What can you see from a single sub with a DSLR , EQ mount and a refractor OTA

[ZekeP]

Hi

I was considering starting with AP, but also wanted to still be able to do some viewing so i was thinking on starting with an EQ6-R and a 8 inches newtonian, but then i start thinking on buying a small OTA refractor and a DSLR instead and i was wondering if you can see something from a single unprocessed sample of maybe 2 or 3 minutes exposure.

In that way i could still do the AP gear as a pseudo viewing scope via the DSLR screen. The viewing would be mostly for showing my kids, so if i can take a 2 minute photo and then show it to them they will still be fine

Can someone share a single sub and the final processed image so i can have an idea of what can be seen?

Regards

Ezekiel

[Drac0]

It really depends on the target selected. Something bright like Orion you can do even in a short exposure, even 10-15 seconds is good. It's really all on the target selection. And the longer the exposure the more you will see, within reason. Attached are the single images taken with a Canon 70D. The Tarantula Nebula (30s, ISO 1600) & Orion Nebula (15s, ISO 1600). Neither has been edited at all.

NOTE - this is with my 102mm refractor.

[gts055]

This is a single frame unprocessed straight out of the camera on the evening of 30 December. One of 42 subs of Comet 2021 A1 (Leonard) taken with a 12 year old Canon 1000D set at ISO1600, 20 seconds. Camera attached to a Takahashi Sky 90 f5.55, without field flattener. Mounted on a Takahashi SpaceBoy RA drive only mount. Cheers Mark

[raymo]

There are so few bright enough objects to image with a small frac and a single sub that it would be just about an exercise in futility. A large frac [say130-150mm] would give some improvement, but really, as was already stated, aperture and/or stacked subs are the APer's friends. Here is a single sub of Eta Carina, 30 secs ISO 1600 with my 8" Newt.
The image of comet Leonard is not a good example for your situation, comets are often quite bright, and only come along occasionally.
Also, this single sub shows almost none of the comet's tail, which is what makes comet images speccy. Have a look at Gypsy's
great version in the deep space section,[ titled "my first comet"] which highlights what stacked subs provide.
raymo

[ZekeP]

Wow, Raymo, this single sub with an 8'' newtonian looks really good. did you do any postprocessing like stretching or is it what it came right from the camera ?

Was this taken in a dark sky location or your backyard ?

[raymo]

Hi ZekeP, A slight sharpen and downsize for posting here is all. Backyard Bortle3/4, no filters.
raymo

[ChrisV]

You can see a lot with a fastish 8" newt. Besides the beautiful single shots below, you could do live stacking of short (30s or less) subs, unguided, using sharpcap. This will stack and stretch on the go. There's now an ascom driver for DSLRs. Or you could use astrotoaster and backyardEOS.

Don't have access to my computer with live imaging shots as I'm flat out like a lizard in the sun on a beach away from Sydney!!

[Kuz]

ZekeP

This is 60 sec sub , no processing at all. Just a screen shot from my tablet . It was taken with a Espirt 120 . In borte 4 skies. It was taken with a zwo 294 pro . Not a dslr camera. Just for reference. I think i had a optolong l enhance filter in the camera when it was taken