| Joined: | Sun Apr 1st, 2012 |
| Location: | South Lakeland, UK |
| Posts: | 4066 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
Yesterday I had an idea... I checked out the Go-Pro controls, they are accessed via an app on my iPhone or iPad, I seemed to recollect there was some means of controlling the exposure manually. I fiddled with the controls at home and managed to increase the sensitivity a bit, two stops I think, so I redoubled my efforts and made a small clamp to properly secure the tiny Go-Pro camera to the eyepiece of the scope. It worked fine in daylight and even poor light in my bedroom with the lights off and curtain closed, so I got some fish and chips, then headed for the local viewpoint, to await darkness.
While I was exploring the track I attracted the attention of the local gamekeeper, who stopped and watched me for some time while I enjoyed my fish and chips! Eventually the parking spot near the bench came free and I moved down to set up before darkness fell, ready to test the Go-Pro camera. Gamekeeper still back and forth keeping an eye on me! lol
Eventually it was almost fully dark, just about to test the Go-Pro the gamekeeper came past again so I stopped him and assured him I was just a mad photographer waiting for it to go really dark before I could take some photo's.
He seemed a bit puzzled, I explained you can't see the stars in daylight!!! He laughed, so I took the opportunity to ask him where the best viewpoint would be where I could get a full view of the Duddon sand-bar and the estuary. He was very helpful and showed me where I could go to get a the best view of the entire estuary. I am going up there this afternoon to check it out. I am hoping I can make a time-lapse video of an entire incoming tide on a very low to very high spring tide.Finally... It was dark. I powered up the Go-Pro and no dice. Just a black image, no sign of Polaris or any other stars. By shining my red lamp into the polar scope I could see the etchings to locate Polaris, so the camera was working. One thought was perhaps in the darkness the Go-Pro autofocus wasn't able to latch onto the tiny dot in the sky? Whatever the reason it's a No-Go-Pro! Turning my thoughts to an angle finder, will see what my buddy has...
____________________
Robert.