A crack at NG7000 : TEst of modded DSLR and clip filter

[Catanonia]

Really a proper test of my Baader IR modded Canon 350D and Astromic CLS LP clip filter working together on the American Nebula NGC7000

Might try this with wider field of view (ED80 compared to the ED120)

4 x 5 min subs with same darks.

[umbra]

Looks good. It looks like that clip in astronomik filter works pretty well. I been pondering whether to buy that filter or not. I wanted to get one of those as I didn't want to add more focal length to my setup with a screw on since I have a Moonlite focuser on my scope. Plus it allows me to use the body with regular EOS lenses. I have an old Orion Sky Glow filter and it isn't very good for imaging since it cuts down too much stuff. Works great for visual though.

Is there any reason you don't bump the ISO to 1600? Is it because of the noise? I see you're shooting with a Rebel XT. I used to use one of those but it wasn't modded...

[Catanonia]

It is a very good filter. I tried a Skywatcher 2inch LP filter and it cut out too much of galaxy structure as well as turning the whole image very blue.

This is great, clips into the body of the camera and also protects against dust on the sensor, a nice bonus.

I use ISO800 as it is believed to be the optimum for a Canon 350D for noise over 3 - 8 minute exposures. Seems to work very well.

I also have the IR filter removed in the 350D wand replaced with a Baader glass filter to keep the same focal lengths. This and the clip work very well together.

My light polution isn't really bad, not city like, but definately would only allow me to take about 8 min exposures before I got pinky / white raw files. With this filter, so far 12mins and been great.

[umbra]

Nice! Thanks for the info. I forgot about the bonus of protecting the sensor from dust. I never really worried about the dust mainly because after I took my 40D apart to mod it I saw that the actual sensor is protected by a clear piece of glass as well as the Baader filter I installed. But the less dust into the body the better. You've pretty much made up my mind on the Astronomik. The light pollution around here isn't so bad either, unless my neighbor is having a rodeo a couple of miles away from me :D. I can still make out the stars of Ursa Minor with my naked eye. Once thats gone, I know the light pollution is bad.

BTW, nice shots on your site. I am in the process of building a roll off obs as well as a concrete pier in my yard. It is a big PITA rolling my CPC1100 out then setting everything up. Plus since I live in FL, rain can come at any time.

[Catanonia]

mmm, FL, but the rain is warm and brief in FL. Well that is my memory of it.

Does humidity cause an issue for you in FL ?



Nice! Thanks for the info. I forgot about the bonus of protecting the sensor from dust. I never really worried about the dust mainly because after I took my 40D apart to mod it I saw that the actual sensor is protected by a clear piece of glass as well as the Baader filter I installed. But the less dust into the body the better. You've pretty much made up my mind on the Astronomik. The light pollution around here isn't so bad either, unless my neighbor is having a rodeo a couple of miles away from me :D. I can still make out the stars of Ursa Minor with my naked eye. Once thats gone, I know the light pollution is bad.

BTW, nice shots on your site. I am in the process of building a roll off obs as well as a concrete pier in my yard. It is a big PITA rolling my CPC1100 out then setting everything up. Plus since I live in FL, rain can come at any time.

[umbra]

mmm, FL, but the rain is warm and brief in FL. Well that is my memory of it.

Does humidity cause an issue for you in FL ?

Lol...indeed it does. I have a DewBuster connected to 4 dew straps on my scope along with an aluminum Astrozap dew shield on my SCT year round. I keep my scope in the garage and open the door to it when I think I'll be using the scope so the temp stabilizes a bit. Before I got the DewBuster controller I would have to call it a night in 2-3 hours because of the dew. I live on the tip top of the Everglades (about 1 mile from the reserve) so it rains out here every afternoon after 3pm during the summer and then of course it evaporates into the sky at night which sometimes affects my seeing and transparency. This is what I usually see at the end of the day lol (I took this pic this past weekend):

http://www.tristanmolina.org/picz/Lightning_FCO.jpg