Deep Sky Stacker Problem

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Hi, I'd appreciate some help with a basic DSS problem. I went out Aurora hunting on Thursday when I heard the news, but got to my dark-ish site too late. Conditions were fairly good, so I took the opportunity to take a few widefields for stacking. However, when I open any of the .cr2 files in DSS the size of the image is wrong, I just get a strip of 1088 pixels in the middle of the image. Has anyone else come across this problem please? I've hunted around in the help and options but can't find anything.

My camera is a Canon 1100D and I'm using DSS 3.3.2.

[Dave_D]

use 3.3.3 beta. that fixes the problem

[Scott]

I had the same problem and needed to download 3.3.3 beta 47 version

[Scott]

beaten by Dave

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Thanks very much, that was quick. I see 3.3.4 is available now, but you have to go to this page to get it.

[Tinker1947]

There is ver. 3.3.4 out now that does a proper job.....

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Can confirm that 3.3.4 did the trick, thanks all.

[Owmuchonomy]

As above and check you've selected your specific camera in the options.  Then it it will be fine with your specific RAW files.

[Russe]

How do you image auroras? You stack them as well???

[glappkaeft]

It's possible to stack aurora in theory but they move about quite a bit. It is more common to go the panorama route, especially if you don't own a super wide lens. You still have the problem with movement but it is much easier to handle.

[Russe]

What sort of settings would one use in a Canon?

[glappkaeft]

Ideally the lens should be sharp and wide open, the exposure short and the ISO low enough to be noise free...  Aurora photography is much more like regular photography, you need to tailor the settings to your equipment and how bright or fast moving the aurora is.  

My old camera was a Canon 400D and I took this three shoot panorama from 60N using the kit-lens at 18 mm, ISO800, F/4 and an exposure of 40 seconds each (the aurora wasn't that bright and rather slow moving). Göran Strand however took this amazing all sky mosaic from 63N using 23 4 second exposures using a Nikon D800E Nikon with a AF-S 14-24/2,8 len set at ISO1600, F/4. Better gear, better aurora and lets face it a better photographer results in different settings.