Esprit 100 first light - IC1396 with unmodified DSLR

[Spongey]

Since receiving my scope and mount from FLO a couple of weeks ago, I've had a few opportunities to get out under the stars with everything and gain some experience with all the features of a GoTo mount for the first time. I have to say that in particular, finding and framing a target using platesolving is a huge time save compared to using a star tracker! I'm still trying to get the best results possible from my guiding, if anyone is interested I have another thread covering that in the mounts discussion section.

This image represents my efforts from two initial nights of imaging, the first cut short by dew (my next upgrade will be dew tapes and a controller). My focus held relatively steady on both nights, slowly worsening (as expected) as the temperature dropped, so an autofocus solution is in the pipeline too! I was relatively ruthless with the data regarding which subs to keep, so the final stack represents just under 8 hours of data out of a total 12 captured. I performed a large dither after every frame to combat the DSLR noise profile, which appears to have worked well. I have to say I expected the Hα signal to come through a little stronger, but I'm not prepared to modify my camera just yet so I will have to live with it / shoot broadband targets instead.

As always, any CC would be appreciated!

Imaging scope: Esprit 100 with FF

Imaging camera: Canon 6D (unmodified)

Guide scope: 9x50 finder

Guide camera: ZWO ASI224MC

Mount: iOptron CEM40 (non-EC)

Image details: 7 hours 42 minutes in 120s subs

Processing: PixInsight and Adobe Lightroom

Cheers

Edited September 17, 2020 by Spongey

[Craney]

That's good for an unmodded camera.    The 'dark' clouds have come out well.

[MarkAR]

That looks superb.

[fireballxl5]

Love the colours in this picture.  I've started using my unmodified 6D Mk1 for imaging (using camera lenses though) this summer and been surprised by its sensitivity,  especially to Ha.

[kirkster501]

Wow, super!

[tomato]

Brilliant first light!

[ollypenrice]

I think that's a beautiful rendition, revealing less of the gas but more of the dust than we usually see. It absolutely must be seen at the higher res (click on the image and click again) because it holds up superbly and the details within the Trunk are gorgeous.  Crazy-deep Ha has its place but it isn't the only way to go and this is one of the most subtle versions I've seen of this target. If you do want to emphasize the Ha a little more and have Ps (I don't know about Lightroom) the simple trick is to go into Selective Colour, Reds, and move the top slider left to lower the cyans in red. This always brings out Ha signal.

Olly

 

[peter shah]

this is beautiful....you have managed to pull out some really subtle tones 

[Allinthehead]

Very nice first light.

[RobST]

I know this is a very old thread, but I'm just starting on a similar adventure, i have a 6d and have done all my imaging so far with a samyang.

I now have an eq6 mount on the way and trying to decide what telescope to stick on my 6d, my first choice is the esprit 100.

Did you stick with this combo long?

Judging by this image you had success with the combo as well?

Cheers Rob

[Spongey]

13 hours ago, RobST said:

I know this is a very old thread, but I'm just starting on a similar adventure, i have a 6d and have done all my imaging so far with a samyang.

I now have an eq6 mount on the way and trying to decide what telescope to stick on my 6d, my first choice is the esprit 100.

Did you stick with this combo long?

Judging by this image you had success with the combo as well?

Cheers Rob

The Esprit 100 is a fantastic scope and works well with the 6D. The corner stars won't be perfect but you can crop in a little bit to 'fix' that. 

Unfortunately my Esprit 100 had significant pinched optics in the cold and developed a mechanical issue too, so I ended up returning it. I was definitely very unlucky in this regard though; the vast majority of people who use this scope do so with no issues at all!

Cheers

[RobST]

3 hours ago, Spongey said:

The Esprit 100 is a fantastic scope and works well with the 6D. The corner stars won't be perfect but you can crop in a little bit to 'fix' that. 

Unfortunately my Esprit 100 had significant pinched optics in the cold and developed a mechanical issue too, so I ended up returning it. I was definitely very unlucky in this regard though; the vast majority of people who use this scope do so with no issues at all!

Cheers

Thats such a shame, i had heard great things about the esprit, what did you end up replacing it with?

[teoria_del_big_bang]

Yes it is an old thread but one I missed so glad it was resurrected because that is one cracking image, especially on high res, so I was delighted to see it this 2nd time round 🙂 

Steve

[Craig a]

Somthing to be said about these natural colour images, not over powering and still revealing details in the dark dust, lovely colours in this this the oranges and pinks and good star colours an all round excellent rendition on the trunk 

[simmo39]

V nice!