Canon 5D3 Lagoon

CDKPhil · #1 02-09-2012, 01:46 AM

This is my first trial using the Canon 5D mark 3 and the CDK12.5 together.

This was taken tonight with a waning full moon.

The photo is a composite of three four minute exposures.

Cheers

Phil

gregbradley · #2 02-09-2012, 09:04 AM

Looks like a very fun setup.

Looking forward to seeing some longer and dark night shots to see what it can do.

What ISO/ white balance did you use?

Greg.

CDKPhil · #3 02-09-2012, 10:28 AM

Hi Greg,

The Canon is great to use. I can run every thing I need on the camera from the Mac via the usb hub on the MX. The live view software makes it great for composing and focusing.

I just set the camera to auto white balance to see what would happen.
This shot is comprised of a 400, 800 and 1000 ISO images, all four minute Raw exposures.

I will be very keen to try some longer exposures the next new moon.

There is some vignetting in this photo around the corners caused by the T ring adaptor, I will need to have a larger diameter tube machined and make up a custom fitting that can bolt directly to the back of the CDK.

cheers

gregbradley · #4 02-09-2012, 10:32 AM

I wonder what the ideal ISO setting is for this and D800 is.

I find ISO6400 is perfectly useable on the D800 so it should also be fine on the 5D3.

As far as autowhite balance goes I am not so sure. I find 4200K on the D800 works. Perhaps it changes slightly with different types of night shots.

These next gen cameras see in the dark so bright images quickly are more than likely possible.

Your tethered arrangement sounds good. Lightroom 4.2 allows this as well.

Greg.

peeb61 (Paul) · #5 02-09-2012, 10:33 AM

Hi Phil,
Love it, hour glass stands out big time.

Good not to waste the time around the full moon, shows everyone what you can do under these conditions.

Nice one!

Paul

Octane (Humayun) · #6 02-09-2012, 11:16 AM

ISO-6400 should be the baseline for the EOS-5D Mark III, for astrophotography, anyway.

Good to see a Mark III image.

And, yes, EOS Utility + Remote/LiveView Shooting is indispensible.

H

CDKPhil · #7 02-09-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

I wonder what the ideal ISO setting is for this and D800 is.

I find ISO6400 is perfectly useable on the D800 so it should also be fine on the 5D3.

As far as autowhite balance goes I am not so sure. I find 4200K on the D800 works. Perhaps it changes slightly with different types of night shots.

These next gen cameras see in the dark so bright images quickly are more than likely possible.

Your tethered arrangement sounds good. Lightroom 4.2 allows this as well.

Greg.

I will play around with the white balance and see what happens.

I found last night with the bright moon that a faster Iso and shorter exposure gave less detail than a lower ISO and longer exposure. I think it is a matter of experimentation. Personally I would shoot with the lowest ISO I can get away with. Shorter exposure high ISO = more noise and more subs to over come the noise.

You are right these new cameras can see in the dark. I did a 30 sec exposures under my house at night @ 25600 ISO I was amazed at the result, and how much light a little LED can give off. I have attached this to the bottom. To my eyes it was pitch black, the photo has had no processing at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by peeb61

Hi Phil,
Love it, hour glass stands out big time.

Good not to waste the time around the full moon, shows everyone what you can do under these conditions.

Nice one!

Paul

Thanks Paul, I am just getting started with this camera. I have a lot of experimenting to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

ISO-6400 should be the baseline for the EOS-5D Mark III, for astrophotography, anyway.

Good to see a Mark III image.

And, yes, EOS Utility + Remote/LiveView Shooting is indispensible.

H

The EOS utility is great, It makes life very easy.

Cheers

alocky (Andrew lockwood) · #8 02-09-2012, 03:57 PM

I had a similar experience with the D800 (at f5 under dark skies). 3200iso and 10 minutes was too much, and 5 minute subs were not as clean as earlier experiments at iso1000 and 10 minutes. Next time out I'm going to try a few subs at intermediate iso - since I can usually get the G11 setup to deliver 10 minute subs in failr short order with the PAS.
I've just been fiddling with the Nikon camera control pro, it also lets you use the liveview on the laptop and control the camera via usb cable. You'd think for what these cameras cost they'd throw a miserable 180bucks worth of software in!
cheers,
Andrew.

Octane (Humayun) · #9 02-09-2012, 05:00 PM

lol, Andrew. The Canon's come with all requisite software.

H

alocky (Andrew lockwood) · #10 02-09-2012, 05:23 PM

Yeah - but it would cost more than 180 to upgrade the Canon to be as good as a Nikon

just joking, some of my best friends have Canons...
I am impressed by the field quality of the CDK in the OP. Nicely corrected.
Cheers,
Andrew.

Octane (Humayun) · #11 02-09-2012, 05:49 PM

Cheeky.

H

Phil Hart · #12 06-09-2012, 10:35 PM

ISO6400 will have significantly lower dynamic range than say ISO1600 and may not offer any improvement in signal/noise ratio at all, so using the higher ISO will just clip your star cores for no other benefit.

It would take some good objective testing to work out the right answer.. I'm willing to bet that five minute subs will show bugger all difference between working at 1600/3200/6400, except for the reduced dynamic range which may or may not be an issue depending on f-ratio and subject etc.

Phil