ASI 533 MC Pro First Light (well, maybe 1/2 light) and Impressions

[STEVE333]

Congrats on getting through all your goals in one night. It's so nice when things work out once in a while.

Nice image for your first one. Look forward to many more images from your new camera.

Cheers,

Steve

[Juno16]

Congrats on getting through all your goals in one night. It's so nice when things work out once in a while.

Nice image for your first one. Look forward to many more images from your new camera.

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Steve,

Out again tonight just to get a feel for ADU and exposure.

Very interesting indeed under a full (97%) moon using a Optolong L-enhance filter. Just messing around.

Thanks sir!

[STEVE333]

Nice that you are able to get out again. Hope it goes well.

Steve

[umasscrew39]

Nice start, Jim. I had this camera right when it first came out and I took some really nice images with it. Very low read noise so nice clean images. The Crescent is a tough one, especially during strong moonlight. The sweet spot settings for me were a gain of 100 and offset of 50, with and without filters. I never used unity gain. You will really enjoy using it- congrats!!

Bruce

[umasscrew39]

Jim- I forgot to mention that I also used the IDAS LPS D-1 filter at one time. If you really want to bring out the color in the emission nebulae with this camera, try the Optolong L-Enhance or L-Extreme filters. The Ha will really pop out with both.

Bruce

[Juno16]

Jim- I forgot to mention that I also used the IDAS LPS D-1 filter at one time. If you really want to bring out the color in the emission nebulae with this camera, try the Optolong L-Enhance or L-Extreme filters. The Ha will really pop out with both.

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for the info. It just turns out that I received my L-Enhance the day before yesterday.

I used it last night just messing around with the camera. I set up even though the moon was at 97% illumination. I never try to image when the moon is over about 60%, but recently the weather has been so poor, I’ll get out when I can. I am trying to get familiar with the camera and exposure settings and still need to do a lot to get it right.

Even with the blasting moon, I shot some 60 second exposures of the East Veil with the ASI 533 and the L-Enhance.
I only had 22 min of exposures because I forgot to save the framing point in APT, so after the meridian flip, I moved to the Cocoon Nebula just for kicks. I’ve been working on a project outside all day and haven’t had time to take a look at the data.

The L-Enhance is amazing and so is the camera. At least to me, I was impressed with the quickly processed 22 minute East Veil uncalibrated image. No tweaks, sharpening or denoise. A conservative and quick process. Its not a “good” image, but considering the 97% moon, I was happy with it.

Still have lots to learn about exposure. I am going to post to another thread viewtopic.php?p=115510#p115510 my data in case someone might have any ideas on exposure.

Thanks again for your responses Bruce! I appreciate it!

[Greenman]

Hi Jim a bit late to the party, [thanks first URTI of the autumn]; you seem to be getting the hang of the 533 pretty quickly to me. As Graeme says sorting new techniques out is almost as much fun as, ummm rapidly developing clouds.

Still, this strange obsession we all have, converts struggle to excitement when finally we succeed. I come in late, cold - and oddly punching the air!

[Jockinireland]

Jim- I forgot to mention that I also used the IDAS LPS D-1 filter at one time. If you really want to bring out the color in the emission nebulae with this camera, try the Optolong L-Enhance or L-Extreme filters. The Ha will really pop out with both.

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for the info. It just turns out that I received my L-Enhance the day before yesterday.

I used it last night just messing around with the camera. I set up even though the moon was at 97% illumination. I never try to image when the moon is over about 60%, but recently the weather has been so poor, I’ll get out when I can. I am trying to get familiar with the camera and exposure settings and still need to do a lot to get it right.

Even with the blasting moon, I shot some 60 second exposures of the East Veil with the ASI 533 and the L-Enhance.
I only had 22 min of exposures because I forgot to save the framing point in APT, so after the meridian flip, I moved to the Cocoon Nebula just for kicks. I’ve been working on a project outside all day and haven’t had time to take a look at the data.

The L-Enhance is amazing and so is the camera. At least to me, I was impressed with the quickly processed 22 minute East Veil uncalibrated image. No tweaks, sharpening or denoise. A conservative and quick process. Its not a “good” image, but considering the 97% moon, I was happy with it.



Still have lots to learn about exposure. I am going to post to another thread viewtopic.php?p=115510#p115510 my data in case someone might have any ideas on exposure.

Thanks again for your responses Bruce! I appreciate it!

Hi Jim,

I had not seen thgat you had a new image in this thread until now.

But that is an ASTONISHING image for 22 minutes and minimal processing -

looking forward to seeing more.

