Here you can see a live view optical zoom into the Big Orion Nebula. I have automated the super telephoto zoom lens Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO. An electronic circuit controls the motor of the zoom lens and the exposure time of a DSLR camera.
Together with an astronomical alt-azimuth mount, the system allows to make a live view optical zoom time lapse to deep sky objects (Deep Sky Time Lapse).
After two years working on this project, I finally made a zooming into the Big Orion Nebula. The pictures were taken in Sierra Nevada (Granada/Spain) using a Canon 5D Mark II, a Canon 450D modified, a zoom lens Sigma 50-500 mm APO, a teleconverter Canon extender EF x2 and the Meade LX80 mount.
I would like to thank David Henarejos and Juan Antonio Albaladejo for their help in the electronic and mechanical workshop.
Filmed by Isidro Villó
Music by Kirovent youtube.com/kirovent