First light with DMK41

EricB (Eric) · #1 11-06-2012, 09:52 AM

Well second light really after a quick (disastrous) test last week...

A few pictures of the Moon taken this morning with my new DMK41. The seeing was quite good (6.5) and I took quite a lot of AVIs. I have processed 3 in RegiStax 6 and quickly touched up the resulting stacks in PhotoShop.

I am quite happy with myself and with the camera. The real-estate is fantastic with the DMK41

I will reprocess the pictures as they are grainy, but these ones give an idea of what can be achieved with the camera.

Cheers,

Eric

Rigel003 (Graeme) · #2 11-06-2012, 10:35 AM

Impressive results, Eric. Last one does look a bit grainy though - maybe pushed a bit too far. Good field of view.

EricB (Eric) · #3 11-06-2012, 12:47 PM

Thank you Graeme. You are right, I may have pushed the third one too far, unless I had too much gain on the camera. I am still very new to lunar photography and I have a lot to learn!

I wll add other photos as I process them.

Cheers,

Eric

Rex · #4 11-06-2012, 01:15 PM

Nice Job Eric. Great detail inthere.

EricB (Eric) · #5 11-06-2012, 04:17 PM

Thanks Rex!

Here is another one. Have I pushed that one a bit too much?

Shark Bait (Stu) · #6 11-06-2012, 05:55 PM

Very nice Eric.

Sure beats a-focal photography.

EricB (Eric) · #7 11-06-2012, 06:32 PM

Thanks Stu!

EricB (Eric) · #8 11-06-2012, 07:52 PM

I have re done the 3rd picture in my first post. Hopefully, this version is less grainy.

Cheers,

Eric

Poita (Peter) · #9 12-06-2012, 11:51 AM

Certainly getting there, just make sure the gain is turned right down for moon captures, it gets rid of that graininess.

EricB (Eric) · #10 12-06-2012, 05:21 PM

Thanks Peter! I think I can also improve the focus slightly. Anyway, I am having a ball

Eric

EricB (Eric) · #11 13-06-2012, 05:21 PM

Still processing AVis. Here is the best one so far. I am very pleased with the result.

Cheers,

Eric

Edit: the second picture is a smaller version. Not as big on the screen.

Shark Bait (Stu) · #12 13-06-2012, 05:48 PM

Getting quality results Eric.

Once again, you have stirred my interest.

I will have to blame you for my gutting of the family webcam and rigging it to an eyepiece tube. I can now dip my toes into slightly more advanced astro photography. It is time to move away from the a-focal method.

Now to hide it from SWMBO.....

EricB (Eric) · #13 13-06-2012, 07:24 PM

Have a go Stu. I'll take the blame.

I must say, there is quite a bit of difference between the pictures I took with the mod webcam (Microsoft VX3000) and these ones taken with the DMK. Besides the definition, the tones are much richer with the DMK (see here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=87480). Just love it!

Strangely enough, I am able to use the DMK41 with the SW tube fully extended, which was impossible with the webcam and with the DMK21 I borrowed from Poita. Now I still have 6mm rack in to spare.

I have had a quick go at using the DMK41 with a Barlow x 3 on the Moon. But I couldn't see anything no matter the focus.I wonder why...

cjamo9 (Clinton) · #14 15-06-2012, 12:30 PM

they are great, are you using any kind of comma corrector.

EricB (Eric) · #15 15-06-2012, 08:28 PM

Hi Clinton! No I am not using anything. Should I?

Cheers,

Eric

cjamo9 (Clinton) · #16 17-06-2012, 08:00 AM

dont know Erik, but those shots are great so i would think not. have you done any long exposure stuff yet with the set up you have.ie how acurate is the tracking on your dob.
thanks, clint.

EricB (Eric) · #17 17-06-2012, 10:05 AM

Hi Clinton. This time, because it was dawn, I couldn't align the scope, so I guided using the slower slew setting on the goto. I got a little bit of drift. That's why I mostly took 100 to 200 frames per AVI (about 6 to 12 seconds).

Here are the settings on SharpCap if you are interested:

[DMx 41AU02.AS]
Frame Divisor=1
Resolution=1280x960
Frame Rate (fps)=15.00
Colour Space / Compression=Y800
Pan=0
Tilt=0
Zoom=0
Exposure=-10
Brightness=33
Gamma=255
Gain=260