Plieades - but this time with a DSLR

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #1 17-12-2009, 11:23 PM

Hi, a few days ago I posted a shot I took of the Plieades here -> Pleiades .

Well I thought I might try to get some more nebulosity through my Cannon 350D (Modded). Took 8 x 6min subs ICNR on, took flats - all through the ED80 and guided. Hutech LPS-2 also.

BUT - still not too much joy!

Starting to think the Light Pollution at that low location in the sky is causing the issue.

Tilt (Michael) · #2 18-12-2009, 09:08 AM

Still a reasonable effort

Not sure, but would it be better to go for 600sec subs and more of them?

Michael

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #3 18-12-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tilt

Still a reasonable effort

Not sure, but would it be better to go for 600sec subs and more of them?

Michael

Yeah, i dont really go under 10 mins now, but thats only with the QHY8, i can get 10 mins with the 1000D, but only in the very depths of winter

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #4 18-12-2009, 10:07 AM

I'm sure you could coax a little more out of your image using levels. Moving the centre slider to the left and the left hand slider to the right. Just a little bit at a time.
Can't wait to have a go at this one myself.
Thanks for posting.

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #5 18-12-2009, 10:27 AM

Thanks for feedback. JJ I will try and increase levels to see what happens. Michael/Duncan - I am mounted on a meade Lx200. I can get about 8min subs (so far). Anything more than that the random error gets in the way. But, point taken and will be pushing the subs out as much as I can during summer on these fainter objects thats for sure!

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #6 18-12-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolhandJo

Thanks for feedback. JJ I will try and increase levels to see what happens. Michael/Duncan - I am mounted on a meade Lx200. I can get about 8min subs (so far). Anything more than that the random error gets in the way. But, point taken and will be pushing the subs out as much as I can during summer on these fainter objects thats for sure!

I hear you, go for 8 mins then!

Seriously though, your images are of a good standard anyway

multiweb (Marc) · #7 19-12-2009, 09:39 AM

Nice one Paul. Yeah M45 is a tough one. The neb comes out after a lot of sub stacking. Your moded DSLR won't do any better because they're reflection nebs not emission. I've tried these from dark skies too and even there you have to really push to get anything showing up around those bright stars. Then come the reflections.

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #8 19-12-2009, 02:43 PM

Thanks guys for the feedback. Marc, makes me feel a lot better knowing you have shared my difficulty also!

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #9 19-12-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolhandJo

Hi, a few days ago I posted a shot I took of the Plieades here -> Pleiades .

Well I thought I might try to get some more nebulosity through my Cannon 350D (Modded). Took 8 x 6min subs ICNR on, took flats - all through the ED80 and guided. Hutech LPS-2 also.

BUT - still not too much joy!

Starting to think the Light Pollution at that low location in the sky is causing the issue.

Look that's ok..possibly needs more subs..and what ISO did you use?

I was mucking around with M45 last night & started on ISO400 @4 mins. I suspect if I got enough subs it'll be ok but with cloud rolling in I went to ISO800 (can 450D std) with ED80...only 4 shots before the dreaded cloud.

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #10 19-12-2009, 04:13 PM

Looks like you started to get some nebulosity! I took mine at ISO 800. Are you saying that ISO 400 would be better?

leon · #11 19-12-2009, 04:44 PM

Hey Paul there is nothing wrong with that mate, DSLR's work a bit different, and you are dead right, the dame thing is just to low, and we, well at least me cope all that low light haze.

Other than that it is afine image indeed.

Leon

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #12 19-12-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolhandJo

Looks like you started to get some nebulosity! I took mine at ISO 800. Are you saying that ISO 400 would be better?

ISO800 would be better if you take less subs or shorter subs...it'll be more sensitive but have more noise. Aka ISO800 for less bright objects. I started last night at ISO400 but went to ISO800 as I saw the clouds rolling in and wanted to get some result!

I suspect ISO400 would be ok (for M45) if you had lots of subs...20-30+ and longer exposures lets say 5 mins each.

INCR is a bit of a pain doing subtraction after each sub...better to make your own darks. Last night I did my darks waiting for the clouds to go...they never did...