hiro
sage
Reged: 07/17/07
Posts: 483
Loc: Tokyo
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Hi all,
I went to a dark site last night with a New EOS 5D mark 2 and shot at ISO 6,400 before reading instruction manuals. I tried it on Kenko Skymemo-R. I could not use usual focus confirmation methods, and the stars look bloated at the center and elongated near corners for the lens: Leica Apo-Elmarit-R 180mmF2.8 at F2.8. I should have read instructions and use live view. I was insane and happy at the dark site last night.
Single in-body battery lasted hours during all exposures of 129 times and 297 minutes in total at 6C = 43F, and I did not use prepared external battery and DC/AC converter.
I'm an iris user, and we can not use RAW files of 5D mark 2 yet with it. I used Canon Digital Photo Professional 3.5 for the first time. I converted some RAW files to TIFF with the DPP3.5 and devignetted, expanded, and adjusted color roughly with Photoshop CS2.
This is a single-shot sample, exposure for 4 minutes at ISO 6,400.
full size jpg here, though quality 11/12 for the size limit: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/3071260508_9a377cb619_o.jpg
and this is of exposure for 15 seconds at ISO 6,400.
full size jpg here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/3070424623_d47c16781d_o.jpg
I thought these not so noisy for the sensitivity, though dynamic range is limited compared to ISO 200.
We may be able to go deeper without longer exposure or guiding at this focus range.
Thank you for watching as alwaysl.
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hiro
Canon EOS 5D-AP by IDAS / EOS 5Dmk2 sp2 by Seo san
Takahashi FSQ-106ED with reducer, extender, and "hiro design" off axis guider
Lenses by Canon, Nikon, Leica, and Zeiss (Cosina)
Takahashi EM-200 temma 2 jr / Kenko Skymemo-R
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hiroc/
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nighthound
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/30/06
Posts: 960
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Wow, extremely low noise level at 6400, you must be pleased with these results hiro. Looks very promising for astro work. It's tough to flatten the field across a full-frame sensor. I couldn't do it with my 5D (ver.1) and Sky 90/TAK flattener. I also started getting a lot of color noise so went back to shooting with my 20D which has better red response anyway. The noise level in your sub exposure is many times better than my 5D even at with mine at ISO 1600.
Steve
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justabob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/05/07
Posts: 1685
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Thanks Hiro, this looks like a very versatile camera. Even a modded version coming in far cheaper than a large format ccd.
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http://www.pbase.com/rkn/astro&page=all
Vixen Sphinx SXW
Meade sn6
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Hutech 1000d
Self modded 350d
ST8300c on order
DSI PRO II
Bob
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Kentari
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/19/06
Posts: 794
Loc: Belgium
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That's without any noise reduction?
Oh God; I want one...
Koen
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Darkstar 355 f/5 Dobsonian
Orion UK 8" f/4.5 Newtonian and WO ZS 80 FD on Losmandy GM8
Canon 20D DIY mod with Baader filter
A bunch of lenses: 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5, 17-40mm f/4, 50mm f/1.4, 70-200mm f/2.8, 300mm f/2.8
www.koenvangorp.be
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hiro
sage
Reged: 07/17/07
Posts: 483
Loc: Tokyo
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Thanks all,
Kentari,
The 5D mark 2 made them without any noise reduction.
It's really oh Buddha!! level.
Edited by hiro (11/30/08 06:01 PM)
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Kaizu
sage
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 347
Loc: Finland
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When did you buy your camera? I visited Japan few weeks ago but there was only "wooden" model in Yamada-Denki shop in Ishinomaki. They told that the product should be availlable about half way of November. Here in Finland it's not yet availlable, maybe at the end of December.
Kaizu
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Some thoughts are so wise that they don't make me laugh
http://www.kaiforssen.fi
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Andrew Welsh
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/28/06
Posts: 2489
Loc: Rochester, NY
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Hiro, you're my Hero (sorry for the bad joke)
I had a hunch you would be first to purchase this camera and do an astro-test with it. Thank you very much for posting this. I thought that this camera would only be usable for astro at ISO3200- already a 1-stop improvement over the rest of the canon DSLR's but going to 6400 just makes me want this camera more  Now I can take my 45 second subs at ISO1600 f/2.8 and do it in 11 seconds ISO6400 haha
Thanks for posting the samples, very informative. Did you run any noise reduction in Canon DPP?
