First S6500 Orion - Questions?

[Kain]

Ok just found a gap in the clouds, so I went out and took an Orion widefield

Few questions

I know the stars are showing trails, no tracking, and the ghostly smudges are passing clouds

However what are the like other little dots/grains? Theres nothing on the lens, is it because the air is damp?

It was a...

30sec Exp

ISO 100

F5.6

Any tips or suggestions (other than get tracking) would be grateful

Cheers

Kain

[Kain]

Ok 2nd attempt - Little better

This time...

20sec Exp

ISO 400

F2.8

Still got those little grainy bits...Any ideas?

Kain

[Kain]

Getting better!

15sec Exp

ISO 200

F2.8

And Leo with Saturn

Same as above, only 20secs Exp

Can't believe how many more stars show in Orion!!

Kain

[Kain]

Just had a play using neat image!

Quite pleased with that!

I'll shut up now..

Kain

[geppetto]

Kain

What picture quality was the camera set on? eg fine/medium/low or whatever it is

on yours.

The "bits" look a bit like jpeg compression artifacts but then I'm far from being

an expert :insects1:

[Kain]

It was set on fine mate

Kain

[lunator]

Kain they could be hot pixels.

Take a photo with the lens cap on and see if they are still there.

Cheers

ian

[Kain]

Hot Pixels?

Just tried with lens cap on, and no there not there.

Kain

[FLO]

The grain/mottle effect is JPEG artifacting.

Kain, perhaps you saved the image (after manipulation in Photoshop/whatever) at too high a compression? (Images are also JPEGd when posted on SGL).

[Kain]

I saved it on high quality in PS - No 8 I think.

They seemed to be on the images though when I downloaded them onto PC. Maybe I should just use the raw file?

Kain

[geppetto]

Try a raw file and see if it's better

[FLO]

RAW files are great but they still must be converted to a JPEG, TIFF, whatever, prior to Photoshopping or posting.

In Photoshop, save it as a TIFF. Then, after processing the image, resize it to 600x800 then 'save as' JPEG level 10.

NB: If you repeatedly save a JPEG image (usually as a result of returning to it a number of times in Photoshop) the JPEG degradation accumulates.

[Kain]

Was going to go out and try it, but its raining now.

Meant to be clear night tomorrow, I shall try again!

I'm still suprised how many stars show up on this compared to the Canon, I'm quite pleased with that.

Kain

[SteelRat]

I'm not really in a position to offer constructive crit matey, as I only use mobile phones - but I gotta say; the clouds are superb frames

[Kain]

Just taken a shot in RAW mode, but my bro's PC can't read the file.

Will it read ok in PS on my PC?

Kain

[geppetto]

What's the file extension Kain?

[Kain]

RAF

[geppetto]

Should be OK mate

[geppetto]

How bigs the file?

I mean, could you email it me..

[SteelRat]

Anyone else noticed that occasionally the quality of the posted image displayed on the forum can be slightly different to the one saved on yer pc? (pre-download) :?

[FLO]

Images uploaded to SGL are JPEGd, so there will be a slight quality drop.

[Kain]

I have had a play with the RAF file now I am at home, it's abit better just less details show in the picture..

Hmm, Begining to think my crappy Canon point and shoot thing is better

EDIT

Just a thought, could it be the moon making these specks on the image? As I tried Ursa Major last night, which left the camera facing away from the moon, it wasn't half as bad!

Hmm

Kain