M31 with 200mm Nikon lens

[Sam Bo]

Hi all After a shot at M31 last week with my 70mm reflector, I decided to try out my non-ai 200mm Nikon lens. I am amazed at how well this has worked considering I only took 8 x 3 min subs with equivalent darks. That compares to 50 x 2 min subs last week with the scope and the final image looks considerably better IMO. I did improve the colour balance in post processing but am now considering using only my 200 mm piggybacked as my main imaging setup. Was expecting to get 5 minutes exposure on the CG5 due to the short focal length but only managed 3 minutes. Not bad for a £50 lens from ebay!

[Dodge]

That's nice - looks like you got a rogue satellite in there somewhere!

[JamesF]

200mm seems about the right focal length to do M31 in a single frame. It works quite nicely. I managed 4 minutes per sub on my EQ3-2, so i'm sure the CG5 should be able to do better than that.

James

[prokyon]

The lens seems to be really good! To add more data could bring a great result.

[Aceace321]

Very nice!

[JG777]

Good results there with a lens a lot of people might avoid!

[Mr Spock]

Good results from a bargain lens. What more could you ask for!

[jammo]

That is great, nice work

[boris sputnik]

Nice !

[davew]

I have a pre Ai 200mm f4 but it doesn't make good stars like yours !

I presume it's not the " Q " version.

Keep up the excellent work. I'm not jealous in the least

Dave.

[lensman57]

Hi all After a shot at M31 last week with my 70mm reflector, I decided to try out my non-ai 200mm Nikon lens. I am amazed at how well this has worked considering I only took 8 x 3 min subs with equivalent darks. That compares to 50 x 2 min subs last week with the scope and the final image looks considerably better IMO. I did improve the colour balance in post processing but am now considering using only my 200 mm piggybacked as my main imaging setup. Was expecting to get 5 minutes exposure on the CG5 due to the short focal length but only managed 3 minutes. Not bad for a £50 lens from ebay!

Hi,

Well done, as an old devote of Nikon during my younger days of photography I find your capture inspirational, I still have my 180 F2.8 ED and I can't wait to get it onto my Atik and see the results.

A.G

[Stargazer33]

Very nice image.

Out of interest, how would you align your mount if you just had a camera mounted on it without the scope? Could you still do a star alignment or would you have to do a drift alignment with something like Al's Reticle on your capture software? I guess I have just answered my own question haven't I.

[robbie c]

Great image I'd say that was £50 well spent

[MartinB]

Old camera lenses are some of the best bargains around for astro imaging as your pic proves

[lensman57]

Old camera lenses are some of the best bargains around for astro imaging as your pic proves

I sincerely hope that these lenses do not follow the same path as the humble SPC 800~900, a £20.00 webcam that became a hero and the subsequent increase in price that followed, last time I looked someone had paid £82.00 in an auction for a used example.

A.G