Also, where did you get the camera? I've heard of very limited availability worldwide-- did you pre-order? Did you have your name on a waiting list since September?
Finally, you will find live-view a delight for focusing. Especially with an EOS lens. You can micro-adjust the focus zooming in at 10x magnification with your laptop, and not touch the mount or lens. Of course this is impossible with your Leica lens, but of great utility for the 85/1.2 and other EF lenses you have. I find live view indispensable for focusing the 300/2.8.
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LX200 8" classic, f/10, Meade eq. wedge, .63x FF/FR
Canon 40D and 5DMkII, unmodified
Canon EF 200/2L IS, 300/4L non-IS, 100/2.8 Macro, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 35L, 24L, 16-35L and Peleng 8mm fisheye
Orion Apex 102mm (4") Mak-Cass
Pimped out with accessories and bling
My DSLR Astrophotography Webpage and photo bucket with full equipment list
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LLEEGE
Running out of Oxygen
Reged: 03/03/05
Posts: 9080
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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Andrew, Rowe has one in stock with my name on it at the Greece location. I'm sure they have more.
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"Okay! You draw the straws. I'm-a taking the parachute."
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Andrew Welsh
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/28/06
Posts: 2489
Loc: Rochester, NY
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Quote:
Andrew, Rowe has one in stock with my name on it at the Greece location. I'm sure they have more.
That's funny, I put my name on the friggin list at Rowe!!! No call or nothing. Maybe because I called their Brighton store?
Not that I want to pay sales tax either.. plus I have to sell off old lenses etc. to fund it.
You won't be doing an astro test any time soon though... not with our weather 
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LX200 8" classic, f/10, Meade eq. wedge, .63x FF/FR
Canon 40D and 5DMkII, unmodified
Canon EF 200/2L IS, 300/4L non-IS, 100/2.8 Macro, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 35L, 24L, 16-35L and Peleng 8mm fisheye
Orion Apex 102mm (4") Mak-Cass
Pimped out with accessories and bling
My DSLR Astrophotography Webpage and photo bucket with full equipment list
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LLEEGE
Running out of Oxygen
Reged: 03/03/05
Posts: 9080
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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I put my name in at both. Greece called. ??? I haven't decided if I am buying it yet, but I want to take a dark with it and see how it looks. I was thinking of buying it mail order to avoid the sales tax but they seem to be the only vendor with it right now. I keep checking Ritz etal but nothing yet.
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"Okay! You draw the straws. I'm-a taking the parachute."
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justabob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/05/07
Posts: 1685
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They are on the shelf here in the Milwaukee area. I think I will go for the Hutech version when they come out.
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http://www.pbase.com/rkn/astro&page=all
Vixen Sphinx SXW
Meade sn6
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Hutech 1000d
Self modded 350d
ST8300c on order
DSI PRO II
Bob
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LLEEGE
Running out of Oxygen
Reged: 03/03/05
Posts: 9080
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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Quote:
They are on the shelf here in the Milwaukee area. I think I will go for the Hutech version when they come out.
Which one? Do they have a web site?
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"Okay! You draw the straws. I'm-a taking the parachute."
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Gus_Smedstad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/02/06
Posts: 1153
Loc: Boston 42° 16' N 71° 08' W
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Hutech's web site for modified Canon DSLRS is here. Price list is here.
Price for the 5D Mk II with a IR-enhanced filter is still TBA. Probably about $3200, based on 5D II Prices and the usual ~$500 markup for the modification.
One positive thing about the 5D II, it's practical to use a front-filter for terrestrial photography. Front-filters prevent the use of EF-S lenses, so they're of limited use on a 40D any other crop camera. You can of course get regular filters that mount on the front of the lens, but that means a whole set of terrestrial IR filters, which is very expensive.
From what I've seen in other threads, a proper filter is the only real solution to daylight photos with a modified camera. The ones I've seen which have merely used custom color balance still end up too red.
- Gus
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Gus Smedstad image gallery
Orion Atlas 8 EQ-G
Celestron Onyx 80EDF (guiding / widefields).
