Ralph Conway wrote:
This is a real fantastic and wonderfull shot to me, Fred.
Amazing quality. Please tell us how you got it. How much is it cropped?
Ralph
I shot this at 500mm FL since I was using my Canon 6D. Most astrophotographers using SLR lenses instead of a telescope, use with a crop camera like the Canon Rebel series since there is no need to acquire expensive super telephoto lenses to get close to their targets. However, the benefit of the full frame 6D is super clean files at high ISO when comparing to what you get from the sensor of crop cameras. That means less stacked images needed.
Here is a picture of my very portable set-up using a Astrotrac mount by itself (without using a guiding scope)
Without a guiding scope you will only be able to capture one image and you can get something like this for about 60 seconds max.
Here is a picture showing the Astrotrac and a 50mm guiding scope (Using the 400mm f/5.6L this time)
The above set-up allows you to stay on your target for many hours and capture many images for later stacking in software. The benefit is lower S/N ratio giving you the ability to stretch your file further in post-processing bringing detail while keeping noise as low as possible.
The picture (posted on this thread) was the result of 12 images of 3 minutes each at ISO 1250 @ f/4.5 stacked using DeepSkyStacker and their respective darks, flats and bias shots for calibration.
It sounds all complicated but once you get everything set-up, it's addictive. This was my first try using this gear and I'm very surprised from what can be achieved with a DSLR and regular lenses.
Fred
Fred Miranda wrote: Here is a picture showing the Astrotrac and a 50mm guiding scope (Using the 400mm f/5.6L this time)
The above set-up allows you to stay on your target for many hours and capture many images for later stacking in software. The benefit is lower S/N ratio giving you the ability to stretch your file further in post-processing bringing detail while keeping noise as low as possible.
Fred
Fred,
what is that rail and what is holding the scope to the rail
Brand/magnification of the scope?
Time for a astro party in the desert?
i'll bring the beer
Just got 6d and wonder if I need 85 f1.8 or 100f2. Seems to me from these images, 100f2 is great. If you have 85 f1.8, which one you like most? Thanks.
Robert
michael49 wrote:
I've owned the 5d, 5d2 and several crop Canon bodies, but so far the 6d is my favorite. I got mine "used" here (made FM buy/sell history with the first used 6d sale! ).
AF is quick and accurate. Feels much more responsive than the 5d or the 5d2 (likely due to shorter mirror blackout). Feels better in the hand than any other Canon I've used. Love the on/off switch near the mode dial. Mode dial locks! Auto-ISO lets you set a minimum shutter speed - finally!!
Shutter is quiet and much nicer sounding than 5d/5d2.
What iso setting were you using here? I'm surprised to see what looks like a fair amount of noise in your shots. Maybe it's a result of uploading settings?
Hi Lighthawk, these were shot at 1600 Iso with bad light and underexposed, hence the amount of noise that can be seen in the photos. I have yet to get used to that the 6D in many aspects is not like the D800 that I used before...
This thread has been extremely useful resource for me when I was deciding which camera body to buy. Now as I have owned 6D for couple of weeks, I'd like to contribute with some pics of my home town.
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