DSLR V CCD resolution challenge

[tornado33]

Hi all
Thats it, I cant help myself, Ive got to step into the melee. The challenge is to better resolution on the following objects

Ghost of Jupiter (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/uploads/ngc%203242%2010x2minsiso400uhcs2xba rlow10inchdrizzle.jpg)

Toby Jug Nebula (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/uploads/tobyjug%206x10minsiso200uvir10incgq g.jpg)

Both taken with my 22 year old Astro Optical Supplies Sampson GEM mount and 10 inch Newtonian OTA.

Of the two the Ghost of Jupiter would be the highest resolution of the two, it is cropped, whereas the Toby Jug is full frame full resolution (slightly jpeg compressed to keep file size reasonable.

The only bummer is that I would have been better off not using a nebula filter on the Ghost of Jupiter, as Mike pointed out is is a little monochromatic as only narrowband O3 emissions were allowed through. (Ive got a secret little project to do with this Planetary possibly over the Easter break)

What I like doing is pushing gear to do things it was never ever designed to do. When I bought the scope in the days of hypersensitized film, I never believed the scope could obtain images like these. The only upgrade to the actual scope is the off axis guider, and of course the modded DSLR and Qguider.

Anyway folks, the friendly gauntlent has been thrown down, I do expect that sooner or later a CCD'er may take it up and persent some very good shots, please do :)
Scott

[EzyStyles]

thats the way scott! :thumbsup: i was waiting for you to say something. here are 2 small dim objects taken with a DSLR and old equipment. (nearly as old as me hehe) . the results will be very interesting.

[strongmanmike]

Sorry but only got this Ghost of Jupiter image from 4 years back as a novice imager taken with the little StarlightXpress MX716 through the Meade LX20012" at 3000mm FL

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/55270958/original

It's got more colour variation than yours perhaps but no better resolution in this case.

With an object this small though, focal length and seeing will be the big factor of course

Never imaged the Toby...although my dog growing up was called Toby (haven't got a photo of him either).

Mike

[Peter Ward]

I can't see the point of this challenge....as whether you are using a Bayer matrix or filtered CCD, to get high resolution you need to oversample by a large margin. (Pixel size becomes trivial)

It then comes down to seeing (an AO would help) and to a much smaller extent tracking and and optical quality.

A sensitive web cam is the instrument of choice for long FL imaging of bright objects.

Going the other way...eg Camera lens FL territory is when pixel size affects resolution.

[gbeal]

I gotta be honest as well, I can't see too much point in any of this, as well as the slanging of late. There is a wealth of experience on this group, and most or all are more than happy to assist with those that are just cracking off in the hobby. Why not channel our efforts in this direction instead.
Sorry to hijack your thread Scott, but after reading some of the other threads, I had to vent slightly.

[skwinty]

I agree. There is no point in this. I am a newbie with regards to astrophotography and even I realise by now that a cooled ccd will outperform a dslr (even IMO a cooled DSLR) hands down unless we talking terrestrial photography.;)
Regards
Steve

[RB]

That's exactly what I was trying to convey in my last post too.

There is lovely work being done across the whole spectrum of astrophotography, why should we be antagonistic towards each other because of which equipment we use.

I'd rather learn from others, not have ill feelings and misunderstandings towards each other.

Let's have our 'show downs', our 'competitions', lets compare images but lets do it in a civil and courteous manor and think about how the other person feels when they read our posts.

To me this seems a more adult way to act and at the end of the day it's all in fun, it's a hobby LOL.

Yes sorry to get off topic Scott, looking forward to some extraordinary images this year as our equipment and skill progress.

:)

[leon]

Couldn't agree more guys,

Leon

[strongmanmike]

Surely there's no harm in lighthearted challenges. If you aren't interested in them then don't participate in the thread, pretty simple. Sure some posts can become a little off topic and personal and I don't like those either but lets not get too precious and way over politically correct, after all this is an Aussie site and we are proud of of our ability to be jockular (Peter Garett?) and can take it on the chin if someone says their car goes faster than ours, I mean who cares? It's "just" one of millions of web forums afterall. So far I haven't seen the "my car goes faster than yours" thing delivered in anything other than a fun lighthearted way...?

We aren't just here for the newbies either, sure we can and indeed want to help where possible but we shouldn't stifle our perosnalities to be seen to be doing the right thing, like self ritious role models, otherwise this forum would be mighty booooooring IMO.

Nothing worse than a forum that feels compeled to only say "Terrific image" or "Nice work" we are all individuals and should, within limits, be free to express ourselves.....silly pointless challenges can be one of these expressions :P

Just my thoughts

Mike

[EzyStyles]

I'm pretty much have the same thought as big Mike. It was just a little harmless challenge for the pure fun of it just to get the adrenalin pumped up :thumbsup:. Its good to show and demostrate what can be done with both DSLR's and CCD's and its good to compare results after to see the differences. This also motivates us to do even more and better work to share for the community. It isn't anything like my car goes faster than yours.

[RB]

Of course there's no harm in lighthearted challenges Mike and I love to participate when I can, as long as they stay lighthearted.


As long as they don't turn into a personal mudslinging matchs Mike.


Yes within limits indeed Mike.

As I said I look forward to what will be achieved.

:)

[tornado33]

Yes this is just meant to be a light hearted challenge, and I chose the Ghost of Jupiter as being bright, it doesnt unfairly disadvantage city observers, and the necessary data can be obtained in a reasonable amount of time.
Good image there Mike, yes I should have imaged it without a filter to get more colour difference.
PW could be right, webcams might rule the day (or night I should say) here.

We used to have a montly challenge in IIS where an object would be nominated and images submitted :)
Scott

[theodog]

I agree, if it gets people having a go at new objects then its good.
A challange is often a leader to learning.;)
Maybe the experienced will look at what the newbies are doing & help them improve?:)
Way to go Scott:thumbsup:. I will look at my old Toby Jug and post it later.

[ronnierigel]

I agree with Mike and Eric.

I've not read anything in these threads which remotely sounded derogatory. To their credit, the posts have been written in a positive and humorous manner.

Just some lighthearted chest-thumping---keep the great images coming!

ron

[theodog]

This is an old Toby Jug through the 10".
Yes, it needs a lot of work.
Its on the repeat list.

[jase]

Don't have the Jug or the Ghost of Jupiter, but I challenge someone else with a 4" instrument or less to nail a nearly 17 mag galaxy for a bit of fun.

Here's my effort - Mag 16.9 galaxy using a 4" F/5 instrument (http://www.cosmicphotos.com/reprocessed/CrA-Galaxies.jpg). I distinctly remember taking this image. The night was extremely frosty with stable seeing conditions. Rather rare. Original image (http://www.cosmicphotos.com/gallery/image.php?fld_image_id=106&fld_album_id=11). The joys of shooting from a rural dark sky and imaging the object as it crosses the meridian.