do, but the proof will be when a few blemishes show up on the sun for you to image.

[Harry Hayfield]

and the forecast for sunspots is looking bad until at least mid 2009. It's just at the moment the sun is the only thing that I can take a picture of. It's been raining at night since last Thursday! As soon as I see the moon I'll try and take some pics of that.

[sgcullen]

There will be a news service opening very soon called LightBuckets where you can take pictures with research grade telescopes over the Internet. It is very easy to use and affordable as well. These are telescopes that most amateur astronomers (and even researchers) wouldn't be able to have due to the cost, location, and maintenance. There is a 24" telescope located in the arid desert of New Mexico, a 20" telescope located in the mountains of eastern New Mexico, and a 14.5" telescope located in the plains of Western Australia. So it doesn't matter if it rains 300 days a year where you live, you can use a telescope in some of the darkest and clearest skies in the world, whenever you like with LightBuckets.