MilkyWay Rising with the Canon 1DX.

[RB]

Took a few test shots a few nights ago to try out my new Canon 1DX.
Moon was about to rise so there's some light gradient in the sky.

Very happy with the performance of this camera, so nice to handle.
This was a quick test stack because only used a tripod, no tracking.

Image is 8 x 30 sec shots, at 16mm (Canon 16-35mm L), ISO 1600 at f/4.0.
Used Registar to register, align and stack the images and then PS to finish off.

Larger Version:
MilkyWay Region - Emu Rising (http://iimagespace.com/page/ds/emumilkyway.htm)

Hope you enjoy.

RB

[gregbradley]

Very nice RB. Congrats on your new camera. I like that lens as well. I've heard good things about it.

Greg.

[Octane]

Awesome camera. :)

The new 1D X II looks to be excellent, too!

Now, bung it on the back of one of those Takahashi's!

H

[RB]

Thanks Greg.
I still can't believe I got this camera, beautiful in all respects.
The lens is an amazing lens too, I love it.



Thanks.
Yes I was very lucky and got it at a very cheap price.
It was an order that was cancelled I think so I bargained with them in light of the new 1DX II release and they preferred to sell it rather than send it back.

The 1DX II is fantastic too but a bit out of my reach. :D
I've heard from some that they're having issues with the CFast card on the Mk II, storing some corrupt files intermittently.
I'm sure it will be sorted out soon via firmware updates.

Meanwhile I'm ecstatic with the 1DX, I'd like to try some bird and wildlife shots too.
Two CF cards and 12 fps RAW plus all those cross-type AF points, sublime.

I do want to hook it up to the scope, being FF I'm going to let it rip on the TOA 150.

Cheers

:thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

ohhh awesome image you photon thief.:eyepop: that on the back of the doorstop makes for and excellent parking bollard:P

might need to get a fix soon;)

[Octane]

It's been too many years since we've seen any astro images from you, mate.

Get back on that horse. :)

H

[RB]

hehehe, ah yes the unveiling of the doorstop, you'll have to come over for that, would be a great session.
Glad you liked the shot.

:)


Very true, it's been way too long.
Hoping to get back into it soon.

:thumbsup:

[iceman]

That's beautiful RB, great to see a new image from you!

I love the colours in the Milky Way! Nice processing!

[RB]

Thanks Mike.

I was surprised at the colour and detail for just 4 minutes on 1600 ISO.
Had to re-visit my notes on processing, hadn't cracked open Registar for almost a decade. :lol:

It was nice imaging something again, even if it was just a short test session.

:)

[astropolak]

Very nice Andrew, so much detail.
The trees not sharp - is it because focus is on infinity, the length of exposure or the need for stacking rotated images ?

Joe

[RB]

Thanks Joe, glad you liked it.
Basically it was a quick test shot on a tripod, no tracking, to see what I could capture.
That's why the trees are like that, it was stacking the eight slightly rotated sky images that resulted in a blurry tree line.
Even at 30 sec, it's so surprising, as you know, how much the sky moves even at wide 16mm full frame.
I knew I was pushing it with the '500 rule'. (http://petapixel.com/2015/01/06/avoid-star-trails-following-500-rule/)

The stacking program I used, Registar, does a wonderful job in registering and aligning the sky, but the tree line suffers.

If I was to do a proper nightscape, I'd also do one exposure just for the foreground and blend the two, but I was only at home without an interesting foreground. :)

Cheers mate, thanks for the feedback.
Next time at the PC, I'll try and get a tracking shot with my plateform and a foreground.

:thumbsup:

RB

[Derek Klepp]

Nice shot I have a friend who has had one of these for years it is an excellent camera and practically bombproof.It will be interesting to see if the newer model matches up in low light.

[RB]

This camera is built like a tank and it feels so different to the other bodies I've used.
Rattles off 12 RAW per second sounding like a machine gun.

I've heard there is a marginal increase in low light for the new model.
Of course the new model sports 4K video which I'm not in need of.
I hope the CFast card issue of random corrupt files is also sorted out via Firmware update for the MkII.

RB
:thumbsup: