1st attempt at using multi-resolution imaging rig

[Omaroo]

First cab off the rank is less than stellar, but it's given me a quick insight as to what I will be able to achieve with the apparatus.

I didn't bother too much with focus, polar alignment or guiding, darks or flats, so please excuse the quality of the images.

What I did want to see was what the two different cameras saw and captured. Their alignment was pretty good in relation to each other. The Canon was at prime focus on the C8 at f/6.3 and the Nikon was off to the side attached to the Nikkor 300ED prime lens at f/4.5. This combination resulted in pretty good comparison shots, with the Canon giving the higher mag and the Nikon giving the widefield.

This way, I can have two shots of the same objects, at the same time - each at full resolution and the narrowfield not just a crop of the widefield.

Pic 1) Nikon widefield

Pic 2) Canon narrowfield

Pic 3) The current rig

[iceman]

That's excellent, Chris. Double the processing too though :(

That's a serious looking kit you've got there, now. Looks really good.

Is your canon modded yet?

[Omaroo]

Thanks Mike - it's heading in the right direction finally :)

I'm sending away for the Baader ACS filter this week from Honkers. Should be here early next week. I'll fit it myself when it arrives. Can't wait.

I may yet mod the Nikon too....

[gbeal]

Nice setup Chris, very nice. Great shots as well, but like Mike says, twice the processing, LOL.
Gary

[Alchemy]

youve got a bit of gear there, looks very nice ( must take a while to set up). lots of ideas for shooting 2 at once .... you could overlay some Ha from the lens over the scope shot for a real deep effect. im sure you will experiment to see what you can do.

cheers clive

[Ric]

Great images Chris, very neat and tidy indeed. I think you will get some awesome images with this rig once you fine tune all the other little bits.

Cheers

[RB]

Very nice setup Chris.
Looks like you're gonna have fun with it and judging from the images you'll get some cracker shots.

:thumbsup:

[Zuts]

Two pics for the price of one, how cool.

:thumbsup:

Paul

[snowyskiesau]

Very nice.
Having seen the result from the Canon on the C8, I might have to give that a try myself.
Do you have a focal reducer on the C8?

[edwardsdj]

Very nice images and great setup Chris :)

[AlexN]

niiiiiice!! two at once is the way to go, good way to give you an overall idea of the area you're looking at and a close up of the item of interest.

[Robert_T]

Very nice indeed! Hey I'm impressed with that prime focus shot via the C8. :thumbsup:

I hadn't thought much about doing that, but once I get the hang of short focal length work I'll be trying that on my C9.25. Did you have to crop much to remove coma at the edges?

[Omaroo]

Thanks all for the kind comments. Long way to go, but I'm getting there!

Robert - there is no cropping at all in either of these images. They're all natural :)

Snowieskies - yes, I was running machine at f/6.3 with the Meade focal reducer. It does make quite a difference to exposure times.

[strongmanmike]

Nice work Chris, I'm impressed :)

Mike

[jase]

OK, good work...but now what Chris?... How about improving the wide field images resolution by using the data from the longer focal length. Nothing like getting "crafty" with your data to make the most of it. The skies the limit when it comes to image processing (no pun intended).

[Omaroo]

Ohh Jase - how long have I been waiting for that invitation... :D I have only to figure out how to do it now. Any pointers? Please? :thumbsup:

[jase]

What are you using for image registration? You need a program that can perform data scaling. Data scaling, either up or down is required to match the resolution of the other image. A few programs can do this. You simply select the same stars in the different focal length images for the process to calculate the data needing to be manipulated. Personally, I use Registar to do the automate the task. Its takes much of the work out of image alignment/registration and is perfect for mosaics or hybrid imaging (multi resolution). Its best to scale down a high resolution image to a lower wide field image instead of the other way (for obviously aesthetic reasons), however you can go the other way for RGB if its of good quality. Try to plan your hybrid imaging so the higher resolution (longer focal length) image captures key features of interest. Then match it to the shorter focal length image so you can bring out the incredible FoV while still providing amazing detail in the key feature.

[Omaroo]

Ooh.. thanks Jase! :)

I was initially going to use this setup just to produce comparative images, but your idea is fantastic. I actually have Registar but have never used it. I really like the notion of a widefield shot enhanced with a high-resolution core coming from the longer f/l. I'll certainly be giving it a go. Thank you! :thumbsup: