A clear night at Last: LMC

[Itchy]

Hi Everyone,

I finally got to do some imaging last night. :cool:
In early December, I picked up this lens at the local markets for $30. It is a 135mm, f3.5 Luminar, with a M42 screw thread mount. It took me another month to track down a reasonably priced M42 to EOS adapter, but eventually I sourced a cheap one, so all up it cost me about $50 to get it on the camera. It seems to behave fairly well, with a little red biased chromatic aberation. I found that I could deal with most of it through processing. This image of the LMC is 20x3min at ISO800, darks/flat/bias calibrated with ImagesPlus 2.75 automatic Image Set Processing. What A great tool this is!!
Other processing with Photoshop CS2. Canon 300D, 135mm Luminar lens, Baader UHC-S filter taped on the end!

A slightly larger image here:
http://users.bigpond.net.au/itchysastro/LMC20x3min135mm.jpg

I've also updated my Website with a few new pics too.

Comments welcome as always.

Cheers

[xstream]

Nice image Tony.
I love the colour the image has come out as.

[h0ughy]

gee everyone was out last night, nice shot!

[Striker]

Another bargain...all up $50...nice pick up Tony

I'll give you 7.5 out of 10 for that image...dont ask me how I come up with that score it just sounded good at the time.

[Itchy]

Are we keeping score now?? LOL

[tornado33]

Great image, was that wide open at F3.5, stars look pretty sharp to the corners. I note that the Henize 70 Nebula is visible towards upper right of image, about the 2 o clock position from Tarantula neb.
How do you focus with a lens like that, use the viewfinder on a bright star, or by taking a series of short test images till good focus is made?
Thanks.
Scott

[[1ponders]]

Nice shot Tony. Love the way you've managed to bring out the colour of 2070 and not satutate the rest of the image. Any lens that performs like that for $50 all up is definately a good buy and value for money.

[Itchy]

Hi Scott,

Thanks

Yes it was at f3.5. I tested it on a tripod about three weeks ago but haven't had time or clear skies to try it up until last night. I'm pretty happy with the performance of the lens. This is a slight crop, but the edges aren't too bad. Some IP starsize reduction therapy didn't go astray either. Focusing is a little tricky. True focus is not at infinity and with the UHC-S filiter taped on the end, the view finder was pretty dark. I ended up using several test shots. This is what I do with my SN10 as well. An external monitor helps the process too. I can usually get focus in about 5 min. I've tried Paul Mayo's Sirius companion method, but I failed miserably.:shrug:

Cheers

[acropolite]

Nice shot Tony, I too have bought a cheapy adapter for my Eos to try some shots with my old FD lenses. I only hope they turn out as well. It would be interesting to see that same shot with a 200mm lens.

[rogerg]

Nice image. Shame you couldn't fit a little more in, with 35mm film the LMC just managed to squeeze in using my 135mm lens. I guess with the digital it's just a case of doing another series and stitching them together.

I forget - is your 300d mod or not-modified?

Roger.

[tornado33]

Howdy Tony.
Its a very worthwhile lens,
With my focussing I use a little magnifier that clips on to the viewfinder and magnifies about 3x. Its a canon accessory for my old T70 SLR. Sometimes Ive used the Heartman mask method too, its not bad either, but a pain in the bum putting on, then removing again with I have the dewshield on
Scott

[seeker372011]

Its a great image..and the price of the lens just makes it even better!

[RB]

Fantastic image Tony, was waiting for one from you, finally the weather cooperated.

[Itchy]

Thank you all for your comments. Much appreciated.

Roger,

I guess my framing could have been a little better. I am yet to try a mosaic, but your suggestion is a good one. My camera is not modified.

Paul

Thanks. The UHC-S filter made it possible and I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve.

Phil,

Funny you should mention the 200mm lens. I picked up a 85-210 Super Marexar zoom (M42 mount) at the same market for $20. I haven't tried it for astro yet, but I suspect that it won't be the same quality as the 135.

Thank again
Cheers:cheers:

[FOOTPRINT]

Hi Tony,
Nice sharp image, good focussing and exposure, colour of the background looks a bit green, maybe it is, or is this a processing artifact.
By the way I noted you obtained an EOS/42mm adaptor at a reasonable price, is there a source for these, or was it a one of, im after one.

regards................Jim

[Itchy]

Hi Jim

Thanks. I may have left the green channel a little high. Maybe my monitor is out of wack as well.

I got my M42 to EOS adapter from ebay. Do a search for "M42 to Canon EOS". Take care, prices and postage vary greatly.

Cheers