Canon 400D/ED80 first attempts

[peter_4059]

We had another magic night at Samford last night (thanks AJ!) Clouds cooperated until about 2:30 this morning and very little dew. Here's my first attempts with the 400D through the new ED80.

The Omega Cent and Eta Carina are single frames and the M42 is a combination of 7 images in easyHDR. I've touched up the levels in PS. ICNR/no flats. No guiding yet.

I'm very happy (and surprised) with the results.

Thanks for looking.

Peter

[leon]

Peter for a single frame, and a first attempt with your new gear, Eta and Omega have come up very well indeed, I can only speculate what the results would be with more exposures and some darks and flats.

Well done indeed.

Leon

[h0ughy]

:thumbsup: i concur

[Matty P]

Lovely first images Peter. For only single images you have done an amazing job.

I hope that my first DSO images will be as good as yours.

You should be very proud. :thumbsup:

[avandonk]

You are doomed now! You have made a very good start and you will spend the rest of your life trying to get better. There is nothing like getting in amongst it and doing it rather than merely watching.

Bert

[dannat]

peter - great shots :thumbsup:- What was the exposure time for the single frames?

[peter_4059]

Thanks for the comments. The DSLR approach sure is rewarding compared to RGB webcam so far.

The single frame exposure details were: 90 sec iso 1600 for Eta Car. and 150 sec iso 400 for Omega Cen.

Personally I was more excited about M42 than the other two. Here is the first of the exposures (single frame) I took with the new gear (no processing except to reduce the jpeg to <200kb). Iso 800/120 secs. You can imagine what I was thinking when this appeared on the laptop screen.

Peter

[Ric]

Well done Peter, very nice results.

As Bert said your doomed, once your hooked there no getting out now.

Cheers

[skwinty]

Very cool Peter
I wish my first attempts came out as well as yours, although I did jump into the deep end with a 12" Newt on an eq6 with no guiding and a modded 40D.
however ,I love a challenge and in a while I will get to this standard:thumbsup:

[peter_4059]

Thanks,

I'm now trying deep sky stacker as I took a number of exposures of Eta.

You're right Ric, I found myself checking out a 50D in the shop yesterday.

I'm now considering cutting down my Newt so the 400D can focus. How much did you have to cut off the 12" Steve?

Peter

[Tamtarn]

Really great image trio Peter. For your first attempt with the 400D you've certainly done very well.

[peter_4059]

Cheers Barb/David. After seeing Leon's Eta duo I went back to the longer exposures and did some PS adjustments. This one's a 4 min single frame - lack of guiding is showing but more nebula also.

[skwinty]

Hi Peter
After following the measurement instructions in Alchemys article I cut 5cm off the ota.
Was a bit nervous but all turned out well. Still waiting for a 5cm focus extender but using a lensless barlow for the extension at the moment for visual.:thumbsup:

[peter_4059]

Thanks Steve - what did you use to make the cut? Also do you still use the Newt as a Dob - if so is the balance impacted much?

[skwinty]

Hi Peter
I used an angle grinder with a metal cutting disc.
Hired from the local tool hire.
The balance is affected when using the dob mount but can be balanced with old speaker magnet.
Rarely use the dob mount now as I use the eq6 mostly.The dob mount just holds the scope when every thing is packed away:thumbsup: