ICEINSPACE
Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Gibbous 86.1%
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05-10-2005, 07:27 PM
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Colour is over-rated
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Posts: 2,414
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cventer
The ED80 is awesome for astro imaging. I would suggest you save a little bit extra and get it as a package with the new HEQ5 Mount that comes with Skyscan and higher quality worm gears.
As an example of the image quality, I took this with my 300D DSLR and ED80 last year.
Higher res version here: http://www.dslrfocus.com/M42.jpg
You wont be sorry with that little scope. Its pretty darn nice to look though too
Best Regards
Chris Venter
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That may just be the best astroimage I've seen..... what orbit is your scope in again???
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05-10-2005, 07:47 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 25,732
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plasmodium
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I agree with you Lee, unbelievable image of M42.
I just can't get enough of it.
Thanks again Chris.
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05-10-2005, 08:13 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hahndorf, South Australia
Posts: 4,261
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Is that image for real!!??
It looks more like a Hubble image than from a Melbourne based 80mm scope!
Look at the detail and the texture in the nebulosity, it's awesome.
cventer please post more...lots more.
What degree of image processing is needed to produce that sort of image?
Cheers
Doug
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05-10-2005, 08:15 PM
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Retired, damn no pension
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Obi Obi, Qld
Posts: 18,778
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05-10-2005, 09:37 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 957
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Thanks Guys.
The image was taken from some dark skies north of melbourne. About 2 hours drive. Cant remember the name of the damn place.
It took a fair bit of processing to get it to look like that. I use Ron Wodowski's Zone System and isolated the image into layers in Photoshop, then worked on each layer. Dark areas = Lots of noise reduction, Bright Areas lots of deconvolution and High Pass Maksing. In between = Lots of frigging about.....
I split my DSLR Images into LRGB images and then work on getting a nice Luminance Frame using the zone system above. I then add the color back after smoothing and noise reduction in the color layer. Probably 10-15 hours processing....
Best Regards
Chris
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05-10-2005, 09:41 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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well chris, you are performing a masterful art in producing what you do!
lots of skill and i really appreciate your work!
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05-10-2005, 09:54 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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love your dlsrfocus stuff, i am in the middle of writing some for the toucam. great product!
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05-10-2005, 10:08 PM
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Retired, damn no pension
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Obi Obi, Qld
Posts: 18,778
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Thanks for that Chris. Looks like I'll have to re-read his book a couple of times How about coming to Qld and running a couple of imaging processing classes. I've already put the hard word on Eddie
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05-10-2005, 10:13 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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sorry, got him coming to tassie first, at $1000 an hour!
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06-10-2005, 12:07 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 442
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TidaLpHasE
What would be the best price going around for the EQ6 with skyscan??
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The best price I've seen is at Andrews Comm. $2299 for the EQ6 with SkyScan, he also has 80mmED for $579. Not sure what bits you'll need to mount the 80ED to the EQ6.
The EQ6 and SkyScan seem to be a bit hit and miss with quality control from the factory, but the problems I had with mine were all fixed quickly under warranty so it shouldn't be a problem if you get a dud.
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06-10-2005, 05:16 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: S.A.
Posts: 1,079
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan
The best price I've seen is at Andrews Comm. $2299 for the EQ6 with SkyScan, he also has 80mmED for $579. Not sure what bits you'll need to mount the 80ED to the EQ6.
The EQ6 and SkyScan seem to be a bit hit and miss with quality control from the factory, but the problems I had with mine were all fixed quickly under warranty so it shouldn't be a problem if you get a dud.
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The package from Steve Massey that Starkler linked to is cheaper and is a complete package.
Be worth contacting Steve for a 'good' price' and also querying the mount. The one shown is white. On the EQ6 yahoo group, the white pro version sold by Orion as an Atlas Pro has better Quality control during assembly than the standard black mount. Be worth checking to see if that QC follows through for the white Synta range as well.
Top pic Chris
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06-10-2005, 06:39 PM
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Gone fish'n
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 668
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Thanks for the info, I got a price here in Melb. for the EQ6 with skyscan for $2365, and is easy for me to pick up, this would be almost the same amount if i had one shipped from Sydney.
I have decided on the EQ6, so i have the option of getting a bigger scope later on, maybe a C9.25 or a C11.
Are all the ED scopes , Skywatcher, Saxon, Orion the same scope, made in the same factory by the same production techniques?? Is there any difference at all apart from the badging on them??
Thanks for the advice.....
So......... when are you making a "how to" video Chris?????
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06-10-2005, 06:59 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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good one trevor, i will come and put my 10" newt on the eq6, thanks mate!
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06-10-2005, 07:14 PM
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Gone fish'n
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 668
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06-10-2005, 07:16 PM
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lots of eyes on you!
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 7,381
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you will, i really like the look of that scope. A few years down the track maybe as a secondary to the 10"
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06-10-2005, 08:43 PM
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The Glenfallus
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Posts: 2,702
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Amazing shot of M42, Chris. Like others who have already posted, I think that is one of the best I have ever seen. M42 is a very familiar object, but that image is so dazzling that I feel like I am looking at a completely new object!
Trevor, I think you are onto a great idea with the Orion ED80. I have been chatting recently with the boys at Bintel about getting this scope as a wideview scope / spotting scope to lassoo to the top of my LX200. It is widely considered an excellent scope for that purpose. So, if you go with a C9.25 or C11 (or similar Meade) later on, you can certainly keep using the ED80 for the widefield work. It won't ever become redundant. For that reason, I also think it is very sensible that you are thinking about getting a larger platform from the beginning, giving you room to grow.
Best wishes for the impending purchase. Don at Bintel will look after you (just tell him I promised on his behalf!!!!)
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07-10-2005, 04:31 PM
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Gone fish'n
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 668
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Thanks Rod, i will be buying the ED80 soon, i can't wait to get some clear skies in and mess around with my new toy.
On the subject of the EQ6, i have been quoted a price of $1695 with skyscan is this a bargain or what, brand new and assembled.
I will go to the shop tomorrow with a deposit and to be sure it's not a mixup.
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07-10-2005, 05:41 PM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,760
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Quote:
On the subject of the EQ6, i have been quoted a price of $1695
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From where?
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07-10-2005, 05:52 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: S.A.
Posts: 1,079
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$1695!!!!
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07-10-2005, 06:26 PM
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Gone fish'n
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 668
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I will wait until tomorrow when i pay the deposit, and check that he doesn't mind me posting his "SUPER" prices on the forum, and a link to his store.
Went in the store yesterday and was quoted $1695 for the EQ6 with dual drives and illuminated polar scope.
Rang again today for a price with the skyscan/synscan, and was told $1695 I said no that's not right is it?
He said yes that's the deal i am willing to do
There will be about a weeks wait for the mount, but at this price, no problem at all.
I am not sure how many he will let go at this price, i will ask him tomorrow and let you know.
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