NGC6726 first light FLI ML16 camera

[gregbradley]

I took this image ages ago. In fact I took a lot more data since I processed this image. I have lots of data I have acquired with this new camera and the RHA 305. But I was put off from processing it as my laptop was too slow and it took too long.

I have since gotten a much faster computer and can now start to process all this data in a reasonable time frame.

This is the first image I took with this setup and I was impressed by the low noise which seems similar to the Starlight Express 694 I had. The 694 is more sensitive and particularly better in narrowband but this is close in performance to the 16803. It seems like its the little brother to the 16803 sensor in many ways. The 6 micron pixels though are a better match to the Honders 305 giving just over the targeted 1 arc/sec per pixel. Overall I am very happy with this sensor and camera and would recommend it to those who have been using an 8300 camera and want an upgrade. Its 27 x 21.6mm in size so kind of large but not quite full frame.

Sensor specifications are here:

http://www.onsemi.com/pub_link/Collateral/KAF-16200-D.PDF

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/163812956/large

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/163812956/original

I add the data I took after this image was taken later. I am not sure how much more data I acquired but possibly twice as much.

I have full and complete sets of data for at least 15 different images to process.

Greg.

[Stevec35]

Or me

[gregbradley]

Fixed.

[Stevec35]

A beauty Greg! Smooth, detailed and great colour.

Cheers

Steve

[Slawomir]

You must be very happy with the new camera Greg!

The image is very good, I like the colours and in particular how you represented blue nebulosity :thumbsup:

I now look forward to the remaining 15 images :)

[Shiraz]

wow - how nice is that. Scope and camera look like a perfect match. top result.

[topheart]

Hey Greg,

What a winner!

Smoooooth as!!

You must be a very happy man!!
What a great gear combo!

Give us more!!!

Thanks,
Tim

[gregbradley]

Thanks very much Steve.



Thanks Suavi. I am pretty sure I have a lot of extra data and I'll add it in later on.



Thanks Ray. I think it does match the Honders very very well. It also works well on the CDK in good seeing.



Cheers Tim. More is on the way!

Greg.

[atalas]

Nice effort Greg.

[gregbradley]

Cheers Louie.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Quite a nice result Greg :thumbsup:

It's definitely one of the more photogenic areas of the sky huh?

Mike

[Atmos]

Some really nice detail in the blue nebulosity Greg :)

[Placidus]

The faint reflected light off the dust is magnificent. Nice composition afforded by the wide field.



Oh, what a lovely problem to have!

[PRejto]

That is seriously nice! Love the pastel blue and super detail.

Peter

[strongmanmike]

Yeah! I recon! heck, that's about a whole years worth (or more!) for me! :eyepop:

[DJT]

Lovely image Greg, looking forward to seeing the rest of the images.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Mike, it sure is. I like to image this area from time to time.



Thanks. Yes I noticed an increase in resolution using the ML16 over the 16803 due to the smaller pixels. An ideal match to the Honders but I also find the 16803 makes some very pleasing images with the Honders as well.



Yes definitely a first world problem! I kept on imaging but not processing much.



Cheers Pete. Yes I am happy with the image and how it turned.



Yes its quite a backlog. Every clear night I would keep on imaging. There's not much around when the Helix is up so I kept on imaging the Helix. I don't know how much I have gotten there but wouldn't be surprised if it were 60 hours!



Thanks for that. I'll be processing them on a more regular basis.

Greg.

[Peter Ward]

Sadly, my Honders is currently in storage (a waste I know) but I have to say your RHA images are making me question my current instrument strategy!

A pleasing result...though I'm not sure I can see any real benefit of the smaller pixels :question:...looks to me like the seeing outweighs slightly finer
sampling on most nights.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Peter.

The finer sampling is a subtle effect and not massive for sure. The cleaner read noise though is more noticeable in processing the images. They are cleaner overall with less total exposure. But yes sadly seeing does rule the night.

Greg.

[RickS]

An excellent first light, Greg!

[gregbradley]

Thanks Rick. I am happy with the cleanness of the images from the camera and the vibrance/brightness it seems to impart.

Greg.

[beren]

:thumbsup: Congrats Greg very nice image for first light with that fine gear

[marc4darkskies]

A very nice rendition Greg, despite the seeing conditions! :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Thanks very much Beren.



Cheers Marcus. Yes seeing is rolling the dice. The Honder though is less susceptible to weaker seeing than the CDK though. That really shines in good seeing and is poor in poor seeing.

Greg.

[Atmos]

Do you find that is anything other than the considerably longer FL at play?

[andyc]

Cracking image Greg! Got that 'hairy' look in the reflection nebula, and a whole heap of detail.

[gregbradley]

I don't think so I think its just really focal length. As far as the AP scope versus CDK the AP scope is way better baffled and seems to cut though light pollution better than any other scope I have had. 6 micron pixels gives 1.1 arc secs of image scale on the Honders and the 16803 with 9 microns gives .63 arc sec per pixel on the CDK so the smaller image scale does require better seeing to resolve fine detail.




Thanks Andy. I am happy with the performance of the AP scope. Its got typically sharp optics.