Milky Way Workflow/LR--Elements

Does anyone have a good start in either of these programs? I've shot many shots in the last couple of nights but by the time I get the MW to show, I've introduced too much noise. I've been using LR 2, but I also have elements 8.

Maybe it's impractical to do this with a single exposure?
I'm shooting a 450d with a 11-16. If I up the ISO to 1600 I can never reduce the noise enough.

Are you using the full aperture of the lens? If so, then you're going to want to do some stacking - Google Deep Sky Stacker. It's free and easy to use.

Hi Frank
Yes shooting wide open 2.8.
Thanks for the comments.

The high ISO limitations of your camera is working against you for this task. 1600 is higher than I would shoot with my 20D during the warm months. To minimizing thermal noise I stay at 800 in temps over 70F or so and raise it to 1600 in temps lower. The sweet spot for my camera is in the 20-40F range, especially for repeated exposures and periodic LCD previewing.

Stacking will bring the noise down as will subtracting dark frames in your stack. Keep in mind that the stack will only be beneficial to the details you're after if each exposure contains enough data to build on. If your exposures are too short stacking might help with noise but it won't enhance the good stuff if the good stuff isn't there in each subexposure. I would test shooting wide open at 800 ISO and play with DSS. Save out a high rez TIF (if possible, I don't use DSS) and open that in Elements. Tinker with curves to see if you can coax out some addition detail and/or stars. Hope this helps some.

Thank you for a great post, it all helps.
I was shooting at 10,000', temps in the lower 50's.
I shot most at iso 800, 20 sec. exp.

oldno7 wrote in post #10701251
Thank you for a great post, it all helps.
I was shooting at 10,000', temps in the lower 50's.
I shot most at iso 800, 20 sec. exp.

You're welcome. The skies must be amazing at that altitude. If you could manage to pick up a tracking platform that was very portable you could get some serious data to work with up there.

Here's an example:
http://www.optcorp.com …t.aspx?pid=439-1287-14905

Thanks again, Steve
I think tracking or stacking might be my destiny.
Although I must admit, I am hopeful(and still trying) to PP a single exposure to some degree of competance.