Orion Nebula unguided

[kalasinman]

17 x 240s ISO 800. D5100 with Tokina 400mm on Ioptron ZEQ25GT

BTW camera has new  "True Dark Point" firmware. Seems to help.

[Pete Presland]

thats a very nice start, if you could get rid of some of the "halo" around the brighter stars it would be an excellent image. you have captured some very nice detail in and around the nebula, it might worth taking a short exposure for the core as well next time.

[kalasinman]

Thank you. Yes it is a learning curve to process. I have a set of images for the core, but don't know how to combine them with layer mask in PS yet...

[uhb1966]

Very nice! Is it possible that you were slightly off focus?

[FairviewSteve]

Great image, one of my favorite things to observe, can't capture though with Dob mount. One day I'll get the EQ mount up and running!

[kalasinman]

Not out of focus. It's an old Tokina f/5 prime which is known to be a soft lens. On the plus side, I got it delivered for $100.

[CowsonConcrete]

Hi, great picture. Can I ask how you managed to get 240sec subs unguided? After about 5 secs using my eq5 I get trails.

I do intend to buy motors but it would be nice to capture a DSO unguided in the meantime.

Thank you

[kalasinman]

@Al, I use an Ioptron ZEQ25GT, I've spent some effort to tune it, and touching up the RA balance for the part of the sky I'm imaging helps a lot. Because my payload at 1 Kilo is way light, I made a CW out of my dumbbell set for it. This mount has spring loaded worm tension and I monitor the incoming subs and keep an eye on the adjustment. Admittedly the stars aren't perfect and very difficult when CW bar is close to vertical.