Photoclubalpha

I may have an opportunity to access my colleague's telescope. I think I have the appropriate adapter.
Could some one suggest what camera settings I should use please? Please let me know if I need to provide
details of the telescope (I don't have them at the moment)? All he told me is that it is about 200lbs and he has
GEM (equitorial?) mount.

I can use either A9/7/1 00 bodies.
My apologies in advance if I did not provide enough information. I don't even know where to begin.

With best regards,
Sury

Here is what I think you have to know/do, but I have not tried it myself, so I may not be completely correct. With that disclaimer, and since noone else has responded, I'll give it a try...

There is a setting (in the A100, at least) that you have to change to allow the camera to operate "without a lens attached". Then you need a T-mount adapter for the camera, and a t-mount adapter for the telescope. (I say that because I think that is fairly standard, but you may need to check the specific brand of scope to verify that.) It's probably helpful to have a wired remote shutter release, although, you may be able to get by with the timer modes; pressing the shutter on the camera while it's attached will generate too much vibration without using the timer.

To take photos of the stars, I'd use manual mode, and a long shutter-- anywhere from a few seconds, to 30 seconds, or maybe longer. Or, use bulb mode. If the 'scope follows the stars then you can do that without getting streaks. Take multiple photos, and you can stack them to reduce noise. Also, take the occasional "black frame" so you can subtract that during post-processing, although the NR turned on will do that for you when not in bulb mode. It's been a while since I did any astrophotography, so that's about all I can recall right now.

I have a telescope and adapters and would like to give it a try myself, but between the cold, wet weather and time needed, it's kind of low on the priority list. One day...

I thought of it as a fun challenge. This is one of those areas where it's tough work to get results.

Vidgamer,
Thank you. Much appreciated. I do have a corded remote (for A9/7/1 00) and wireless for A900 and A700.

With best regards,
Sury