Milky Way mosaic

[gregbradley]

I posted the first panel a few weeks ago. Since then I have taken an additional 5 panels. Here is a total of 4 panels stitched.

Sony A7r2 cameras Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 lens at F4, ISO640 14 x 5 mins autoguided on an AP1600 mount at my dark site.

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/165932391/large

I may redo the first top left panel as it was taken under 1/3rd moon whereas the others were all done with no moon.

I also have a set of panels done with the 16803 and Pentax lens. Its a lot more work to process though but should make an interesting comparison when done.

Greg.

[RickS]

Making good progress, Greg!

[Paul Haese]

Its going to look great Greg once you finish it. Though it does look slightly brown at present.

[Atmos]

There is a patch towards your middle lower right that has a bit of a red cast, I'd seen it in mine and thought that it may have been due to a light leakage but it is nice to know it's real.

[gregbradley]

Cheers Rick



Thanks Paul. Interesting you say its slightly brown as I was critiqued by someone else on another forum that the original panel was too blue. Perhaps I have gone too far the other way.



Yes I was also wondering about that if it was an artefact or not. It must be some diffuse Ha.

Greg.

[atalas]

Yeah going to be a ripper when finished Greg :thumbsup:

[plantnerd]

How is the Star Eater noise reduction treating you on the A7RII?
I got the A7R because it only has it for Bulb exposures not anything over 4 seconds with the latest A7RII firmware.
If you have old firmware DONT UPDATE

More info here
https://www.lonelyspeck.com/why-i-no-longer-recommend-sony-cameras-for-astrophotography-an-open-letter-to-sony/

[gregbradley]

Thanks Louie and happy birthday for yesterday!



I did not update the firmware from Version 3.2 which only affects bulb exposures. These were all bulb exposures so I would have to say long exposures are not affected very much if at all. They look the same to me as other images I have taken in the past with a Nikon D800e. To be honest I have not really seen the star eater effect in any of my images. Perhaps if moon affected and the stars are dim it may be a tad otherwise at my dark site with bright stars and billions of them its hard to notice anything going on. It may be that it affects northern hemisphere users more as their skies typically have hardly any stars and many do very short exposures so it may show up more easily in that type of scene where the stars are dim and few.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Nice one Greg :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Cheers Mike. How's it going getting your FSQ into operation? I am looking forward to seeing your images from that with the Mike S perspective.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Still in bits and in boxes on the lounge room side table :P Technical innovations are sending me the correct Robofocus bracket, should be here in a week or so. I'm off to Cairns at the end of the week for a week anyway...and I'm in no hurry...it will happen :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

There is also the correct brass bush for the Robofocus for the FSQ focuser. They make a specific one for the FSQ which as I recall is wider than normal.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Yes I did get that, haven't checked it though, hopefully it is the same for all FSQ's..?

[gregbradley]

Probably.

Greg.

[topheart]

Looks like a great image is well under way here Greg!
Wow!
Cheers,
Tim

[gregbradley]

Thanks Tim. I plan to add to it next trip.

Greg.