Help switching from DSLR to CCD imaging

[ApophisAstros]

Current setup About a year imaging

Canon 1000d

SkyWatcher 120ED

EQ6-R PRO Synscan™ Computerised Heavy Duty GO-TO Equatorial Mount 
Moved to 

ZWO ASI183MM PRO COOLED Monochrome 4/3" CMOS USB3.0 Deep Sky Imager Camera

ZWO EFW 7-position Filter Wheel for 36mm Unmounted Filters

ZWO CCD LRGB Filter-Set 36mm - Optimised for ZWO ASI1600 Cameras

Any advice would be appreciated , 

Roger

 

 

[Tim]

I'd be tempted to get a Ha filter as well for your collection, it could effectively double your imaging time.

Concentrate on nailing the Luminance images at first, explore how long you can expose for to make the most of the target at its sky position, before noise or background gradients spoil the image. There is no subsitute for trial and error here, and each night varies in quality.

Once you have the hang of the L files, then you'll need to learn how your RGB filters work with your camera and scope, and try to balance the exposures to achieve a natural colour. You may find that the red filter requires longer exposures to achieve a similar result to green, or even blue. For the most natural colours, find a tutorial to help you calibrate your images on a G2V star, the same as our sun. (As it goes I just expose each filter the same and work it all out in the processing, but that isnt best practice!)

Ha filters really open up the sky though, long exposures  hidden nebulae, moonlit imaging, even if it isnt astro-dark you can still get great results.

Have fun