Well, i finally got my Nikon D200, after a long, long wait.
The lens is still on back order, so i can only partly use it..
I took 2 test snaps a few days ago, M20 with the RCX-400 and the other M8 & M20 wide field with a 300mm telephoto.
M20 has no tracking, and it shows bad, but i didnt have the time to setup the guide scope etc etc.. Exposure was 2 minutes
M8 and M20 wide field was piggy backed with a 5 minute exposure, again tracking was not so great.
Both taken at ISO 800 with in camera NR ON. I should have set the ISO to 400 as i got too much sky glow, and needed the levels adjusted to reduce the glow. This in turn faded the image and reduced the amount of background stars a little.
I expected less red in the images as the ccd filter is so notorious for. But it actually came out pretty good.
When i have time, i'll try imaging some harder objects.
I'm now looking at removing the ccd filter and replacing it with a more relaxed bandwidth version.
Very impressive indeed, looks like you will be getting first class images with that camera, with good tracking.
I would love to see some widefield Milky Way shots with it, and you could try setting the iso even higher, just to see what the sensor is capable of recording, even with the skyglow.
Looks like you are on a winner for sure.
Have fun.
Problem with pushing the ISO is it really fogs up fast. The sensor is very sensitive to light, and being in a suburb really craps out the benifit.
I will take a shot with less than 1 minute so you could see just how sensitive it is. But reality says best under ISO 800. I have attached the RAW image (Shrunk of course) so you could see the glow i have.
As for milky way shots, thats a little hard as my scope is in an Observatory and a wide shot is not possible as it will show the slit of the dome. So i need to increase the F/Length of the lens to eliminate the slit.
I'll try and centre the buldge next wide frame i can do.
What i do like about the Nikon, is its true color capture. It really does a great job on duplicating a faithfull reproduction of the colors without processing.
Remember that both were NOT processed with any filters except for changing the brightness and contrast to eliminate sky glow.
Howdy. Nice shots. Consider using a nebula filter, like the UHCS or similar they block much of the light pollution, while allowing major emission lines from nebulae, they really make a difference.
Scott
Thats also on my agenda, i have a 2" nebula filter from Meade. But you know what its like, you just got the camera, you see a patch of clear sky, then you franticly setup to get 1 or 2 shots out before its Adios Amigos for the night then week.....
The main problem with neb filters is they reduce light substaintially, so an increase in time is required.. As i have found a lower ISO and multiple shots stacked does it very nicely.
First results look good, Gama. It's a pity there's such a waiting list for the D200, it must be costing Nikon a lot of sales. I got lucky about 3 weeks ago and managed to get a D200 from Dirt Cheap Cameras, it was their last one in stock though. Of couse the skies have been cloudy ever since.
Well you were lucky. Even straight from Nikon i had to wait a while..
Still waiting on the lens though..
Be good to see how well you do in imaging with it too.
I was very lucky to get one, I wasn't even looking for one but couldn't resist when I saw them advertised as being "in stock"!
What lens are you waiting for? I thought most lenses were pretty easy to get hold of, except for the new 18-200VR.
If only these clouds would go away...
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Very impressive indeed, looks like you will be getting first class images with that camera, with good tracking.
