M42 with DLSR

[griz11]

First decent image off my new rig. Used a 7D and a 400mm f5.6L lens for this one. 20 subs 300 sec same amount of darks flats and bias frames. Stacked in DSS and finished in Ps. Don't know much Ps I just subscribed recently so not a lot of processing going on. HLVG WhiteCal levels and curves mostly. Topaz denoise and a little tweaking on the colors. I'm trying to learn pixinsight now its a hard slog but getting easier. Hopefully the next image I can process it all in Pi.

Took this one the same night. Not enough exposure the moon was still up. Forgot just how dim this nebula is but I can go back and add some more data and maybe get a decent image out of it. Its 420sec 20 subs everything was taken at ISO800

Working on fixing the blown out area on the Orion nebula with layers and masks. Not too successful so far thinking I'm going to have to get more subs with a much lower exposure and layer those in. Just kinda fumbling around trying stuff right now. Just finished up my encoders and getting the Argo Navis hooked up. With my star hopping skills that should double the number of subs I get each session :) Having a lot of fun with it I'm amazed at how well DLSR's work for this.

Griz

[IanP]

Dan,
If I may add my 2c, next time you stretch the photo try to do it with a mask, as the core of the M42 is clearly overstretched.
If you use PI, you can always apply masked HDR-Multiscale-Transformation, as I have done on your very-low-resolution photo .. ;)

[griz11]

I was trying to figure that out today. I just bought PI. Wow there really is a lot more in that image. I'll be up all night now trying to figure out how you did it :) Yea I don't post up the full res stuff. I didn't want to take up lots of space. Its a little out of focus I should have touched up the focus I'd been out for a few hours and the temp had dropped. One of these nights I won't forget anything. Thanks for the tip.

Griz

[griz11]

Still can't get totally rid of the bright area but I think this one looks much better. Did it totally in PI this time finally. PI is powerful. I've just used a few processes so far and there are lots more to play with yet. Getting closer though so I'm happy. Still haven't quite gotten masking down. I quit messing with it yesterday thinking I'd start up again today. It usually goes better if I do that.

Griz

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Hi Dan,

There's some good data in there :thumbsup:, but as Ian said it's over stretched.

What does a single sub look like?

Some shorter subs will help a lot, not up with PI, so no suggestions there.
I use PS and layer the different length subs after stacking in DSS, presume it's a similar operation in PI.

Cheers,

Justin.