I'm still processing the shots from my Coonabarabran trip nearly 8 weeks ago.
While my main scope and QHY8L were shooting away at DSOs I also set up my Vixen mount with with 2 Canon cameras to take wide field photos.
These photos were taken with a modded Canon 1000d and Olympus 135mm F2.8 lens.
Unfortunately I forgot to switch on In Camera Noise Reduction and I did not take any darks (.....it was cold, I was tired, the night was scary etc etc...).
I have done the best I can with Photoshop and I am actually surprised they have not turned out as bad as I expected....however, what do you think?
Thanks for looking.
Ross.
ANTARES & LMC...4X10min exposures.
SMC...17x10min exposures (..but does not look any better than the others..).
Rick, Greg, Jase and Leon thanks for your positive comments.
I thought having no noise reduction or darks would produce terrible results, but I think the temperature hovering around 1c -2c helped reduce the noise.
I do like the FOV and quality of the Olympus lens even though it's nearly 40 years old. I am trying to put together a couple of adapters so I can attach the lens on the QHY8L and then mount it.
Impressed that you managed 10 minute subs , unguided..and a nice return for presumably very accurate polar alignment
Thanks Narayan, glad you like the photos. However, they were not unguided. I have a long WO Vixen dovetail bar mounted sideways. I have a camera in the middle and one end. On the other end I have a finder scope that I have converted to a guide scope and I guide with PHD.
It is portable and works well, allowing me to have 2 Canon bodies shooting at the same time.
Love wide fields and I think you've really got the colour blend down beautifully.
Love the rho Orphicus region.. one of my favs!
Great set of images!
Rich
Thank you Rich. I'm really happy you like the photos.
I agree with you about widefields. Although I have not taken many, they are becoming my favourite type of astrophotography. I have obtained a couple of adapters that will allow me to mount my SLR lenses directly onto my QHY8L ccd. The telescope might start collecting dust in the garage!
Hopefully, much better photos to follow.
Wish I could take 'rough' shots like these!,Print frame and hang!-nice work.
What Vixen mount are you using had some issues with mine=or its motors,but finally seems to be working.
What tools used in CS photsoshop did you use,Surprised to see little noise and amp glow,with no darks blended in DSS-you must be some sort of PP god! well done!
Wish I could take 'rough' shots like these!,Print frame and hang!-nice work.
What Vixen mount are you using had some issues with mine=or its motors,but finally seems to be working.
What tools used in CS photsoshop did you use,Surprised to see little noise and amp glow,with no darks blended in DSS-you must be some sort of PP god! well done!
Hi Chris,
Ha, ha...I don't think so.
I'm glad you like the photos, the praise however, is undeserved.
It is only in the last 3 to 6 months that I have started doing anything more in Photoshop then just levels and the Saturation slider.
If you want to learn Photoshop for astrophotography quickly and efficiently, do yourself a favour and go to WWW.ATALAS.NET. It belongs to an IIS member, Atalas (Louie). He has about 9 of the most amazing 4 minute Photoshop tutorials. Unlike many books I have read and other video tutorials I have seen, his cut through the "crap" and just present the essentials in a clear, precise and simplified manner.
As to the mount, it is a Vixen SXW Sphinx. Unguided it's not too flash, but it autoguides very well with PHD.
The camera I used for these photos is a modded Canon 1000d. When the weather is cold, its noise levels are quite low. I have also noticed that it does not show any amp glow, even without darks. I was also shooting with an older Canon 350d on the same mount and it exhibited a lot of amp glow in all the shots. I thinl I read somewhere that in their newer cameras, Canon has the amp switched off during long exposures.
Also, I think having to compress photos to 200kb for IIS helps hide a lot of defects.
Anyway Chris, good luck with your imaging. If I can be of any specific help, feel free to pm me.
Very nice trio Ross - nice too see someone with talent exercising it.
Doug
Hi Doug,
I'm glad you like the photos.
Thanks for the kind comments and praise.....it does wonders for my confidence and lets me know I'm on the right track with Photoshop.
I'm enjoying widefields more and more.
If it clears tonight, I am testing an adapter that connects my Olympus lenses to my QHY8L ccd.
Hoping this results in better quality widefields.
I have had very limited goes at widefield imaging and haven't come close to your results here! I think they are a great set of images and would be more than pleased to have them as mine!
Your progession in processing is obvious, and I look forward to seeing more of your work!
