DSI III - First Light Image of M42

[dcalleja]

Hi all
I finally went out a bought a DSI III (one shot colour - I'll keep the pro II for LRGB work). I went out last night and got a single 4 min image of M42 (the old standby for comparison purposes) and a few 15s ones before the blinking clouds rolled in!

I did a simple composite of the two, some curves and levels, a little noise reduction but left the colours alone.

I'm encouraged so far with what I've seen, (theres still some noise in the image but it was only one exposure) and the new Envisage SW only bombed twice. The images are WAY bigger than the Pro II format (nearly 6mb each) and you do need a pretty quick PC with USB 2.0 to be usable.

Let me know what you think (the polar alignment was rough so the stars are a bit eggy).

[leon]

Yes, the stars are not quite round, however you had captured this one very nicely, it is not burnt out at all, and on the whole is a fine image, well done.

Leon

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Nice wide image Dan.

[Matty P (Matt)]

Looks very encouraging for only a 4 minute and a few 15 second images. Nice image scale aswell.

Very well done Dan, looking forward for more.

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

very nice image there Dan. i havent seen many DSI III shots as yet. I believe meade still havent totally remove the amp glow with the DSI III?

[dcalleja]

Thanks guys
I'm looking forward to the clouds in Sydney moving on so I can test it some more. As soon as I get some images I'll post them

Eric - not sure on the amp glow. I guess longer exposures may tell.

[Ric]

A good start with the DSI III Dan, I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on the camera.

Maybe a review a little further down the track.

Cheers

[citivolus (Ric)]

Originally Posted by dcalleja

Eric - not sure on the amp glow. I guess longer exposures may tell.

Try a nice long dark and then give it a stretch.

Regards,
another Eric

[dcalleja]

Ric
I may try a comparison of the Pro II and the III if I can find the time. Would be an interesting exercise.

Originally Posted by Ric

A good start with the DSI III Dan, I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on the camera.

Maybe a review a little further down the track.

Cheers

[BajaBahia (Howard)]

Hi Dan,

This is a great image you have captured.

I came across your posting here from last year, and wondered if I might ask you and the group some questions.

We are new to both using this telescope, and new to Astrophotography-
and are in the process of setting it all up right now in remote Baja, Mexico.

We are also using an 8" LX200R, with a DSI III. Also, a NextGEN Widefield 0.5x Telecompressor, and a NextGEN MAXfield mounting plate #17392 - 2.05 (both by Optec). The DSI III is connected to an XP partition on a MacBook Pro via USB 2, and we're using the AutoStar software that came with the camera. (Bought the camera new a week ago)

The camera and photographic image are appearing in the AutoStar software, but we're not getting much more than an amorphic pixilated blob. Regardless of focus adjustments I've tried so far.

By night or day testing.
Terrestrially by day- aiming at a wall down the bay, or aiming at Jupiter by night.

Any tips or info that you could refer us to on the specifics of the setup of one of these systems would be a great help to us.

Thanks to all for your time.

Howard

[Alchemy (Clive)]

hi howard andwelcome

no idea of the problem, if you dont get a quick answer here, you might try a new post in either beginners start here ! or Tips Techniques, software and computers.

just go to the forum jump up above and select the one you want.
someone will be able to answer your problem.

and when you are and running.... send us a pic or two

cheers
clive.

[BajaBahia (Howard)]

Thanks Clive ! Will do !

[renormalised (Carl)]

Nice shot Dan....just needs better polar alignment and those stars should snap into place

That'll sharpen up the Traps....long time since I've seen them in piccies of M42. Great to see the piccie isn't burnt out in the Traps area

Very nice for a 4 minute exposure