Nikon D5100 Monotec narrow bands

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Rather than uploading pictures to DIY thread linked below I open a new for images made by cooled monochrome Nikon D5100 aka Monotec   

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/235781-nikon-d5100-active-cooling/

4x15min each channel (Ha, OIII and SII). ISO1600 and sensor cooled to -5 °C

[kalasinman]

Lovely and impressive considering the amount of data.

[ultranova]

I agree with the above , very impressive.

well done ,

Paul

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Thanks, I must say I’m very happy with the camera

It has the true dark current firmware, which helps to get all the data from noise limit. I can hardly wait for next clear skies to get more data.

[symesie04]

Very nice both image and processing. Out of interest what capture software do you use with the Nikon?

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Very nice both image and processing. Out of interest what capture software do you use with the Nikon?

BackyardNikon

http://www.otelescope.com/index.php?/store/

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Very nice result

[symesie04]

didnt know backyard did a nikon version. 

[Herra Kuulapaa]

didnt know backyard did a nikon version. 

They just released it

(Beta has been around for longer though)

[peter shah]

great work

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Reprocessed Nikon D5100 Monotec Heart nebula.

6x15min of each channel (HA,OIII,SII), ISO1600, sensor cooled to -7°C.

[Gina]

Wonderful   Impressive is an understatement

Making me wonder if I should sell one of my Atik 460s and get back to debayering DSLRs   I still have a cash flow problem but not as bad having sold my last 314L+

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Thanks Gina,

If I had Atik 460, then I wouldn't have to mess with low end DSLRs. Although, these so called low end DSLRs seem to work real nice

Now it's just up to collect more Ha data to make details more prominent. At lest couple of days cloudy, but after that it should get clear again.

[Gina]

I'm far from sure my 460EX images are any better than your debayered DSLR ones   But then it could be that your processing is far better than mine   I agree that in theory the results from a dedicated astro mono CCD camera should be a lot better than those from a CMOS sensor (or is the Nikon a CMOS?)

OTOH it could be that your skies are much better than ours

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Here's one experimental no stars picture of Souls nebula:

4 Hours of data (2h Ha, 1h of OIII/SII each). Captured with cooled Nikon D5100 monochrome and BackyardNikon while watching TV, Thanks to Guylain for that possibility

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Couple more soul images with Monotec Nikon D5100

3 hours of HA

And addition to Ha, two hours OIII/SII. It could use another set of them though...

[lensman57]

Great work Herra, I still have not managed to use the Mono 5100 that you sold me, just waiting for a decent opportunity.

Regards,

A.G

[Herra Kuulapaa]

It's funny how the weather plays tricks on us. For example in my case it has been completely cloudy for one month now (excluding one short window of four hours but anyway), and now when it clears up, I have a work trip booked. So no astro imaging

When I get back it gets cloudy again. But next week, it should be nice and clear

Anyway, I tested 50mm/1.8G lens in Ha for wide fields:

For some reason the stars on the edges were horrible and I really mean horrible, even with the crop sensor. Anyone planning same with a monochrome camera note that D-model doesn't focus infinity, but G does.

Anyway, I had to stop it down to f/4 to get decent images. Not the super fast imaging rig I was wishing for. I have feeling that D-model wasn't this bad but I may remember it wrong. Also the Ha filter may have something to do with it.

[Herra Kuulapaa]

It's clear again

Wide field Cone nebula in Ha:

8x15min, ISO1600, 12nm Ha, mono Nikon D5100 (full resolution 4300x2900

It would be nice to make a narrow band color image, but it doesn't have much else than hydrogen in it. Or what do you think?

[frostynixon]

Nice images! That`s good information that the 50mm 1.8g does focus to infinity with this combination!

[Herra Kuulapaa]

SHaO M42 with the Running man not looking anything like running or even man anymore - more like a standing puddle of p*ss

SII channel was quite weak and brought some noise to the RGB composite.

[Herra Kuulapaa]

More peaceful Ha channel:

[frostynixon]

Very nice Herra! I'm currently looking for some narrowband filters. So far I'm deeply impressed by the mono D5100

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Too many cameras and so few clear weekend nights

I took the Nikon D5100 monochrome back on duty along its big brother D600. I took already some tests with D600 and unity gain ISO500: http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/250891-nikon-d600-monochrome-images/?hl=%2Bd600+%2Bmonochrome#entry2736129

And now my plan was to test how D5100 behaves with such low ISO. Last season I shot with ISO1600 with it. Unity gain (1 photon = 1 ADU) in D5100 is near ISO320, but I decided to use ISO400. With that ISO the full well capacity is approx 10.000e-, compared to only half and 1/4 of that with ISO 800 and 1600. So, the dynamic range is also larger, which helps to avoid star saturation. Main idea however is to have as pure signal as possible and avoid camera digital gain. The Nikonhacker dark current mod helps in that.

Monochrome Nikon D5100 with true dark current mod, 6x600s Ha, ISO400 during the full moon

So far it looks just good

[fwm891]

Great thread Herra, it hasn't arrived yet