Horsehead 24-10-08

[mill]

Horsehead taken with the modded Nikon D70 on a 8" reflector.

10 Exposures of 5 minutes at ISO1000
Darks, flats and bias frames applied.

[h0ughy]

great shot - probably just a tad red for the flame neb but it is a great image!! 1000% better than what i have produce this year anyway. your focus looks sharp too. I cant say I have seen to many shots from Nikon!

[dugnsuz]

Very nice work Martin.:)
Evrything looks nice and tight - a higher res would be awesome

Do you know if the iso setting (between standard settings 100,200,400,800,1600) on the Nikon are software driven?
I've read that for best quality it's best to stick to the standard settings as they're hardware based and settings like iso1000 are really iso800 'pushed' by an internal 1.25x analog amplifier, and use of the amplifier introduces some noise.
Not that I could tell on your image!:P
Nice stuff
Doug:thumbsup:

[mill]

Thank you David and Doug.

David i cant belief that not many people have used the Nikon for astronomy while it is the easiest camera to modify (only 12 screws to undo).

Doug The Nikon's use debayering incamera, even on the raws you take so it takes some noise out (and very dim stars :( ) so it makes almost no difference between ISO800 and 1000, except that it makes the picture a bit lighter.
Will try ISO1600 when i get my next clear night and do the HH again to see what the difference is.

[multiweb]

Great picture. This nikon is really working well for you. :thumbsup:

[Craig_L]

Nice shot Martin. Did you mod the Nikon yourself?

[mill]

Thank you Craig.

Yes i modded the Nikon myself.
Took the filter out ( very easy ) and because the D70 doesn't have a bulb connector for long exposures i had to use wirewrap wires soldered to the shutter switch and route it to the side and fit a connector like the Canon camera's ( very hard to do :( ) .

[Jen]

Beautiful pic very nice :thumbsup:

[Kevnool]

Outstanding work love the colour...cheers Kev.

[mill]

Thank you Jen and Kev :)

This is a highres pic as Doug requested.
1280*849

[Matty P]

Lovely image Martin. :)

Great FOV and vivid colours.

Well done. :thumbsup:

[Jen]

:thumbsup: very nice i hope you frame these pictures and put them up on the wall, if not i have plenty of wall space here at home :lol:
;)

[Hagar]

Very very nice Martin, Your best result yet. Maybe a little red but nothing to concern you. Good to see you are using the full ability of the camera and scope. Flats and darks make a huge difference as this imaqge shows.
No stopping you now.

[alandee]

This is easily the best D70 Piccy I've seen. Congratulations, stunning result.
:thumbsup: