Orion Widefield: M42 and the Horse

[groberts]

After literally months the clouds briefly relented this week over Surrey and I was able to get a couple of hours of Orion.  Mindful of such imaging limitations in the UK and in the absence of a permanent observatory + inspired by others here on SGL, I purchased a Samyang 135 f2 last year but because of the said conditions it's use has been very limited so far.  For the moment I'm using it with a modded Canon 550D, manual focus and no guiding - I was impressed with a few initial Cygnus images last year but this week put it to work on Orion and am blown away by it's capabalities.

First, I really enjoy the widefield approach without resorting to mosaics - which would usually be impractical with imaging condtions here - thus producing interesting context of otherwise favourite targets imaged with a telescope.  However, the quality this lens produces is quite extraordinary.  Even though this was something of a 'quick & dirty' session + processing, looking closer at M42 (see cropped version) the detail and colour achieved by this lens far exceeds my expectations.  I hope to match this with my mono CMOS camera & add guiding later this year but for now this little beauty is definately one of my star astronomy purchases.

Graham

Modded Canon 550D

56 x 120 sec = 1hr 52min

No guiding

Processed - PixInsight + Photoshop + Topaz Deniose AI

 

 

                         

 

Edited February 6, 2021 by groberts

[Adreneline]

Great iamge Graham. The Samyang is a joy to use and produces quite extraordinary results. I certainly won't be parting with mine! Like you I just wish we got more opportunity to use it!

Adrian

[Laurin Dave]

Very nice Graham, you 've caught M78 and a bit of Barnard's Loop as well.

Dave

[peter shah]

The Samyang is a great lens.....Superb shot

[groberts]

Thanks all, much appreciated. 

Yes, such is the FOV of this lens that M78 & Barnard's Loop also crept in + it also deals so well with bright stars like Orion's belt.

Graham