ML 8300 First Light

[atalas]

Hi Guys

I didn't have what I would call a successful first light with the new ML8300 being plagued with mount problems(overloaded)guide cable being damaged but first light is first light...yes?

From what I can tell so far the camera Itself is fantastic! cooling you wouldn't believe.

I maxed the cooling out at -48.1 for a test and It sat there quite happily,but I decide to back off to -40 which seemed sufficient on the night.


Ok,so The Snake Nebula which is a first for me but It seems every man and his dog has done this one....still a great target though.

Exposure time very low with all 1 minute subs:

L=36 min,RGB=15 min each and I have to add the blue channel had some beautiful silhouette of trees over 50% of the field:rolleyes:....you wouldn't believe the noise I ended up with in the RGB but hey,I was lucky to get that.

Anyway I'm really impressed by the ML8300 and I certainly looking forward to give It a proper thrashing !

Hope you enjoy anyhow.

http://www.atalas.net/components/com_expose/showpic.html?img=expose/img/img_1312452619_974_lg.jpg&caption=B%2072%20%28The%20Snake%20N ebula%29&date=&location=

[Rigel003]

Nice photo and a great start with the new camera. Looking forward to more.

[gregbradley]

That looks great Louie.

The ML8300 is a hot little camera and that is a very good rendition of the snake.

What scope was that?

Greg.

[jase]

A great first light image Louie. Top work! Am sure once you get a few more hours under dark skies, you'll be pumping out some sweet looking images. This one is no exception.

Personally though, I feel the background looks rather flat. The snake is in such a rich golden part of the MilkyWay. Your image doesn't emphasise this. A suggestion if I may, increase the red and green channel using curves (as pictured below). The red and green in an additive colours space produce brown but as the saturation increases it provides a golden hue. The curve is predominately highlight work given the style of stretch but thats where most stars reside (in the highlights). I think you'll really see the background explode. The golden hues with enhance the contrast between the O and B spectral type stars. Give it a shot and see what you think. You've still got plenty of space before you white clip.

ps. apologies for the upsized curves dialogbox. I know you're not blind, I just wanted to display the red and green curve better.

[Paul Haese]

Well done Louie. Certainly a wider field of view than I got of the object. Looks good, amazing for 1 minute subs.

[LucasB]

I think that is a great shot for 1 minute subs. -40°C :eyepop:.
Love the widefield! Looking forward to more.
Lucas

[multiweb]

1mn subs :eyepop: Nothing beats darks skies hey. Well done. :thumbsup: You're coming home with some good data. The camera shows real promise. Looking forward to some APODs ;)

[atalas]

Graeme,Greg,Jase,Paul,Lucas and Marc,thanks guys!

Greg,the scope used was the BabyQ & reducer and I have to add that I had severe tilt in the imaging train.

All screwed fixtures but I fear that the 2.7"focuser can't cut the weight of the ML8300....don't know there's much I can do about that without changing the focuser.

I'll try adjusting the focusers tension and see how that goes but I'm not holding my breath.

Jase,again thanks for the tips! your little minor adjustments have always been a huge plus for me over the years,so thank you mate.

[Ross G]

Hi Louie,

What a great photo, especialy with all the things that went wrong for you.
The way you kept your cool as things stopped working in the dark, and the great image you ended up producing from your limited Coonabarabran opportunities is an inspiration.
I would love to see what you create with your new camera when things go right.


Thank you.

Ross.

[RickC]

Louie,
cool image, even with all your problems
cheers
Richard

[richardo]

Excellent news that you have a new ccd to get you cranking again Louie;)
No seriously, I'm stoked for you and look forward to you getting this thing rocking!
Yep first lights can be frustrating. Let alone with a new scope as well!
Always some issues to sort out.
But I'm sure you'll have it sorted asap.

I think the 1 min subs with the FL of this little beauty scope has done well. First thing I notice though with the image was the lack of golden colour stars as is indicative of this area... pretty much what Jase has already commented on.
But then.... after all, this is a first light test worts and all and sounds like you were lucky to get anything down!

