10 replies to this topic

[Jim Waters]

Wide-field image of M20 and M8 with an Askar ACL 200mm f/4 lens and ASI2600MC Pro at 0c.  Twelve each 5 minute subs including calibration frames.  No light pollution filters were used.  Acquizition software was NINA 3.2 Nightly 53, ASTAP and PHD2.  Processed with PixInsight.  I would have liked around 25 subs but I was having equipment issues.

 

AstroBin Image - Click on the image for a larger more detailed view and imaging details.

 

C&C Welcome

 

 

 

[petert913]

Such a beautiful pair !

[Jim Waters]

Thanks petert913.

[klangwolke]

You nailed the star colors and a great write up over Astrobin. That’s one of my favorite pairs. I’m shooting it tonight.

[Jim Waters]

Thanks klangwolke...!  Clear Sky's 

[NiteGuy]

You really nailed it Jim! That's exactly the kind of shot I'm looking to get...not too deep, just right to have a 'natural' look.

 

Just got a new Rokinon 135mm F/1.8 that's pinpoint to 3 corners and just misses by the tiniest 'smidgen' in the 4th corner wide open. Using my Sony A7 mkIII full-frame, I can shoot it at 135mm and see how that looks, then apply Sony's "Clear Image Zoom" function for 203mm effective (it uses an excellent form of in-camera interpolation). I've used that to great success with my 24-105mm F4 zoom and shooting at 158mm effective. My results, from a very dark site, mimic'd your image in tone and contrast but obviously smaller and without all the fine detail that comes with more magnification. BTW, I set the clear image zoom function at 1.5x (max for zero noticeable degradation in tests). The cool thing about that is you end up with a 1.5x larger image, same full-frame resolution (24MP, 6000x4000 pixels, in my case) and zero change in F-stop value!! So, it's absolutely NOT like a "crop" zoom and I can't wait to attack the sky with 203mm F1.8.

 

I'm definitely not as deep into this as yourself and not nearly as knowledgeable, so I don't expect to get your results but you've set a very high bar for me to at least see how close I can come with the equipment I have to work with. So my thanks, and instead of just aiming at the sky, it'll be a little more exciting and certainly more challenging to have something definitive to aim at. Again, very nice job!!!

[Dragon Man]

Fantastic work Jim. The detail is extremely sharp.

 

I am always fascinated by Asterisms and the one in your image (lower left corner) is one that always intrigues me.

It's as if some force lined the stars up 

 

 

[Jim Waters]

You really nailed it Jim! That's exactly the kind of shot I'm looking to get...not too deep, just right to have a 'natural' look.

 

Just got a new Rokinon 135mm F/1.8 that's pinpoint to 3 corners and just misses by the tiniest 'smidgen' in the 4th corner wide open. Using my Sony A7 mkIII full-frame, I can shoot it at 135mm and see how that looks, then apply Sony's "Clear Image Zoom" function for 203mm effective (it uses an excellent form of in-camera interpolation). I've used that to great success with my 24-105mm F4 zoom and shooting at 158mm effective. My results, from a very dark site, mimic'd your image in tone and contrast but obviously smaller and without all the fine detail that comes with more magnification. BTW, I set the clear image zoom function at 1.5x (max for zero noticeable degradation in tests). The cool thing about that is you end up with a 1.5x larger image, same full-frame resolution (24MP, 6000x4000 pixels, in my case) and zero change in F-stop value!! So, it's absolutely NOT like a "crop" zoom and I can't wait to attack the sky with 203mm F1.8.

 

I'm definitely not as deep into this as yourself and not nearly as knowledgeable, so I don't expect to get your results but you've set a very high bar for me to at least see how close I can come with the equipment I have to work with. So my thanks, and instead of just aiming at the sky, it'll be a little more exciting and certainly more challenging to have something definitive to aim at. Again, very nice job!!!

Thanks for your comments NiteGuy.  Looking forward to seeing your images with the Sony and Rokinon 135.

[Jim Waters]

Fantastic work Jim. The detail is extremely sharp.

 

I am always fascinated by Asterisms and the one in your image (lower left corner) is one that always intrigues me.

It's as if some force lined the stars up 

 

Jims-trail-of-stars.jpg

Interesting.  Thanks for pointing it out Dragon Man.  Thanks for the comments too.

[Mark Strollo]

Great work, Jim.

Just returned to Vermont from a family visit to South Carolina.  Already missing the elevated views of Sagittarius and Scorpius.

Have a look at 

https://rubinobserva...k/trifid-lagoon    

to see what can be done with a billion dollar telescope with 3,200 megapixels. 

[Jim Waters]

Great work, Jim.

Just returned to Vermont from a family visit to South Carolina.  Already missing the elevated views of Sagittarius and Scorpius.

Have a look at 

https://rubinobserva...k/trifid-lagoon    

to see what can be done with a billion dollar telescope with 3,200 megapixels. 

This scope will produce some impressive images and research data.  Thanks for the comments Mark.