· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Astrophotography and Sketching >> Beginning and Intermediate Imaging Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Wilki super member Reged: 03/15/10 Loc: Germany First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar       #5242011 - 05/27/12 11:09 AM Attachment (95 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I know that a lot of people have been wondering about the Celstron Nightscape CCD. I decided to purchase one based on the few reviews out there and the fact that I paid $1350 with a 10% discount. These are my first images EVER! The only processing was with the AstroFX software, which only took a few minutes with each photo. I used darks and bias frams, but I haven't taken any flats as plan on trying it out tonight before it gets dark. I know they are not the greatest, but for a first attempt I'm happy. I didn't center M51 as I was just trying it out, also I took M101 using the quarter center frame feature. I would have liked to get a full frame shot, but I was just trying out the features of the camera. M51 was 20x30sec, M101 30x30sec. I'm sure they would look a lot better with flats. Also, I think I need to do a little collimating with the hyperstar, the top left corner has some stars elongated. I just want everyone to know how quick and easy it is. I saw on another forum that some were having problems with the software crashing during editing. I didn't have any problems, I used it on a two-year old HP laptop, windows 7 64 bit. Everything is super easy to use. Post Extras:       Wilki super member Reged: 03/15/10 Loc: Germany Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: Wilki]       #5242015 - 05/27/12 11:10 AM Attachment (75 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here is the second image. Post Extras:       PatHolland Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/11/09 Loc: Clever, Missouri Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: Wilki]       #5242036 - 05/27/12 11:20 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Not bad Chris. In fact, most people would be thrilled to count those two images as their very first images. Please keep us posted on the Nightscape camera. As you stated, there is precious little out there in the way of reviews. Post Extras:       tjay Carpal Tunnel Reged: 02/03/07 Loc: just outside of Toronto Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: PatHolland]       #5242096 - 05/27/12 12:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nicely done Chris, especially for your very first images. I'm sure many people will be interested in how well the Nightscape works out for you. Post Extras:       shrevestan professor emeritus Reged: 04/19/12 Loc: Shreveport, LA Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: tjay]       #5242353 - 05/27/12 02:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great start! Gotta love hyperstar! Post Extras:       JoseBorrero Carpal Tunnel Reged: 09/04/09 Loc: MI Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: shrevestan]       #5242684 - 05/27/12 06:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Kinda fast eh! Post Extras:       oldstargazer Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/03/11 Loc: Western Oklahoma Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: JoseBorrero]       #5242857 - 05/27/12 08:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Make me think about getting that instead of the canon 60da! Thanks for posting. Post Extras:       NorthBoundTrain Carpal Tunnel Reged: 11/23/11 Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: oldstargazer]       #5243184 - 05/28/12 01:44 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Terrific start! Post Extras:       Wilki super member Reged: 03/15/10 Loc: Germany Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: NorthBoundTrain]       #5243284 - 05/28/12 04:37 AM Attachment (42 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The original photo of M51 posted above looks a little grainy after posting. I think it is because it is such a low res copy, the original looks much better. Anyway, I didn't get a chance to image last night as clouds rolled in, but I did manage to take a few flats. Below is the first photo with a few flats included. After stacking I did a quick run through processing with AstroFX, really only took about a minute. The flats made a noticable improvement. I really can't stress how easy the software is to use. Highly recommend it and the camera! Post Extras:       tjay Carpal Tunnel Reged: 02/03/07 Loc: just outside of Toronto Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: Wilki]       #5244755 - 05/28/12 09:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Chris, The flats helped a lot. Much better now. Post Extras:       Wilki super member Reged: 03/15/10 Loc: Germany Re: First time imager, Nightscape w/ 11" hyperstar [Re: tjay]       #5245023 - 05/29/12 01:33 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks! I really wish I would have take M101 full frame. I probably won't be able to image for awhile. Starting next week, I will be gone most of the summer except for a few weeks in July. Living in Germany, there isn't a lot of usable darkness at my latitude in the summer anyway. If anyone has questions about the camera, please feel free to PM me, but I probably won't post anything until fall. 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