M31/T1i/50mm/f1.4/via DSS (thx atomsmurf)

Thx atomsmurf, your M31 capturemotivated me to try with almost same set-up as you, I used T1i/Canon 50mm 1.4 prime.

My method: Manual focus on Jupiter (got as small/defined circle as possible), found M31, used ISO800, 4 sec exp, f1/4 (wide open!).
133 light frames, 31 dark frames, 20 bias frames:

1 light frame with exif data for reference straight from camera:

Whats your local light pollution like?

I wish i could see M31 from New Zealand I would try the same shot. I could but i would need a clear view low to the north.

I'm about 35 miles from Detroit, on edge of the suburbs, light pollution is there but I can still faintly see the Milky way and M31 with naked eye, barely.
These clear/crisp/cool nights are perfect.

Whats causes the haloes around all your stars ? I noticed this on astrosmurfs images also . If you can get rid of the haloes then you might be able to see how much true data you have . Haloes do make objects project bigger than they really are even when stacking many images .

Its does the same thing if i go out and use my 50mm f/1.4. I would think its an over overexposure of the brightes stars.

Celestron wrote in post #11044319
Whats causes the haloes around all your stars ? I noticed this on astrosmurfs images also . If you can get rid of the haloes then you might be able to see how much true data you have . Haloes do make objects project bigger than they really are even when stacking many images .

megrac wrote in post #11045992
Its does the same thing if i go out and use my 50mm f/1.4. I would think its an over overexposure of the brightes stars.

I tend to agree slight overexposure seems the cause.
If I'm not too sleepy tonight I'll re-shoot, using same settings but at 3 sec exposure instead of 4 sec exposure, that will be 25% less. I'll take more images to keep total exposure time around 9 minutes. This should also give more crisp image for crop as well, less drift.

mtbdudex wrote in post #11046450
I tend to agree slight overexposure seems the cause.
If I'm not too sleepy tonight I'll re-shoot, using same settings but at 3 sec exposure instead of 4 sec exposure, that will be 25% less. I'll take more images to keep total exposure time around 9 minutes. This should also give more crisp image for crop as well, less drift.

True it will on the drift for sure . I look forward to seeing the difference between the first original image and the new one .

Celestron wrote in post #11047333
True it will on the drift for sure . I look forward to seeing the difference between the first original image and the new one .

I wanted to re-take M31 with less exposure time to solve the halo issue, 10/5 was 4 sec, my choices were 3.2 or 2.5 sec on the T1i, I choose 2.5 sec

New images taken Oct 7th 4:30am-ish
Single un-processed image with EXIF data

M33 pinwheel galaxy.
You're doing real well with this technique.

This is pretty amazing. I don't think I've ever seen anyone attempt galaxies with a 50mm lens and I didn't expect to see these kind of results. Really great work. Seeing spiral arms on M33 is surprising to say the least. Cool.

SteveInNZ wrote in post #11070679
M33 pinwheel galaxy.
You're doing real well with this technique.

Nighthound wrote in post #11070814
This is pretty amazing. I don't think I've ever seen anyone attempt galaxies with a 50mm lens and I didn't expect to see these kind of results. Really great work. Seeing spiral arms on M33 is surprising to say the least. Cool.

Thx, I'm getting as much mileage from equipment I own, and learning imaging techniques and simply the sky itself.
I find that as many books/magazines I read, unless I really make an effort to capture some portion of the sky I just plain don't learn/remember it.

I will be getting either the recently announced 70-300 L or 100-400L, my next attempt for M31/M33 will be at the widest aperture on those lens widest zoom (70mm+f4 or 100mm + f4.5) and short time (2.5 sec) with many exposure again. I've negotiated 1 lens in 2011 with the wife (tax rebate), those 2 are on my short list.

I might try M31 with the 15-85 at 85/f5.6 one more time, but for short exposure that is really limiting the image, but again I can just take many exposures. The 50mm prime seemed to give such a better image than my last attempt at M31 with the 15-85 @ 85mm, maybe I was just slightly off focus?

A 'scope is not really in the budget until 2012, still I'll challenge myself to use my equipment and keep learning the sky, lot of neat stuff above.