This is a deviation from my normal astrophotography threads. I got bored today so pulled out my DSLR w/ tiny lens and took a photo of a nearby crane from the backyard:

Low zoom (18mm FL) downsized
http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~boldajis/images/crane_18mm_640.jpg

Low zoom (18mm FL) 1:1 crop
http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~boldajis/images/crane_18mm_one.jpg

So boring. I wanted more detail so I grabbed my larger lens with more zoom, took another shot:

High zoom (250mm FL) downsized
http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~boldajis/images/crane_250mm_640.jpg

High zoom (250mm FL) 1:1 crop
http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~boldajis/images/crane_250mm_one.jpg

At this stage I was almost asleep due to the lack of detail. So I pulled out my freaking telescope and inserted the DSLR:

http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~boldajis/images/dslr_scope.jpg

Aimed at the crane again and bam:

Camera + Telescope (2400mm FL) downsized
http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~boldajis/images/crane_2400mm_640.jpg

Camera + Telescope (2400mm FL) 1:1 Crop
http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~boldajis/images/crane_2400mm_one.jpg

I couldn't believe the detail! I put another lens in to triple the zoom (yes, 7200mm focal length!) but had a hard time focusing, plus the resulting image didn't fit on my 1920x1200 res monitor.

I'd really like to try to get uber-zoomed snaps of the city using this method, but can't think of any good (and safe) locations to view from. Any ideas?

(Note: all images taken at 4272x2848 and resized or cropped)

Point that in someones window.

Nice one Parabol. You at Chermside?
Re the snaps of the city. What about the road that goes up Mt Cootha? It has good city views and is far away enough that your not going to get in trouble for being a peeping tom.

last edited by E.T. at 18:02:42 22/Dec/09

Point that in someones window.

LOL!

on topic: sweet rig you've setup mate. what software do you use for that?

You at Chermside?

Nah this was taken at Carindale. I live closer to Indro myself so Mt Coot-tha might be a good option. I've been told to try sticking a laser pointer at the point of focus to shoot a massive beam from the telescope towards my distant target ... might give this bat signal a go :)

what software do you use for that?

I actually did very little processing. Just resize/cropping and a touch of leveling in PS CS4.

yar, you have camera and telescope and you are shooting cranes?
thats super stalker fail right there

cootha/glorius http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm190/pointyfork/outdoors/

I've heard mt tamborine also has a decent view and someone (I think 'viper'?) told me there's hot air balloons going up & down there all the time.

So how do they build cranes? Do they make two of them and one finishes off the tallest one?

martians

So how do they build cranes? Do they make two of them and one finishes off the tallest one?

the second thing my girlfriend said was "gee his balcony is clean"

i hope you aren't spending your xmas leave on taking photos of cranes with telescopes. fun++

the second thing my girlfriend said was "gee his balcony is clean"

+1

first thing my missus said was "cool crane video"

first thing my missus said was "cool crane video"

Send her my regards