Bert's 300mm lens test

[tornado33]

Howdy all
Many thanks to Bert (avandonk) for kindly loaning me his Canon 300mm F2.8 flourite lens. It arrived totay, well packed, and I lost no time in fitting it to my mount as shown
http://www.users.on.net/~josiah/mod350d/300mmlens.jpg

My setup looks agricultural, but gee the lens works fantastically well.

2 inch nebula filters fit nicely in the back of the lens too! I tried out my 2 inch UHCS filter when taking these pics.

Now remember these pics were taken with the moon at about 93% full. Whoever herad of doing deep sky work under such conditions :)

Full sized versions here
http://scottalder.fotopic.net/c918683.html

Darks, flats and offsets done in IRIS, then finished off in Photoshop CS. Because of the wide field I used Gradient xterminator to smooth things over too.
Modified 350D camera used.
Im astounded at seeing the Rosette under near full moonlight. Dratted plane went across one of the pics, I should reprocess it without it, but was in a hurry to show off what Bart's piece of glass can do.
Scott

[janoskiss]

These are excellent, Houghy. That lens must be awesome. M42's got a nice film-like look.

[h0ughy]

Mr Alder, now you must get some sleep! I will be over sometime tomorrow night!

[tornado33]

hehehehe, yes Bert's lens is a really nice bit of gear. Its the first flourite lens ive ever got to use, no wonder they are so expensive, sharp across a F2.8 field is just amazing. I just cant wait till the moon goes away, I will be out even for just an hour of no moon in a few days time when its past full.

[EzyStyles]

very nice scott with bert's lense esp the rosette. the red came out very bright.

[h0ughy]

Err , Ahh, this is Scotts Post:D But i will take the credit, I have been a bad influence on Scott, after all, he went a step ahead after he used the modded 300d:lol: . i am glad he did, or we wouldn't have the shots he has produced since:thumbsup:

[janoskiss]

:scared2: Huh? I must be going cross-eyed or something. I could have sworn there was Houghy's name next to the thread. Sorry to discredit you Scott. Great shots! ;)

[allan gould]

Might have to get a nikon to cannon adapter a see exactly what my nikon 300mm lens can do with a 350D rather than CCD camera. Looks very good and extremely nice photos

[tornado33]

Thanks all
I was plesantly surprised how easy it was to focus, I thought that would be a big worry with such a fast lens but not so. I cant wait to test it on the Lagoon and Triffid nebulae.
Scott

[mick pinner]

very nice indeed Scott, could you give us some exp times and settings.

[leon]

great stuff, i wish i had a friend with one of those lenses:thumbsup:

[tornado33]

thanks all
All the shots were at ISO 200, lens wide open at F2.8 (300mm flourite)
Cone Nebula area, 7 x 100 sec
Eta Carina 2x 100 sec
M42 7 x 100 sec
Rosette Nebula 9x100sec
Moon over 3/4 full
Scott