Hello AB friends/ colleagues here,
Let me start with a disclaimer: This is my first post in a forum. I have been little too hesitant to post this here because already too many questions on the same topic have been asked and answered. I have gone through most of them and I am still not sure if the upgrade path I am planning to take is right or not, especially considering my own experience level. I am aware that there will be no absolute right or wrong decision but considering your experience it is only prudent that I seek out help and feedback of a community of which I am a very junior (and a proud) member. Or at least I would like to think that way. I am entirely self-taught in the sense that I have learned AP from internet. Astrobin is the biggest contributor in that.
So here goes the narrative:
Two years back I started doing AP with an ancient Canon EOS40D (unmodded) and kit lens (zoom lens of some specification) on a tripod. There is nothing much to say about those days. I had a 90/500 mm achro refractor and an 8" inch dob - which I used for some untracked planetary and lunar images with a ASI120MC-S. However, buying Samyang 135mm F/2 lens and a visit to a dark site (bortle 4) in October 2021 turned out to be a game changer for me. I got decentresults (for untrackedtripod based AP) which exceeded my own expectations. This is when DSO imaging became my obsession of sorts and since then till now I am learning and trying to get better at it.
The next upgrade was obvious one. Buying a mount. I have an Iotron GEM-28 which I purchased in June, 2022. It was available and with a restricted budget seemed to be the best choice at the time.
It is easy to go on a spending spree and buy more and more equipments when it comes to astrophotography. There is a good chance that one will end up very frustrated because either the equipment is not suited for your conditions or the user has not reached the level to operate it. So I wanted to move slowly. One step at a time. Understanding camera sensors/ mount/ imaging/ calibration/ processing a bit better. I have realised with each image I am getting better at understanding the processes behind each step. My current workflow is better than my earlier trial and error method.
In the following months I added a guidescope, a cheap CLS filter and a mini PC. On the software side: I use SIRIL, Affinity Photos and Astro-Pixel Processor. I have used Pixinsight trial version and I believe that at some point I will purchase Pixinsight. By far it is the best processing software. If you want to check out then here is the ready link to my profile: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Mintakaite/
The current day:
Last week I got my DSLR modded. One camera expert was ready to modify the sensor and he performed a full-spectrum modification on the camera. To be honest, I only wanted a simple Ha mod on the camera but for whatever reason he mistook it for full spectrum and did the operation. Initially I was slightly miffed with the whole thing but now secretly I am happy because I can use different filters and shoot specific emission bands. This also gave me an opportunity to "up my game" (for the lack of better phrase) and start inching towards a proper not-so-widefield DSO Imaging.
The current plan and also the dilemma:
Option 1: Get a telescope like Askar 30/500 or Sharpstar 61 EDPHII with a 1x flattener. Use the modded DSLR with duo band (L-enhance/extreme) and light pollution (L-Pro or any CLS-CCD) filters. Get better at it and save enough and get a ASI533MC-Pro (or its sensor from other vendors). Keep 135mm F/2. Also keep modded DSLR for its APSC size sensor for winter nights. [Yes, summers are coming and for my part of the world they are simply horrifying with temperature rising to 45-48 degree celsius]
I know 40D EOS is from some generations ago.. it is very very NOISY and makes everything very difficult.. and therefore, the second option:
Option 2: Get ZWO ASI533MC-Pro and use it on Samyang 135 mm with duo band/ light pollution filters. Get to know the camera. Process data and see what comes out of it. [Honestly, I am slightly bored of 9x6 (approx) degree FOV with my APSC size sensor. Target list is very narrow. With 533MC- Pro I will have FOV of 5.7 x 5.7 degree. A decent upgrade but still very wide.] Then add a telescope to your arsenal. Preferably 70-80 mm, f/5-6-7 APO-refractor.
For the Newtonian imaging Scopes: I would love to have 6" f/4 or 5 newt (the level which my mount can handle). I have an 8" f/6 dob for visual use. So I know basics of collimation and other differences with a refractor. I am not exactly scared of it but I have a very busy professional life (a criminal defence lawyer
) and I want to reduce my set up and take down time as much as possible. I guess, that is an absolute requirement.
An upgrade to monochrome camera is certainly on the horizon. But not now. Perhaps in a year or two.
So please see my two year work and critique it and let me know your thoughts. Which option you would have chosen with the benefit of hindsight? Or both the options are not advisable.
Please note 8 out of 10 times I would be shooting from Bortle 8/9 skies. Budget is certainly a consideration. Also, I am not hunting for any compliments. As I said I am a criminal defence lawyer - our ideas being dismissed is a daily affair. I would be less tolerant if only all my clients were innocent as they claim.
If you have reached here. Thank you in advance. Any feedback/ comment here would be much appreciated and help me make better decisions.
Stay healthy and Clear Skies!
