M42

Hi guys! I was out last night doing some obseving with all the Messiers ye told me were best for viewing! I cracked the camera and went to the orion nebula!

matthewcahill.phanfare.com/show/external...48/12146056/file.jpg

I was happy with the results!
Equipment: Lx90 F10 With 300D
Exposure was 15 secs. on 1600 ISO.

It was my first go at it so be kind! It was a rough photo! There will be better ones! No processing was done! I can even say whats wrong with it myself! Out of focus!I still dont know the right settings on the camera to get the best results!
Anyway im still thrilled with the result although it looked better on my camera!

Bring on the constuctive criticism!
Matthew

For a single image exposure, you've done very well Matthew! Really well. I am sure you have a larger size than this one for us to see what the stars are really like (trailing, vignetting, even colour balance etc), but the nebla has come out very well. And, with no processing! The only 'down' side I can notice myself is perhaps the stars in the centre (Trapezium) look like they would almost become overexposed had you taken a longer single exposure.

Seanie.

You're getting the bug too Matthew
Way better than the first few I did of Orion & your focus looks good to me.

Did you try any 30 second or longer shots or does trailing result?

Since you're imaging at F10 without a focal reducer it takes longer for the camera to gain light. You'd double (or more) the amount of light hitting the camera with one, allowing shorter exposures.

Trev

Thanks guys! It started trailing at 25 seconds! Not everything was bang on! The scope was slightly unbalanced,it was in alt az mode, i had an extra weight on the scope because of the camera but i wasnt sure where on its rail i should put it! I have a wedge so that will help! I will buy a reducer in the near future! As you can see were selling the other scope! The higher resolution was WORSE! :shock: Keep the comments coming please! Constructive criticism!

I think that 1600 is too fast, you get less colour noise at 800 and 400.

Downside is longer exposure time, but it is I think worth it.

Nice image.

Later,

Jed.

Matthew,
I think you and I were up to the same last night.
I also found the iso1600 very noisy but anything less and no nebulosity
anything more than 20 sec and star trails.
Have you thought of polar mounting it?