Screen Grabs of 'Live' images from Snake Valley

[ballaratdragons]

Yep, screen Grabs from my 'LIVE' broadcast from the Snake Valley Astro Camp :)

Being 'live' grabs they are all a single frame from live video, so obviously there is no post processing, no stacking, no anything.
What you see is what was on screen 'live' :thumbsup:

1. Blackeye Galaxy
2. Cats Paw Nebula
3. Centaurus 'A' Galaxy
4. Lagoon Nebula
5. Leo Trio of Galaxies
6. M83 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy
7. Markarians Chain of Galaxies
8. Spindle Galaxy

[ballaratdragons]

and . .

1. NGC 4565 Galaxy
2. Sombrero Galaxy
3. Trifid Nebula

:thumbsup:

[Astroman]

Top work as usual Ken!

[renormalised]

It always amazes me what you can pick up with a video camera. Only thing that annoys me is the inbuilt sharpening routines in the onboard video processing chips which gives the stars that overly harsh look.

[Octane]

There is something hauntingly beautiful about those images.

I'm really impressed, Ken. Wish I'd been at Snake Valley!

H

[ballaratdragons]

:) Thanks Andrew



Yes Carl, I totally agree. But for a live image it still amazes me how good the images are.
I can take the Astronomiks IR/UV filter off and make all the stars blurry blobs :lol:
Then they definitely won't be over-sharp :rofl:



H, what is really eerie is when you point at an object and it appears instantly on the screen!

Hauntingly beautiful? Maybe the noise adds something.
Thanks :)

[strongmanmike]

Sure beats climbing a tall adder and squinting through an Ethos while shaking...plus it's in colour :thumbsup:

Cool

Mike

[Hagar]

Nice collection again Ken. We will have to get you back out in the field with the rest of us. It just ain't the same without your smokestack billowing.
Well done Mate.

[DavidU]

Spewing I missed the broadcast.I didn't know it was on (but I should have known). Great work ! Was this the 120mm achro?

[ballaratdragons]

Not wrong Mike.
Video is gaining popularity overseas with the elderly (they can see the object this way), and with outreach. Whole groups can see the object at the same time, in colour, and no smudges left on the EP :lol:
and of course with Broadcasting.
Now people in opposite hemispheres can see an object live that they would never normally see.


Thanks Doug.
No smokestack any more Doug, since I gave up smoking last year, and I don't want to blind everyone with my bright monitors of the show. But yes, it does get a bit lonely up where I set up away from all the action of the field.



Yes Davo, these are all with the 120mm Achro.

I did give the 150mm Achro a run too but I didn't get any screen grabs of the results.
The images through the 150mm were stunning, and close up!

[niko]

Great work Ken.

If you're going to stay in that chapel of yours you'll need a heater!

:lol:

niko

[renormalised]

Ken...I wonder how the Baader semi-apo filter would go added to the image train here?? If it works visually, it may just work in tow with the vid.

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Carl,
what is the difference between the Astronomiks 'L' UV/IR filter I am using now and the Baader semi-apo visual filter?

[renormalised]

The Baaders get rid of pretty much all of the violet fringing you get around bright objects with achros. I also believe they have UV/IR block as well.

Here's what they say at MyAstroShop (http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-019L). I've been looking to get one for my achro. Might get one next payday, if I don't get too many bills in the meantime!!!!:P

[DavidU]

Carl,checkout the Baader contrast booster filter, nice control of the violet as well.

[renormalised]

Yes, I know. They're not bad either and a little cheaper. The only downside is the greenish cast they give neutral colours (blue sky looks greensish).

[mill]

Niiiicceeee!! Ken :)
I will bring my semi apo filter with me in November.
It takes away the purple halo's around the stars.

[ballaratdragons]

Holy smokin' joe Batman! $179 !!!! :eyepop:

I went and read some CN reviews about this filter and discovered that it also reduces through light by up to around 30%.
To pay so much and lose so much light just doesn't seem worth it.



Thanks Martin, worth a try.
I'm not impressed about the reported 30% loss of light though :shrug:

But you never know. :)

But on the subject of any star fringing, remember that I am not attempting any imaging with this set-up.
This is purely for live viewing. A small bit of fringe around a star is ok compared to the wow factor from people seeing an instant image appear.

The screen grabs are only to show what we were seeing 'live'. :thumbsup:
If another type of filter makes the whole presentation better then it may be worth it, but not at $179 and 30% loss.

[renormalised]

What we really need is a filter that converts an achro to a respectable apo.

[MrB]

What about Baader's Fringe Killer?
Claims to have 95% transmission of the wavelengths in its bandpass region.

http://www.nexstarsite.com/Reviews/BaaderFringeKiller.htm
http://www.company7.com/baader/options/fringekiller.html

[mill]

Ken mine is a -V filter

[ballaratdragons]

We can give it a try Marty.
I'm game :thumbsup:
Thanks :)


Hey Carl, if you can make an Achro into an Apo you'll be rich :lol: :thumbsup:

[danielsun]

Neat little camera and amazing shots for just 10 seconds!:thumbsup:


Cheers Daniel.

[renormalised]

I'm no optician, but I'd say what you'd need would be a lens like corrector similar to the ones you find in CDK's and similar systems.

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Daniel :)

[Jen]

Awsome Ken that was good fun sitting up there taking quick snaps just like that :thumbsup::thumbsup: all you need is a heater up there and i reakon you will have a line up to get in there next to you hehe great stuff ;)

[5ash]

hi Ken,
live view looks great , I've just got the samsung 4000 , what settings do you recommend ? Not much on the net giving info , guess you must be the guru,
Regards Philip

[ballaratdragons]

Philip, I got asked the very same question by some people in USA, so I made a quick video of me using the On Screen Display and showing the settings I use the most.

I hope you can understand it and that it helps :thumbsup:

The SCC-A2333 and the SCB-4000 are the same camera.

HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcWYDyeSZFc

For other tutorials I have done for the SCC-A2333/SCB-4000, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3Hh7JN3E-k

and here: http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4117126/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1#Post4407471

[5ash]

Hi Ken looked at your utube video of settings for the camera.was very helpful, thanks, however how do you access the AGC sub menu as shown in the manual, so that you can manually adjust the gain?
Regards Philip

[ballaratdragons]

Yes Philip, firstly make sure that the Day/Night option is not set on AUTO.
It must be on DAY (Hopefully you have the IR filter out of the camera)

Secondly make sure 'Flickerless' is OFF

In SENS-UP any AUTO setting will make the GAIN set it self automatically (not good).
Only use FIX settings (or OFF). This will allow you to set the Gain yourself. (see 'MOTION' change over to 'AGC' on my video at 2:08 by changing the SENS-UP to FIX)

Now go up to AGC and you can scroll through the settings by clicking the select button sideways.
In AGC USER or FIX you can centre push the settings button which will open the AGC Sub-menus. :thumbsup:

I leave my AGC set on VERY HIGH. I have stayed away from the levels in the Sub-Menus so far.

Hope that helps :thumbsup:

[5ash]

Hi Ken,
Thanks for your patience , I haven't removed the filter yet.I am just running it through it's paces while under warranty to make sure it's ok . Will take the ir filter out in a week or so when I am confident it's working ok.
Thanks again, regards philip

[ballaratdragons]

The camera will still work OK on the sky with the factory IR filter in place, but it does cut off a lot of light, and some objects just don't show up very well.
It is still usable as an astro video camera.

But yeah, rip that filter out as soon as possible :lol: