NGC6726 first light FLI ML16 camera

gregbradley · #1 19-10-2016, 02:21 PM

I took this image ages ago. In fact I took a lot more data since I processed this image. I have lots of data I have acquired with this new camera and the RHA 305. But I was put off from processing it as my laptop was too slow and it took too long.

I have since gotten a much faster computer and can now start to process all this data in a reasonable time frame.

This is the first image I took with this setup and I was impressed by the low noise which seems similar to the Starlight Express 694 I had. The 694 is more sensitive and particularly better in narrowband but this is close in performance to the 16803. It seems like its the little brother to the 16803 sensor in many ways. The 6 micron pixels though are a better match to the Honders 305 giving just over the targeted 1 arc/sec per pixel. Overall I am very happy with this sensor and camera and would recommend it to those who have been using an 8300 camera and want an upgrade. Its 27 x 21.6mm in size so kind of large but not quite full frame.

Sensor specifications are here:

http://www.onsemi.com/pub_link/Colla...AF-16200-D.PDF

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/163812956/large

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/ima...12956/original

I add the data I took after this image was taken later. I am not sure how much more data I acquired but possibly twice as much.

I have full and complete sets of data for at least 15 different images to process.

Greg.

Stevec35 (Steve) · #2 19-10-2016, 04:27 PM

Or me

gregbradley · #3 19-10-2016, 04:56 PM

Fixed.

Stevec35 (Steve) · #4 19-10-2016, 05:22 PM

A beauty Greg! Smooth, detailed and great colour.

Cheers

Steve

Slawomir (Suavi) · #5 19-10-2016, 05:27 PM

You must be very happy with the new camera Greg!

The image is very good, I like the colours and in particular how you represented blue nebulosity

I now look forward to the remaining 15 images

Shiraz (Ray) · #6 19-10-2016, 08:30 PM

wow - how nice is that. Scope and camera look like a perfect match. top result.

topheart · #7 19-10-2016, 08:40 PM

Hey Greg,

What a winner!

Smoooooth as!!

You must be a very happy man!!
What a great gear combo!

Give us more!!!

Thanks,
Tim

gregbradley · #8 19-10-2016, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevec35

A beauty Greg! Smooth, detailed and great colour.

Cheers

Steve

Thanks very much Steve.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slawomir

You must be very happy with the new camera Greg!

The image is very good, I like the colours and in particular how you represented blue nebulosity

I now look forward to the remaining 15 images

Thanks Suavi. I am pretty sure I have a lot of extra data and I'll add it in later on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiraz

wow - how nice is that. Scope and camera look like a perfect match. top result.

Thanks Ray. I think it does match the Honders very very well. It also works well on the CDK in good seeing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by topheart

Hey Greg,

What a winner!

Smoooooth as!!

You must be a very happy man!!
What a great gear combo!

Give us more!!!

Thanks,
Tim

Cheers Tim. More is on the way!

Greg.

atalas · #9 20-10-2016, 08:00 AM

Nice effort Greg.

gregbradley · #10 20-10-2016, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atalas

Nice effort Greg.

Cheers Louie.

Greg.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #11 20-10-2016, 02:26 PM

Quite a nice result Greg

It's definitely one of the more photogenic areas of the sky huh?

Mike

Atmos (Colin) · #12 20-10-2016, 02:34 PM

Some really nice detail in the blue nebulosity Greg

Placidus (Mike and Trish) · #13 20-10-2016, 09:23 PM

The faint reflected light off the dust is magnificent. Nice composition afforded by the wide field.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

I have full and complete sets of data for at least 15 different images to process.

Oh, what a lovely problem to have!

PRejto (Peter) · #14 20-10-2016, 10:01 PM

That is seriously nice! Love the pastel blue and super detail.

Peter

strongmanmike (Michael) · #15 20-10-2016, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Placidus

Oh, what a lovely problem to have!

Yeah! I recon! heck, that's about a whole years worth (or more!) for me!

DJT (David) · #16 20-10-2016, 10:15 PM

Lovely image Greg, looking forward to seeing the rest of the images.

gregbradley · #17 21-10-2016, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Quite a nice result Greg

It's definitely one of the more photogenic areas of the sky huh?

Mike

Thanks Mike, it sure is. I like to image this area from time to time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atmos

Some really nice detail in the blue nebulosity Greg

Thanks. Yes I noticed an increase in resolution using the ML16 over the 16803 due to the smaller pixels. An ideal match to the Honders but I also find the 16803 makes some very pleasing images with the Honders as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Placidus

The faint reflected light off the dust is magnificent. Nice composition afforded by the wide field.

Oh, what a lovely problem to have!

Yes definitely a first world problem! I kept on imaging but not processing much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRejto

That is seriously nice! Love the pastel blue and super detail.

Peter

Cheers Pete. Yes I am happy with the image and how it turned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Yeah! I recon! heck, that's about a whole years worth (or more!) for me!

Yes its quite a backlog. Every clear night I would keep on imaging. There's not much around when the Helix is up so I kept on imaging the Helix. I don't know how much I have gotten there but wouldn't be surprised if it were 60 hours!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJT

Lovely image Greg, looking forward to seeing the rest of the images.

Thanks for that. I'll be processing them on a more regular basis.

Greg.

Peter Ward · #18 21-10-2016, 10:24 AM

Sadly, my Honders is currently in storage (a waste I know) but I have to say your RHA images are making me question my current instrument strategy!

A pleasing result...though I'm not sure I can see any real benefit of the smaller pixels

...looks to me like the seeing outweighs slightly finer
sampling on most nights.

gregbradley · #19 21-10-2016, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Sadly, my Honders is currently in storage (a waste I know) but I have to say your RHA images are making me question my current instrument strategy!

A pleasing result...though I'm not sure I can see any real benefit of the smaller pixels

...looks to me like the seeing outweighs slightly finer
sampling on most nights.

Thanks Peter.

The finer sampling is a subtle effect and not massive for sure. The cleaner read noise though is more noticeable in processing the images. They are cleaner overall with less total exposure. But yes sadly seeing does rule the night.

Greg.

RickS (Rick) · #20 22-10-2016, 09:15 PM

An excellent first light, Greg!