PENTAX: The choice for astrophotography

ASTROTRACER: the one-of-a-kind imaging tool

It has been seven years since the ASTROTRACER function made its debut, so many people are familiar with it. Simply told, this function shifts the camera’s image sensor in synchronization with the movement of celestial bodies, capturing images in which stars and planets appear to be stationary.

ASTROTRACER’s advantages over equatorial devices

ASTROTRACER provides several advantages unavailable with equatorial devices:

The first is simplified, easy-to-understand operations. Just make a high-precision calibration to properly set up the camera, then expose the image for 30 to 90 seconds, depending on the focal length of the lens being used. This captures stars as point images, and also lets you easily photograph the Milky Way and nebulas, objects difficult to even see with the naked eye.

The second advantage is that, unlike when using equatorial equipment, you don’t need special skills or astrophotographic knowledge. Equatorial equipment requires a polar alignment based on the position of the North Star. On the other hand, ASTROTRACER’s high-precision calibration can be made even in the southern hemisphere, where the North Star does not appear. Once you have the camera set up based on the high-precision calibration, the camera memorizes the setup — even when the power is turned off, or when the tripod-mounted camera is repositioned to recompose the image. This is a very helpful feature in the field photography.

Since the O-GPS1 system is lightweight, you can use a compact tripod. When you are in a rush, you can even place the camera on the ground. This free repositioning of the camera is simply not possible with equatorial devices, so this is an extremely important advantage.

Especially with the compact photographic equipment such as portable equatorial devices, image composition is crucial. Even a slight movement of the equipment while composing an image can cause an error in polar alignment. Or if you try to force a difficult composition and throw the equipment off balance, the entire photographic system may be out of line. Either way, the result is streaks, not sharp pinpoint stars, in the image.

The final and most important advantage is the reasonable cost for a full-scale astrophotography system. Equatorial equipment can easily cost JPY100,000 or more; the O-GPS1 retails at about JPY20,000.

Let me list up these advantages:

ASTROTRACER:

• A 60-second exposure time, for example, can capture a celestial image with stars as point images along with drifting clouds;
• Telephoto photography is available up to a focal length of 135mm;
• High-precision calibration data is retained as long as the battery remains in the camera body:
  • Late-model PENTAX lenses can be exchanged while the power of the camera and the O-GPS1 is turned off;
  • Manual lenses without lens information contacts require the input of focal length data;
  • This is a very useful feature when you are waiting for the sky to clear in a car or tent;
  • When you move to a completely new location, you may have to repeat the high-precision calibration.
• You can reposition the tripod-mounted camera to recompose the image. This is an extremely important benefit in astrophotography;
• You can place the camera on the ground;
• High-precision calibration can be made in locations where the North Star does not appear;
• ASTROTRACER comes in handy in the southern hemisphere;
• ASTROTRACER provides immediacy:
  • When you come across a beautiful starry sky on the road, you can complete your astrophotography in just 10 minutes.

Equatorial devices:

• Polar alignment cannot be made, or is extremely difficult to handle, in locations where the North Star cannot be seen or does not appear;
• Polar alignment in the southern hemisphere is unreliable;
• Portable models are too light in weight to be stable, while compact tripods lack mechanical strength. Besides polar misalignment, poorly balanced image composition may result in streaming stars;
• The system cannot be easily repositioned once it has been set up;
• The compact dimensions may suffer from polar misalignment, or may cause the entire imaging system to be shifted. Actually, image composition is an extremely crucial process because the misaligned polar axis can make it impossible to capture images;
• Equipment costs of JPY100,000 or more are needed, in addition to the basic camera system;
• Specialized skills and astronomical knowledge are required for proper operation;
• Specialized skills are required for immediate astrophotography on family trips;
• Even portable models are rather heavy and cumbersome;
• Specialized skills and extensive training are required for quick astrophotography:
  • For example, the sky can easily become cloudy during the course of complicated polar alignment and image composition.

The reasons why PENTAX gear is the top performer in astrophotography

I have been describing the ASTROTRACER function, but I also believe that PENTAX digital SLR cameras offer a lot more in functional astrophotography.

Useful pointers when using your PENTAX equipment to capture celestial images

People like me who travel for the sole purpose of astrophotography may be a rare breed, but I know there are many people who travel to places where they can see beautiful starry skies. They might even experience a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a breathtaking, unforgettable sky. If you carry the PENTAX K-70, the PENTAX O-GPS1 and a compact tripod with you, you’re ready to capture images like the one below, and in just a few minutes’ time.

All the images shown in this article were captured with PENTAX cameras and lenses available on the market.

To capture good celestial images, it is important to travel to a location with fairly dark skies. It might be hard for non-astrophotographers, especially woman photographers, to feel comfortable going out alone in the middle of the night. If you are with family or friends, however, you will have many opportunities to capture beautiful celestial images, even when visiting overseas. It would be very hard or almost impossible to carry an equatorial device and a tripod in your baggage, along with all other travel necessities. That’s where the PENTAX gear’s advantage is clear.

If you want to take the kind of images I have shown you here, the imaging system we’ve been describing will let you do the same, easily and rapidly.

My job as an astrophotographic equipment engineer is a unique one; in my work, I take on many different kinds of shooting sessions using various cameras. In some of my assignments, I simply can’t fail — as is the case for working professional photographers. However, the ASTROTRACER’s immediacy has always been a great help to me.

If you are planning to take celestial images in the future, I advise you to get PENTAX gear including the one-of-a-kind ASTROTRACER. I’m sure it can really boost the fun and excitement during travel and at your shooting locations.