Geezzz, you'd think the Taka focuser would be able to handle the weight:shrug: surely??

Any mate, congrats!!
Look forward to your great up and coming images!!

All the best
Rich

[atalas]

Ross,thanks mate....keeping your cool is easy when you've got great company.

[atalas]

Richard,thanks mate.

[atalas]

Rich,thanks mate!as always your on the ball dude.

Well,If you feel the weight of these cameras and see how far It hangs off the back I think you'd understand why the 2.7"focuser can't cut the mustard mate...I'd hate to try and hang a Proline off It!

The BabyQ would be great mach with the StalightXpress ! want to buy It?:lol:

[multiweb]

I've always had weight issues with focusers so years ago I bought a 500x95x15mm aluminium plate that I use for everything. I use it on my newt to do side by side balancing and recently on my triplet refractor to brace the focuser with some WO rings. A shot of it is here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=673388&postcount=1). It's rock solid and I can put anyweight on the focuser. Doesn't matter how far because I balance the whole assembly. It works very well and keeps everything inline.

[TrevorW]

Nice image well done

[atalas]

Great idea mate,I'll see what I can come up with.

Thanks so much.

[atalas]

Thanks Trevor.

[Craig_L]

Hi Louis,

Great image.

Just looking at the 8300 now for a Tak Sky 90. Any reason you didn't go for the Starlight Express or QHY, SBIG, Atik etc? Might be opening up a can of worms.

Best Craig

[richardo]

And they say the ML is a lighter version ... holy moly batman :confused2:
Mmm, the Baby Q... nah mate have to pass.
For the first time with my newts life have it sitting on the mount all alone with an SX OAG hanging out of it... as I type I'm fine tuning. Doing a good job with 8min Ha subs even in the fickle cloud scudded sky... nice to see the stars line up in every sub.

Been thinking about getting a FT focuser for the ED 80 and bring it out of moth balls since my setup is ultra easy now to swap around.

Can't be serious about the Bubba Q surely:eyepop:
Go Marcs way and support the camera. I've done this with most of my guide scope configurations with crappy focusers.
So what would be next on the agenda Louie :shrug:
Gold damn this hobby, keeps a poor man even poorer:rolleyes:
Not to mention the hair loss:lol:

Keep at it Lou, looking forward to your next installment.. that is image :D

All the best
Rich

[gregbradley]

I am surprised the Tak focuser can't handle the Microline. Perhaps the focuser is able to be adjusted. I did read a thread about tightening the focuser on the FSQ106ED for heavier cameras to reduce flex. It was on Tak Uncensored site.

The FSQ106ED handles the Proline with the reducer no worries although it uses a specific adapter in a bucket shape in that it fits inside the drawtube back up inside the scope.

It was a bit easier with an Apogee U16M which must have the chip just that little bit closer to the window and it didn't need a bucket adapter.

Greg.

[atalas]

Thanks for the feedback Craig.

Well,opening a can of worms? nah,don't think so mate.

I actually bought the ST8300M as well and just waiting on that to get back from Sbig(USB port playing up) and that will go up for sale before too long I would imagine....no point in keeping two 8300's,or is there?

Anyway after doing more researching of the 8300's on offer It was easy to see that with the ML8300's superior cooling, RBI control,1 second download speed for full res.... It would be the best camera in It's class....at least for now.

That's not to say that you couldn't do great work with any of the models you mentioned,of cause you could.

[atalas]

Stay well dude!

[atalas]

Greg,did you have a 2.7"focuser on the FS128 you had?or was It the 4"focuser?

Anyway,I wasn't surprised when I pulled the ML out of the box....my first thought was,the 2.7"wont handle It.

I'll have a look at the tension and hopefully that will do the trick mate....wish they built these with 4"focusers,cause then my GPDX would have no hope.....any AP600's around?:lol: