My best DSLR image - M20 and M8 from SPSP16

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi guys

This is easily my best DSLR image so far.. taken with Chris Wakeman's modded 350D at the dark skies of the South Pacific Star Party, at Wiruna, NSW on the 6th April.

It consists of 21x 5 minute exposures @ ISO400. Darks ICNR, flats calibrated. Unmodded 350D + WO 0.8x reducer/flattener, through ED80. Guided on an EQ6 with PHD + DMK.

The images were taken from about 2:40am until 6am on the Sunday morning at the star party, and I slept in the car on and off while the exposures were running.

Please click on the image at the link below to see the best version:

M20 and M8 with modded 350D

I'm very happy with how this turned out and I can't imagine going back to a non-modded camera now But i'm going to have to for a while at least.. Chris wanted his camera back

I practised a few different processing techniques with this one, since the data was so good to begin with. I tried some wavelet sharpening in PixInsight but the image came out too flat (although it was sharper). I also experimented with using the red channel (sharpened) as the luminance - and that didn't turn out too bad: M8 and M20 with red channel as luminance.

Thanks for looking. Smaller, compressed versions attached.

[skwinty (Steve)]

Yes,you are right. That is the best images so far.
Very well done Mike.
Spill the beans on the white balance now already!!

[Dietmar]

hi Mike,

I am happy with you!
these are outstanding DSIs for sure!
enormously deep and colors right on.
however I am afraid you might have applied a little too much of sharpening here.
the enire field therefore looks a bit too hard contrasted.
it is minor thing; but I'd prefer a more natural look though, like it many of your other images!
nevertheless, I am deeply impressed with the results you achieved with a NON 16 bit camera! (am I right, these ar e12 bit...?)
and your progress in DSI is great for such a short periode!

[Lester]

Outstanding image Mike.

The depth of detail is outstanding. I prefer the first of the thumbnail images.