Tried a mega-session on the SMC last night, 30 x 10min exps, no in camera noise reduction - I hoped the shear numbers of subs would smooth out any Signal to Noise problems!
On final inspection the image suffered from soft focus and light pollution.
Think I'm heading in the right direction hopefully, but I don't think this is one of my best!!
Canon 40D (modded)
Canon 70-200mm f4L lens, 200mm @ f4
Skywatcher Synscan EQ5 mount
Autoguided with PHD
30 x 600sec exposures, iso1600
Stacked in Images Plus - tried "Exclude Average" this time, software deals with RGB data separately...worked out better than Average.
Tweaked in PS.
You mentioned a little soft in focus, well that could be possible, but I reckon it is a fine job.
Cheers leon - and yeah I think focus is off.
Re the lack of ICNR - I found this an interesting experiment with the 40D as the background came out very smooth but the galactic detail was noisy as hell and a bugger to process Why would the background be smooth or am I missing some fundamental law or summit!?
ps.. I also hate that burnt out glob bottom left!!!
Yea I know what you mean about that glob Doug, but you were pumping it at 1600 ISO, gee mate I don't go much past 400, but that is just me, I think your skies might be a bit darker than mine.
I know INCN is a bugger at times and doubles your time but it is really worth the effort, have you tried it over two nights and then combine both nights.
IMHO, maybe the background is smoother because there is less light to pick up, less than the actual object, can't really help much with that one, I'm not that experienced
It does seem that the mass of exposure has kept the background noise well at bay... I know its a horrible idea, but how about shooting the same again, 30x10min @ ISO800 then layering in maybe 10x2min shots to normalize the glob.... It is a hell of a lot of work though, and to my eyes this has come up trumps as is!
Troy... the lens is the Non IS version, I've tried stopping it down on a few of my images. I find it pretty sharp at f4 though - I think in this case the focus may be slightly off. Examination of the actual size pixels in PS confirmed this.
Thanks for the comments
Lovely wide field, great colour. Couldnt pick the focus problem but my eyes are getting worse by the month. At ISO1800 and those exposure times the nebs are comming out to play.I don't knoww if you can selectively unsharp and layer the glob but a great job all together.
I know its a horrible idea, but how about shooting the same again, 30x10min @ ISO800 then layering in maybe 10x2min shots to normalize the glob.... It is a hell of a lot of work though, and to my eyes this has come up trumps as is! 
