Criticism Requested

Is this what one would expect from 80 frames and a handful of dark, bias, and flat frames (DSS)? No tracking, five second exposures at f/2.5, ISO 1600. Conditions were thin, drifting clouds (shown in the second picture), and some light pollution. Also, does the processing seem adequate?

Clicking on the first picture will bring up a 2000X1500 enlargement.

IMAGE LINK: https://www.flickr.com …@N03/1555381213​0/sizes/o/

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/pGC8​UE

I would say you did an amazing job with that level of cloud cover and LP, I would be proud of that.

Thanks for the comment. In the future, I'm hoping, after a FROPA, to add some clean lights to the file to see what can be done with minimal equipment. I've learned processing is a big part of this craft. It's the first time I've used curves on an image.

Very clear (windy and cold) last night. Fifty lights, no supporting frames. 50D, 50mm f/1.8 II, 5 seconds at f/2.2, ISO 3200.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/pRvz​8h

That seems reasonable, actually, better then I'd expect for 5s exposures.

Is 5s your absolute max without showing drift? Getting the exposure time up would be very helpful. Maybe consider building a barndoor tracker.

It's best to expose until the histogram separates from the left side. This means the signal is separate from the read noise. That should be the primary goal. Sometimes equipment limitations get in the way.

Footbag wrote in post #17285361
Is 5s your absolute max without showing drift?

Don't know. Just going by the rule of thumb. The atmosphere was unusually clear last night, though.