Rajat
Let me start with a disclaimer: This is my first post in a forum. I have been little too hesitant to post this here because already too many questions on the same topic have been asked and answered. I have gone through most of them and I am still not sure if the upgrade path I am planning to take is right or not, especially considering my own experience level. I am aware that there will be no absolute right or wrong decision but considering your experience it is only prudent that I seek out help and feedback of a community of which I am a very junior (and a proud) member. Or at least I would like to think that way. I am entirely self-taught in the sense that I have learned AP from internet. Astrobin is the biggest contributor in that.
So here goes the narrative:
Two years back I started doing AP with an ancient Canon EOS40D (unmodded) and kit lens (zoom lens of some specification) on a tripod. There is nothing much to say about those days. I had a 90/500 mm achro refractor and an 8" inch dob - which I used for some untracked planetary and lunar images with a ASI120MC-S. However, buying Samyang 135mm F/2 lens and a visit to a dark site (bortle 4) in October 2021 turned out to be a game changer for me. I got decentresults (for untrackedtripod based AP) which exceeded my own expectations. This is when DSO imaging became my obsession of sorts and since then till now I am learning and trying to get better at it.
The next upgrade was obvious one. Buying a mount. I have an Iotron GEM-28 which I purchased in June, 2022. It was available and with a restricted budget seemed to be the best choice at the time.
It is easy to go on a spending spree and buy more and more equipments when it comes to astrophotography. There is a good chance that one will end up very frustrated because either the equipment is not suited for your conditions or the user has not reached the level to operate it. So I wanted to move slowly. One step at a time. Understanding camera sensors/ mount/ imaging/ calibration/ processing a bit better. I have realised with each image I am getting better at understanding the processes behind each step. My current workflow is better than my earlier trial and error method.
In the following months I added a guidescope, a cheap CLS filter and a mini PC. On the software side: I use SIRIL, Affinity Photos and Astro-Pixel Processor. I have used Pixinsight trial version and I believe that at some point I will purchase Pixinsight. By far it is the best processing software. If you want to check out then here is the ready link to my profile: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Mintakaite/
The current day:
Last week I got my DSLR modded. One camera expert was ready to modify the sensor and he performed a full-spectrum modification on the camera. To be honest, I only wanted a simple Ha mod on the camera but for whatever reason he mistook it for full spectrum and did the operation. Initially I was slightly miffed with the whole thing but now secretly I am happy because I can use different filters and shoot specific emission bands. This also gave me an opportunity to "up my game" (for the lack of better phrase) and start inching towards a proper not-so-widefield DSO Imaging.
The current plan and also the dilemma:
Option 1: Get a telescope like Askar 30/500 or Sharpstar 61 EDPHII with a 1x flattener. Use the modded DSLR with duo band (L-enhance/extreme) and light pollution (L-Pro or any CLS-CCD) filters. Get better at it and save enough and get a ASI533MC-Pro (or its sensor from other vendors). Keep 135mm F/2. Also keep modded DSLR for its APSC size sensor for winter nights. [Yes, summers are coming and for my part of the world they are simply horrifying with temperature rising to 45-48 degree celsius]
I know 40D EOS is from some generations ago.. it is very very NOISY and makes everything very difficult.. and therefore, the second option:
Option 2: Get ZWO ASI533MC-Pro and use it on Samyang 135 mm with duo band/ light pollution filters. Get to know the camera. Process data and see what comes out of it. [Honestly, I am slightly bored of 9x6 (approx) degree FOV with my APSC size sensor. Target list is very narrow. With 533MC- Pro I will have FOV of 5.7 x 5.7 degree. A decent upgrade but still very wide.] Then add a telescope to your arsenal. Preferably 70-80 mm, f/5-6-7 APO-refractor.
For the Newtonian imaging Scopes: I would love to have 6" f/4 or 5 newt (the level which my mount can handle). I have an 8" f/6 dob for visual use. So I know basics of collimation and other differences with a refractor. I am not exactly scared of it but I have a very busy professional life (a criminal defence lawyer
) and I want to reduce my set up and take down time as much as possible. I guess, that is an absolute requirement.An upgrade to monochrome camera is certainly on the horizon. But not now. Perhaps in a year or two.
So please see my two year work and critique it and let me know your thoughts. Which option you would have chosen with the benefit of hindsight? Or both the options are not advisable.
Please note 8 out of 10 times I would be shooting from Bortle 8/9 skies. Budget is certainly a consideration. Also, I am not hunting for any compliments. As I said I am a criminal defence lawyer - our ideas being dismissed is a daily affair. I would be less tolerant if only all my clients were innocent as they claim.
If you have reached here. Thank you in advance. Any feedback/ comment here would be much appreciated and help me make better decisions.
Stay healthy and Clear Skies!
Rajat
