Advice needed

[Kenboy]

Hello all,

I took a wide field shot of Orion few nights ago. 

My set up:

Astro-modified Canon 550d, Canon 50mm F/18 STM lens, Svbony CLS clip filter in Bortle 5 skies.

ISO 800, F/2.8, exposure 1 min x 40. 

I'm not very happy with the result. Unsure why there is so much flare with the brighter stars and I didn't seem to get enough detail out of the nebula either  

Any advice on how I can improve for next time? 

I do understand I need to take longer exposures. Do I need a different filter? 

thanks!

Orion 11-02-21.TIF

[Pixies]

I can't comment on the AP side of things. But those 'flares' on the brighter stars  look like scratches or smears across the filter surface in one direction.

Is the filter new or secondhand? Have you tried to clean it?

 

 

Edited February 14, 2021 by Pixies

[Carbon Brush]

No expert. So bear that in mind.
A very nice image. I would be pleased to get something like this.

Yes there are scratches, or line like greasy deposits on something glass.
But I would not want to identify a specific part of the optical train.

Why not try again using either a different camera lens, or without the CLS filter.

As you are only looking for the flares on bright stars, you don't need so many images and you aren't worried about a brighter background.
Maybe get some different combinations of glass on one evening?

HTH, David.

[Kenboy]

On 14/02/2021 at 15:52, Pixies said:

I can't comment on the AP side of things. But those 'flares' on the brighter stars  look like scratches or smears across the filter surface in one direction.

Is the filter new or secondhand? Have you tried to clean it?

 

 

new filter, have cleaned it now, but waiting for next clear skies 😛 

thx

[Kenboy]

7 hours ago, Carbon Brush said:

No expert. So bear that in mind.
A very nice image. I would be pleased to get something like this.

Yes there are scratches, or line like greasy deposits on something glass.
But I would not want to identify a specific part of the optical train.

Why not try again using either a different camera lens, or without the CLS filter.

As you are only looking for the flares on bright stars, you don't need so many images and you aren't worried about a brighter background.
Maybe get some different combinations of glass on one evening?

HTH, David.

thanks

i will next give it a go without the filter. and will give it a clean as well. 

do you think I need longer exposures, if so how long? 

[Ricochet]

Those could easily be diffraction spikes from something like a washing line or power line between the target and camera, rather than an issue with your equipment. Try a couple of targets in different directions and see if the issue persists. 

[KP82]

14 hours ago, Ricochet said:

Those could easily be diffraction spikes from something like a washing line or power line between the target and camera, rather than an issue with your equipment. Try a couple of targets in different directions and see if the issue persists. 

Agreed.

I've had similar issues before in my previous house and it turned out to be my neighbour's washing line.