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
QHY8
Philips SPC900NC
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Strgazr27
Vendor - Deep Space Mods and Composites
Reged: 10/04/04
Posts: 6984
Loc: StonyHill Observatory
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If the custom white balance is shot using a grey card or a Macbeth color chart on a clear day than there should be little to no discernible difference between a filtered image and a non filtered, CWB image. the 2 shots below were both taken with the same camera. The first is no white balance and the second is with a CWB set using grey card under clear skies. Balance looks pretty good to me. They are not the same shot just in case anyone is wondering. The kids held still and put up with me for a change.
Modded 40D - ISO 400 - No Filter (Notice AF works perfectly  )
And this is using a CWB taken with the Grey card.
Your right individual filters can be expensive but a CWB can and does work when taken and applied correctly.
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Bobby
StonyHill Observatory
Skywatcher EQ6 Pro (On it's way)
AT 130 F/6 Prototype
Royce 10" f/4 Astrograph (Under Construction)
Self Modded 40D
70-200 F2.8 L IS
SSAG
YAHOO TMB 130SS Group
Astronomy Technologies Yahoo Group
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LLEEGE
Running out of Oxygen
Reged: 03/03/05
Posts: 9080
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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Quote:
(Notice AF works perfectly )
Yes, that is obvious! 
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"Okay! You draw the straws. I'm-a taking the parachute."
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Strgazr27
Vendor - Deep Space Mods and Composites
Reged: 10/04/04
Posts: 6984
Loc: StonyHill Observatory
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It is but if you read it the camera has no filter over the chip. The only "Filter" so to speak is the L1 or sensor clean glass cover. Based on the older Canons AF should not work in this config. but it functions fine here.
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Bobby
StonyHill Observatory
Skywatcher EQ6 Pro (On it's way)
AT 130 F/6 Prototype
Royce 10" f/4 Astrograph (Under Construction)
Self Modded 40D
70-200 F2.8 L IS
SSAG
YAHOO TMB 130SS Group
Astronomy Technologies Yahoo Group
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kennyrichmond
sage
Reged: 11/29/06
Posts: 412
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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This is extremely useful on a 20Da modded with a Hutech 1a filter. Works better than a grey card, especially at night.
www.lallyphotography.com/store/info.htm
Ken R.
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Irish Setters
Max Mount 20"
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Strgazr27
Vendor - Deep Space Mods and Composites
Reged: 10/04/04
Posts: 6984
Loc: StonyHill Observatory
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Kenny,
You can accomplish the exact some thing with 2 Mr. Coffee, bleached filters rubber banded over the lens. Total cost is about .10 cents. Works very nicely.
As far as not being able to get an accurate WB using a grey card or Macbeth color chart....I guess thousands of Pro's are doing it wrong
I'm just curious but how would the "Lally Cap" improve the color balance over my grey card shot?
CS's
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Bobby
StonyHill Observatory
Skywatcher EQ6 Pro (On it's way)
AT 130 F/6 Prototype
Royce 10" f/4 Astrograph (Under Construction)
Self Modded 40D
70-200 F2.8 L IS
SSAG
YAHOO TMB 130SS Group
Astronomy Technologies Yahoo Group
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kennyrichmond
sage
Reged: 11/29/06
Posts: 412
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Well Gazer,
I can't rubberband coffee can lids over my two of my lenses, but I'll have to try the lid trick with a flash at night. You might have something there. How are you using a grey card at night? I'm still a novice at this.
Ken R.
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Irish Setters
Max Mount 20"
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Gus_Smedstad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/02/06
Posts: 1153
Loc: Boston 42° 16' N 71° 08' W
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It was this thread that convinced me that I didn't want to use a modified DSLR for terresterial photography. The sky in the photos of Mayan pyramids is obviously way off, even with a VLC filter, and you can see the tint in the pyramid itself if you look carefully.
Sometimes you can correct that sort of thing, but often I've found that I can't, when dealing with similar color cast issues. There's not always a good reference gray in the photo, and I really can't see taking a gray card shot before almost every image I take. And I take far, far more photos of terrestrial subjects than I do of DSO's. I have 1000+ exposures from my India trip, and 900+ from my last Scuba vacation.
- Gus
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Gus Smedstad image gallery
Orion Atlas 8 EQ-G
Celestron Onyx 80EDF (guiding / widefields).
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
QHY8
Philips SPC900NC
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