Astrophotography for the Amateur (Paperback)

by Michael A. Covington (Author) "Welcome to astrophotography!..." (more)
Key Phrases: compressor lens, declination drift, afocal coupling, Technical Pan, Ektachrome Elite, Kodak T-Max (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"...highly recommend[ed]... to novice astrophotographers, but it is also an excellent reference for more advanced individuals....This work would also serve well in the field, as a quick reference to many of the formulas and techniques contained within." Sky & Telescope

"I enjoyed this book the first time I picked it up...I still find it a prime source for everything having to do with photographing the heavens." Paul R. Castle, Reflector

"I enjoyed this book the first time I picked it up...I still find it a prime source for everything having to do with photographing the heavens." Paul R. Castle, Reflector

"After reading this book, many will find it hard to resist the fascinating pursuit of astrophotography, which sometimes yields results that are of interest to professional photographers. This is the finest treatment of the subject at this level available in book form and is perfect for its intended audience." Science Books and Films --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
The author explains what can be done with minimal equipment - a 35mm camera - and also covers use of the camera in conjunction with telescopes. This book includes technical information on optical systems, film characteristics and processing techniques.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (October 25, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521409845
• ISBN-13: 978-0521409841
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,870,716 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Overall Astrophotography Book, April 13, 2000

By	Howard Edin "[e-mail]" (Kansas, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Astrophotography for the Amateur (Paperback)

This second edition is updated and revised. Of all the books I've read on astrophotography this is the best overall. Given that the standard reference work by Provin and Wallace (A Manual of Advanced Celestial Photography) was dated and is out of print this is the closest replacement.

The book covers all topics relevant to astrophotography, including telescope considerations, mounts, camera types and lens, focusing, photographic methods (prime focus, projection, etc.). Topics covered also include photographing meteors, aurora displays, planets and deep space objects. One appendix contains extensive exposure data for various targets like the moon, planets and deep sky objects. Some image processing techniques and algorithms are covered.

Some of the films mentioned in the book are now obsolete but that is an unfortunate consequence of a rapidly changing market. The book is generously illustrated with photos taken by the author and many other noted amateur astronomers.

CCD photography is covered in the book but not in any real depth. That is not a drawback to the book since most of the material on photography (methods, mounts and telescopes) is generally applicable to CCD as well. Readers interested specifically in CCD and not film should consult other texts for more in-depth information.

Overall the author did an excellent job of collecting and organizing information for the beginner to advanced astrophotographer.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Technical in nature - a bit out-of-date - Lacks CCD info, February 5, 1999

By A Customer

Just getting back into the astrophotography after 15 years and found the book was a good refresher. It would be a good place to start with film photography. This title is almost 8 or 9 years old now, so the mentioned film types are dated, but the general concepts are good. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a technical introduction into astrophotography. I will refer back to it often.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Astronomical Resource, May 5, 2001

By	"elemental_master" (Irvine, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Astrophotography for the Amateur (Paperback)

For about 5 years now I've been involved with Astronomy as a hobby. I've owned telescopes small and large, taken numerous night sky pictures, and read many materials on the subject. With the recent purchase of my 8" Schmidt, I was eager to begin taking pictures with it. I realized that while I'd taken some pictures in the past, I wasn't very skilled in the process. With a desire to expand my knowledge and further my skills I purchased this book. I was glad that I did. The book has an abundance of useful information that I was able to readily apply when photographing. It also has an abundance of technically sophisticated information. If you are a very new beginner then this probably isn't your book. I found that you already need more than just a basic knowledge of astronomy and photography to understand the concepts covered in this book. The book is not a light read. If you want to understand what is included in it you must be willing to devote some time, both reading and applying. If you are willing to put up with a level of sophistication and complexity then you should have no problem with this book. The title can be slightly misleading in the sense that the word amateur it is used. "Amateur," in title of this work, best translates as: non-professional. And not as beginner.