M31 and friends with 200mm f/2.8

[Garyh]

Hi all again,
Been a bit bored lately with all this cloud around. But has given me some time to fiddle around and catch up on my images that I have taken lately! October was a good month up here! :thumbsup: November not as good so far with only a few clear nights...
Anyways here is a image of M31 with M32 and M110 taken while I had my scope setup about 2 weeks ago while waiting for comet Holmes to climb a bit higher. Taken with my canon 300D and 200 f/2.8 @f/3.5 and consistes of 20 x 2min at iso800.
I have never taken a pic of M31 before as it is too low from where I used to setup and from my new obs so I am very happy to bag it even though it is only with a 200mm lense! I totally love this lense..:) as is pin sharp when you get the focus just right!
Stacked in DSS and finished of in PS..
about a 50% crop from the original..
cheers and hopefully some CS soon!!...:thumbsup:
------------------------------------------------------
New reprocessed version on the right with blue channel adjusted!
cheers

[iceman]

That's a beautiful image, Gary. I've always wanted to get an image of M31. Your pic gives me inspiration.

Are the yellow hues normal? I would expect a little more blue.

[Ingo]

Looks like he only got the internal parts of M31 which are yellowish. If he exposed more he would've gotten the blue outer regions.

Great image, simple and effective.

[allan gould]

Very nice image, well framed and exposed. I like it a lot

[dugnsuz]

Very nice Gary,
gotta win lotto on Saturday and get me some of them L lenses!!!!
Great work
Doug

[Phil]

greaT SHOT GARY WELL DONE. I HAVE JUST ORDERED THE 70-200MM F/4 LENS CAN NOT WAIT TO GET IT.
PHIL

[Ric]

Lovely image Gary, nice and sharp and heaps of detail as well.

A top effort.

[Tamtarn]

Fantastic image Gary :thumbsup: Wonderful detail considering its just camera and lens. Wow ! That 200mm lens is really something !

D&B

[Dennis]

Top shot Gary - this galaxy is low for us “northerners” up in Brisbane, so I can imagine how close to the horizon it would be for you.

Cheers

Dennis

[Garyh]

Thanks Mike! give it a try! I was suprised at the results considering the altitude. I have reprocessed it as like you mention it seems to be lacking the blue tones to the outer regions...maybe due to extinction of the blue tones closer to the horizon? Have reprocessed it to give it a more natural look!
cheers Gary...:thumbsup:



Thanks Ingo...has that more blue look to it now!..:)
Could have exposed it a bit longer but being very low I would end up with a bit of LP and gradients to deal with so kept them to 2 min.
cheers Gary



Thanks Allan, glad you didn`t mind having a look!



Well worth the money Doug! got this one from ebay for $700! was a great buy! Thanks ...:thumbsup:



thankyou Ric! I did many more images but had to scrap them due to big fat powerlines through them!!



Thanks Barb and Dave for the nice comment! they are certainly nice those L series lenses! wish I could have more...:D



Thanks Dennis.....:) , it was low but it was a nice clear night and was higher than comet Holmes so had to have a crack at it..

Thanks guys and gals...:thumbsup:

[iceman]

The reprocess is excellent! Well done!

[h0ughy]

wow green with envy here!!!

[jjjnettie]

Top shot!
And at that altitude too!
You need congratulating for even thinking of trying, but to achieve those results is excellent.

[Terry B]

Great image.
How come the 8 pointed diffraction spikes on the bright star?

[davewaldo]

Nice shot! I'm assuming the 8 point diffraction spikes are from the 8 Blade aperture in the lens. I don't think you would get this if shot at 2.8 but then the image would be a bit softer overall....

:)

I'm loving the shot!

[Garyh]

Thanks Mike, Houghy, Jeanette, Terry and Dave for your comments..:thumbsup:
I will defiantly give it a go next year and with a bit more focal length!


Lense was stopped down slightly to f/3.5 so the aperture blades are responsible for the diffraction pattern. I find the lense is that little bit sharper stopped down a little..
Thanks everyone for having a peek...:)
cheers Gary

[Outbackmanyep]

I can sum this up in one word BEWDYFULLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!
Love it! Well done Gary!

:thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

Great effort... and great what you can do with this lens.
They are a lot of fun and amazing the results.
alex

[SkySearcher]

This is so beautifull!!
It just pops out.

I don't know too much about imaging yet but I suspect it took more than just a great lens. ;)

[RB]

Wow what a great result Gary, fantastic capture mate !

:cool:

[jase]

Hi Gary, Great work! Enjoyed the composition. As some have said, more data would bring out the fainter arms. Keep it up.

[sejanus]

awesome work on this. Was this done on your pier?

[Garyh]

Thanks guys :) for the comments..

Sejanus....much to low for me to image this from my little observatory. Setup and imaged from my front lawn with the tripod and some housebricks!
cheers Gary

[sejanus]

shouldnt you have gotten the start of star trails at 2min exposures on a tripod?