Complete Newbie :)

[dasinc]

G'day everyone :)

Just bought my first camera - the pentax K30. Should get it tomorrow :)

I am a photo retoucher/restorer, not a photographer at all. However, I decided I wanted to do some playing and see what I can do. Hopefully going to get into astrophotography once I learn how to use the camera. I am hoping to do it on the cheap so will end up with a couple of lenses and and good tripod coupled with the vixen polarie. Seems to be the simplest, cheapest, most portable solution.

Anyway, I am sure this forum will be a wealth of information for someone like me, so that is why I am here:)

[ricktas]

Welcome to AP. See you on the forums

[Wayne63]

Welcome to AP, enjoy the site and look forward to seeing some of your pics in the forums

[dt86vyss]

welcome on board, you will have many good adventures with the new camera

[Kym]

:gday: & Welcome
- lets see some photos in the main CC forums (http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/forumdisplay.php?5) maybe try a competition or 2 and have fun!

[dasinc]

Thanks guys. Looking forward to sussing it out. My wife has signed for it, but hasn't told me....do I guess she is going to 'surprise' me with it! heh.
I have a rough understanding of the basics, but putting it into play will be fun.

[Wizofoz]

G'day and welcome dasinc

Not sure if this device might be out of your budget, but Penatx makes a hot shoe mount GPS unit that, among other things, allows the camera to utilise its ability to move the sensor (which is how shake reduction works) to get long exposure astro shots without star trails..
I understand this unit will work on any Pentax later than a K-5 classic, and the K-30 certainly fits that description.

Worth a look, they are a very cool little device

[dasinc]

Yeah I was just reading about that a while ago. Sounds good, but I think it limits your exposure to (for me at my lattitude) to about 5 mins max. Also seems to be a bit flakey is some directions. Not really sure, since I've never done anything like that I don't even know if these would be issues for me. heh. Definitely worth a look though as it seems to be 1/2 the price of the polarie!

Thanks

[chappo1]

Good luck with the new toy. With your retouching skills you ought to be able to rectify any learning oopses....john