#1  
Old 01-05-2021, 07:09 PM
Mickoid (Michael)
Registered User

Mickoid is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,439
A test for my guide camera

I've never done this before but last night I did some LRGB imaging with my ZWO ASI 120MMs guide camera. I'm using this with my DSLR for auto guiding occasionally but never as the main camera. In fact, I don't think anyone here on IIS has ever used one for deep space objects, so I thought I'd give it a go.

Well, as you can see it worked, although light pollution from Bortle 7 skies and a waning gibbous moon two days past full didn't help. I think if I'd used better LRGB filters ( and not an old Meade set I bought on IIS a few years ago ) then the colour balance may well have been easier to achieve.

The ASI 120MM sensor is small, so this shot was hardly cropped at all and using my SW 6 inch f5 Newtonian, M83 just fitted in the frame. This was done unguided ( an issue when using your guide camera as the main imaging device ) and I only took 20 x 60sec subs through each filter so it's rather noisy but I am quite pleased with what this little camera can do!
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (M83_Asi120mms.jpg)
196.2 KB180 views

Last edited by Mickoid; 01-05-2021 at 07:32 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-05-2021, 07:44 PM
Anth10's Avatar
Anth10 (Anthony M)
When its late stay awake

Anth10 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Briar Hill
Posts: 783
Hit the target Mick!
Unconventional but yes you’ve proven you can achieve a good shot with any combination of current gear out there.
Good work.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-05-2021, 05:16 PM
Imme (Jon)
Registered User

Imme is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kyneton
Posts: 840
........ welcome to the dark side mike.

Filters and a mono camera, who would have thought! Hahaha.

Great effort and some great detail there. Colts are also fantastic, I really like it!

Can I ask what you processed it in?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-05-2021, 06:15 PM
Mickoid (Michael)
Registered User

Mickoid is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,439
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anth10 View Post
Hit the target Mick!
Unconventional but yes you’ve proven you can achieve a good shot with any combination of current gear out there.
Good work.
Thanks Anthony, you know I like doing things unconventionally!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Imme View Post
........ welcome to the dark side mike.

Filters and a mono camera, who would have thought! Hahaha.

Great effort and some great detail there. Colts are also fantastic, I really like it!

Can I ask what you processed it in?
Thanks Jon, it wasn't a serious attempt by any stretch of the imagination. I purely wanted to know what this camera could do on deep sky as it does a great job on planetary. I processed it in DSS, STs and PS. Haven't hit the dark side yet, just a little distraction along the way!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-05-2021, 06:22 PM
Imme (Jon)
Registered User

Imme is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kyneton
Posts: 840
If that wasn’t a serious attempt then it’s probably time you did make a serious one mike because that’s pretty darn good for an asi120!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-05-2021, 07:00 PM
AdamJL
Registered User

AdamJL is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,100
ha, that's brilliant.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-05-2021, 08:34 PM
RyanJones
Registered User

RyanJones is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 1,439
Very nice Micheal,

This image made me smile. I love what you’ve done with a guide cam. It just so happens it’s what I use as a guide camera too. Great work thinking outside the box and a good image to boot. Well done 👍

Ryan
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-05-2021, 09:12 PM
mswhin63's Avatar
mswhin63 (Malcolm)
Registered User

mswhin63 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Para Hills, South Australia
Posts: 3,620
Great test, I recently purchased one and was curious as well. Now I need a Guide camera to guide it for better images
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-05-2021, 08:53 PM
Mickoid (Michael)
Registered User

Mickoid is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,439
"ha, that's brilliant!" - Glad you liked it Adam, using the camera in a way it wasn't intended to be used is a bit odd but I was curious to see if it would perform.

"Very nice Micheal, This image made me smile. I love what you’ve done with a guide cam. It just so happens it’s what I use as a guide camera too. Great work thinking outside the box and a good image to boot. Well done" - Thanks Ryan, well our guide cameras are a cheap way into mono deep sky photography as long as you're prepared to sacrifice auto guiding.

"Great test, I recently purchased one and was curious as well. Now I need a Guide camera to guide it for better images" - Glad to satisfy your curiosity Malcolm, no need to buy another camera, just use it unguided, that's what I did for this shot.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 10:40 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement