Hi Doug,
I am certainly not an expert on this, but isnt the different exposures, F stop settings and ISO rating for each pic like comparing apples and oranges?
Wouldn't the comparison between the unmodded and modded pics be more effective and subjective if the imaging techniques and settings are
exactly the same for both pics?
I would assume that the extra sensitivity of ISO800 and the longer exposure time would bring out more nebulosity anyway?
My suggestion is therefore to match the modded camera image to the original one's exposure settings and then repost? That might give you more of a direct comparison model (apart from the obvious atmospheric variances)
After all that, I think I prefer the second shot to the first as the first is seeming "washed out" compared to the modded one and there is deeper nebulosity further away from the main area.
Cheers
Chris