One criticism; on my calibrated screen, it is coming across as a neon sign -- it is /way/ too saturated. Try turning it down around 25-30% and it'll balance out quite well, I think.
H
Last edited by Octane; 16-08-2010 at 01:48 AM.
Reason: s/qutie/quite/
I cleaned the lens the other day using
the Tak manual on how to do it. It came up beautifully.
These TEC180's to me are like what was available in the 90's when you could still buy an AP scope without massive wait.
Yuri already no longer makes Maksutov Cassegrains, the 200mm fluorite (which was never advertised in the first place) and 200mm ED versions.
The 180 production may not last forever. The scope makers seem very sensitive to glass supply and quality problems with the glasses they get.
Its their number 1 problem. Yuri also makes a 160 fluorite new for less than you would have to pay for an AP160 2nd hand (if you could; find one). They are most likely very comparable scopes. I have tested my TEC180 against my AP140 and they are very very similar after taking into account the image scale difference. Yuri is "cheap", APM scopes of the same size sell for the same and they aren't fluorite and they don't seem to have the enthusiastic followers like AP and TEC and Tak do. I am sure they are great scopes but I noticed that aspect about them.
The good thing about a scope like this and the camera and filters is that I can take my attention of my gear and just image. If it turns out a dud then its me or the conditions (the conditions of course!!) its not the equipment.
By the way I like these Astrodon Gen 11 filters, expensive but good. Baaders are good too but I often had trouble getting a proper LRGB combine with them and other times not. Not sure what the difference was. The Baaders also seem a bit too biased towards the red (good for nebulas though). So far reflections seem better controlled with the Astrodons but its a bit early to say for sure (the Baaders were good, the Astronomiks are better in that regard).
Nice image Greg. Well detailed but only one small thing for me. The image looks a little brown to me with shades of green and the blues are a bit understated. Personal taste I guess. Still a nice image all the same.
Bit hard fitting one of these in your filter wheel!!!
It's an Astrodon, a relative of Brachiosaurus, that lived around 90-120Ma in the Cretaceous Period.
I think he'd be a little too heavy to balance your scope for!!!!
On a more serious note, great shot there Greg I like the way the reflection neb sort of "clings" to the edges of the emission neb and the vibrant colours really stand out.
We are comparing a 300mm FL effective 84mm diameter at f/3.5 using a DSLR to 1260mm FL 180mm diameter APO at f/7 using an astro CCD.
You can see why the Canon 300mm F2.8L is held in such high regard by me and many others.
Bert
Very clever Bert and yes for a 300mm to come so close to 180mm scope is amazing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Haese
Nice image Greg. Well detailed but only one small thing for me. The image looks a little brown to me with shades of green and the blues are a bit understated. Personal taste I guess. Still a nice image all the same.
There are only 6 blues versus 7 reds and 5 greens. Luck of the clouds there. I did run a bit of that anti-green plugin but it made no difference.
Colour balance is always a tricky thing. I mainly had my attention on the centre reds/blues.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Pugh
That's a very fine image Greg.
cheers
Martin
Thanks Martin I appreciate it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by renormalised
Bit hard fitting one of these in your filter wheel!!!
It's an Astrodon, a relative of Brachiosaurus, that lived around 90-120Ma in the Cretaceous Period.
I think he'd be a little too heavy to balance your scope for!!!!
On a more serious note, great shot there Greg I like the way the reflection neb sort of "clings" to the edges of the emission neb and the vibrant colours really stand out.
I found it easier to achieve using these Astrodon dinosaur filters.
Beautiful image Greg! Nice colours and nice natural look to it!
Thanks David. I am happy that my new observatory is showing decent resolution and contrast even though the skies are not as dark as my dark site. They are still reasonably dark.
Have to say Greg, this is one of the finer images I've seen come out of your TEC180. Solid processing, balanced and with colour confidence that suits the region very well. Productive imaging ahead with your new observatory. Looking forward to more. Well done.
Have to say Greg, this is one of the finer images I've seen come out of your TEC180. Solid processing, balanced and with colour confidence that suits the region very well. Productive imaging ahead with your new observatory. Looking forward to more. Well done.
Thanks Jase. The Astrodon filters seem better matched to the Proline. Focus is probably more exact as I now have the proper mounting bracket (which is a lot thicker than the standard one) plus the focus shaft connector is the correct one for the Feathertouch).
Also the RGB is 1x1, I think that makes a difference with this scope.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassnut
Cool pic Greg, but diffraction spikes on a refractor?.
Yes that reflection is a bit odd, that's the new Astrodon lum filter. However at least the star is still relatively smallish even if it has a weird reflection. I looked at other images and that star is usually quite bloated - so 6 of one half a dozen of another.
Quote:
Originally Posted by marc4darkskies
Some lovely colour in that shot Greg! Very nice indeed!
Cheers, Marcus
Thanks Marcus. I like your 6744 as well. I can't believe the resolution you get with your Tak. Wide air spaced triplets are great. Greg.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
What a lovely region that is, you, that fine scope and amazing camera have done it some justice Greg
Mike
Thanks Mike. The TEC is also now more versatile as I successfully imaged last night finally with a 4 inch Tak FS152 reducer making it F5.25 with stars good to the corners. That would work on your AP as well as they are very similar (only 60mm different in focal length and both oiled triplets). I had to get 2 special adapters made and then I had an extender adapter jammed on another (Microline and Proline chips are set 10mm different distance from the front of the camera). I got an oil filter removal tool from Supercheap auto and it the jammed joint had been sprayed in WD40 for several days and it finally came off.
Nice little tool that the oil filter remover for this sort of work. No damage to the adapter at all.
I like the way the reflection neb sort of "clings" to the edges of the emission neb and the vibrant colours really stand out.
