(full res link below, couldnt compress 12mb down to 200kb for a preview)
I titled this one as a widefield image - which got me thinking what is the definition of widefiled?
. For me and my equipment, i take it to mean anything not taken with my telescope
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Anyway this was taken with my 5D MK III and 120-300mm f/2.8 lens piggybacked on the telescope. I thought i was fully zoomed but forgot to check from a previous day's photography and was actually at 274mm (final image is a 66% crop due to vignetting and no flat frames)
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Settings were ISO 1250, f/3.5 and a total of 30x20 second lights and darks and 30 bias frames. This time i was more careful about ensuring i reached an optimum exposure in terms of nebulosity vs light pollution. I also improved my light pollution subtraction and DSS pre-processing technique.
This was unguided. I am working on a side-by-side setup to be able to autoguide while imaging with a normal camera configuration, and also to accurately polar align while using this configuration.
This image was using DARV drift alignment such that i had no drift through the telescope for a minute (not that accurate but good enough for 20s exposures at 274mm). Afterwards, i made time to practice PA with PHD2 and the bookmark technique. I got DEC drift to under 2 arcseconds every 3 minutes, after only 15 minutes of back and forth between computer and az adjustment, so PHD2 drift alignment is really showing promise!
I tried not to over process this one, or over saturate it, and kept the colours close to how the camera captured it. Any feedback is welcomed.
Now i have my PA routine sorted, just need a clear, dew free night and im going to image deeeeep into this one
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http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...psx6feumpu.jpg