Rosette with an unmodded D800

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Interesting result from last night, this. I'd intended to get two hours worth, but did something silly with the intervalometer, so instead of 12 ten minute subs I got a 10 minute sub, 9 minute wait and a 30 sec sub 6 times, while I snored peacefully away next to it.
The main difference is that I left the Astronomik CLS filter out of the system, as I'd noticed the star colour was being blown out in my previous images. Seems to have done the trick, as the lovely yellow stars are back.
Now I need to figure out what I did wrong with that remote control.
Here's a link to the astrobin version:
http://www.astrobin.com/30195/
Thanks for looking!
Andrew.

[DavidTrap (David)]

Very nice!

What lens/scope?

DT

[peeb61 (Paul)]

Whatever you have done you have done it well! Nice one.

Paul

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

Nice one Andrew!

Nice to see others posting with unmodded DSLR's.

Cheers,

Justin.

[kjant (Kym)]

Hey Andrew, just out of interest where was the image taken with regard to light pollution factors. ie dark sight, outer suburbs etc? (nice shot by the way)Cheers Kym.

[gregbradley]

Nice shot. Are you using an external intervalometer? They are a bit tricky and I only just started using one myself. Not exactly user friendly with the tiny little LCD and instruction manual which consists of 1 page!

If so I think when using the D800 you'd be better off using the in camera interval exposures feature. You can save to either jpeg, tiff or RAW.

Those 2 time lapse features in the D800/E are sensational.

Greg.

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Thanks Justin and Paul - I keep looking at the price of a 'proper' camera and figure I've still got a way to go to hit the limits of the D800.

Originally Posted by kjant

Hey Andrew, just out of interest where was the image taken with regard to light pollution factors. ie dark sight, outer suburbs etc? (nice shot by the way)Cheers Kym.

Thanks Kym. The site was about 120km due east of Perth, which placed Monoceros in the light dome at the end of the session at about 2:00 am. I've yet to get an SQM, but I would guess sky quality is about Bortle 3.

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

Very nice!

What lens/scope?

DT

Thanks David,
The scope was a Tak FSQ106ED on a G11 with an 80mm guidescope.
BTW - I believe you know my brother professionally. Small world.

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Thanks Greg - I'm using the Nikon MC-36. Silly thing is I've been using it for a year without any problem, and I can't for the life of me figure out what I did! I think it's a combination of the shutter pre-fire and download time plus exposure length being longer than the exposure cycle interval I'd picked.
I didn't know you could set the intervals in the camera to expose longer than 30s, I certainly haven't been able to in Camera Control Pro - but I'll have another look as it would save a lot of faffing about in the dark.
Although I'm a bit cross about the loss of data, it's all part of the learning experience. Now I'm trying to work out why the stars in the final stack aren't as tight as I think they should be...
cheers,
Andrew.

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Nice shot. Are you using an external intervalometer? They are a bit tricky and I only just started using one myself. Not exactly user friendly with the tiny little LCD and instruction manual which consists of 1 page!

If so I think when using the D800 you'd be better off using the in camera interval exposures feature. You can save to either jpeg, tiff or RAW.

Those 2 time lapse features in the D800/E are sensational.

Greg.

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Great work, Andrew!

[Ross G]

Great looking photo Andrew.

Nice detail and colour.

Ross.

[DavidTrap (David)]

Thanks Andrew - yes, I do know your brother.

DT

[David Fitz-Henr]

Very nice image Andrew! Great detail, star colours and some nice colour hues in the Rosette itself!