Deep SMC

[avandonk]

Sky was clear of clouds but transparency not to good due to dust and very thin high cloud. Gradients far worse than usual.

Canon 5DH, Canon 300mm F2.8L at f/5. Hutech LPR filter, fridge at -10C, ISO 400.
Exposures 15X( 2, 4, 8 and 16 min). HDR method.

Full Res. 5MB
http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.com.au/2009_09/smcd.jpg

Bert

[telecasterguru]

That is still a fine image and looks very clear for all the issues that you had to deal with.

Frank

[tornado33]

Excellent work. Shooting at F5 really works well. I will break out the 300mm lens here come next clear night sky.
Scott

[avandonk]

Yes Scott it is all about signal to noise. I have found with an aperture in front of the lens it stops light not contributing to the image from being scattered inside the lens. This leads to loss of contrast. I look forward to seeing how your 300mm F2.8 performs with its own iris and with a limiting aperture in front. The bog standard 50mm at f/5.6 looks like it doing better than the sensor.

I am guiding the 300mm lens with a 1250 mm FL 90mm Mak and it does get the faint stars. Dithering between exposures really helps.

Bert