Experience a Live View Optical Zoom of the Big Orion Nebula

Photography Tips

At times, making a timelapse seems purely like a labor of love. The process can be so extended, involved, expensive, and the tiniest overlooked detail can wreak havoc on the entire project. Isidro Villó spent two years working on his timelapse project which, now completed, lasts for just under two minutes. That being said, they are a very captivating two minutes:

Setting up in rural Sierra Neveda in Spain, Villó created a live optical zoom into the colorful Big Orion Nebula. He captured the stunning footage using a Canon 5D Mark II, a modified Canon 450D, and Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO on a Meade LX80 mount. He put a Canon EF X2 teleconverter on the lens, effectively doubling its range to 1000mm.

The timelapse begins with a wide view of the region.

Big Orion Nebula

Villó automated the telephoto lens using an electronic circuit control. The control allowed for a smooth zoom into the nebula, making it suitable for a live view of the zoom. The circuit control also managed the exposure time for even more automation.