David

[Juno16]

Hi Jim,

I had not seen that you had a new image in this thread until now.

But that is an ASTONISHING image for 22 minutes and minimal processing -

looking forward to seeing more.

David

Me too David!

Thanks. I thought that it was pretty cool for 22 minutes and a 97% illuminated moon. This was my first test shot with the L-eNhance.

This wasn't my first light image with the camera (well, I really still don't have a good effort at an image yet). I shot this on 9/26 with an 80% illuminated moon. I think that I posted it somewhere, but I don't remember what thread. It is the Crescent Nebula with the IDAS LPS-D1 filter. I had no idea what I was doing, and actually shot it at a gain of 300 completely by accident. I meant to shoot it at unity gain (100).

60x60 sec (an hour) of a "test" shot. Again, no darks, flats, bias or dark flats.

Not great, but not horrible considering the moon, low integration, and mishaps.

I tried to get out a few nights ago for a "real" session shooting the Cave Nebula, but gave up after 40 minutes when the moon came up and it was shrouded in a layer of clouds. I was wondering why my subs were bouncing all over the place!

Instead, I worked on getting better at focusing and auto focus.

Looks like I will be out of commission for awhile because another storm is heading this way!

Thanks for the nice comment David!

[Jockinireland]

Me too David!

Thanks. I thought that it was pretty cool for 22 minutes and a 97% illuminated moon. This was my first test shot with the L-eNhance.

This wasn't my first light image with the camera (well, I really still don't have a good effort at an image yet). I shot this on 9/26 with an 80% illuminated moon. I think that I posted it somewhere, but I don't remember what thread. It is the Crescent Nebula with the IDAS LPS-D1 filter. I had no idea what I was doing, and actually shot it at a gain of 300 completely by accident. I meant to shoot it at unity gain (100).

60x60 sec (an hour) of a "test" shot. Again, no darks, flats, bias or dark flats.



Not great, but not horrible considering the moon, low integration, and mishaps.

I tried to get out a few nights ago for a "real" session shooting the Cave Nebula, but gave up after 40 minutes when the moon came up and it was shrouded in a layer of clouds. I was wondering why my subs were bouncing all over the place!

Instead, I worked on getting better at focusing and auto focus.

Looks like I will be out of commission for awhile because another storm is heading this way!

Thanks for the nice comment David!

You are breaking my heart here Jim - and scaring the life out of my wallet :twitch: - seeing these results (that crescent as a "test shot" is amazing) its really pushing me to bring forward the Cooled Camera Schedule!!!!!!!!!!

[Juno16]

You are breaking my heart here Jim - and scaring the life out of my wallet :twitch: - seeing these results (that crescent as a "test shot" is amazing) its really pushing me to bring forward the Cooled Camera Schedule!!!!!!!!!!

Truly sorry for that!

I never planned to mod my dslr. Then, I saw the amazing results! I was happy with it until the LP took a notch upward.

I started a "fund" for the family to give me "Help" for birthdays, Father's Day, Christmas, and other donations to get the astro camera. I finally got tired of it and threw in the rest (most of it).

I don't get that many good nights here and with the dominating LP, I had to do something. The new camera has better sensitivity than the dslr (QE) and looks to be a big help getting the most out of a decent night. Of course, the L-eNhance is awesome during a bright moon and I am sure will do wonders on a moonless night for shooting emission nebulae. I just have to get better at star color with the L-eNhance. I understand why the colors are off and found a way in Startools to reduce the effect (instead of red and white stars, I can get yellow and white) using a HOO identity with a mask in the Color Module. The filter is just doing what it is designed to do!

You do a super job with your dslr David! One day, the move will probably happen though!

[ic_1101]

Congrats on the new camera and first light Jim! That L-enhance filter will really extend your imaging opportunities. Looking forward to more of your captures with the 533.

[yobbo89]

looking very nice on the new images you have uploaded !

[Juno16]

Thanks everyone!


I really cannot wait to give this camera a real run. I have to wait until this bad boy is over though! It has us on pins and needles (I am on the eastern most part of the "cone" right now, but it has a long way to go!

This is one bad dude and will change the lives of the people in its path. So late in the year! 2020 has been something!

[bobharmony]

Good luck (again), Jim. You guys have had more than your share this year. Now just work on avoiding the eastern side of the storm. Should be simple, eh?

Bob

[JayTee]

My goodness! The Gulf coast has just been a Hurricane magnet this season. Delta could come ashore as a Cat 4 hurricane. Lives changed is an understatement, more like lives erased!

Stay safe and get out early if you have to,
JT