Improve your Astrophotography : Better Images at ANY Budget!
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- Опубліковано 25 чер 2024
- After working on Data from dozens of you guys I wanted to put some of my thoughts on how you can improve your astrophotography the results may surprise you!
It's not always about spending a bunch of $$ on gear and in this video I'll show you how to do so, make sure you watch all the way till the end!
I’m adding this link a month after posting the video since I finally came up with a full hour Photoshop tutorial to help folks do exactly what I mentioned in the video and processor is better and take them to the next level:
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Link to Free Data and Processing Guides
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Join our growing Community for additional help and support including 1 on 1 time.
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Agena Astro: Support the Channel while using the fastest shipping company in the US (must be used within 5 days)
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RC-Astro Links: I use Blur, Star, NoiseXterminator in EVERY image I process nothing beats it!
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Telescope Live: 2 Months HALF PRICE: DRI4TL Promo Code)
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Latest OSC and Narrowband Processing Guide!
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If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments, as well as any suggestions for a future videos. If you could please like and subscribe, I would greatly appreciate it. Clear Skies!
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Gear: please use these links!
2600 MM bit.ly/3KubXes
2600 MC bit.ly/47o8dEY
AM5 Mount bit.ly/44OwDpD
ASIAIR Plus bit.ly/3KwNV2i
ZWO EFW bit.ly/3YoB1cw
ZWO EAF bit.ly/3Oo3cns
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Antlia SHO Filters bit.ly/3DLOu4M
Antlia Triband bit.ly/45eFVuX
Antlia ALPT bit.ly/3OsfQlm
ZWO Power Supply bit.ly/43X5ZcW
Processing Tutorials:
2 BRAND NEW Star Scripts in 10 minutes - Masterclass Script Series!
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Finish it in Photoshop: Take Your Images to the Next Level!
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Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch Master Class
• GHS Part 1 Getting the... - Наука та технологія
Darkrangerguides@gmail.com for 1:1
Ways to support the channel and improve:
www.patreon.com/DarkRangersInc?
Agena Astro: Support the Channel while using the fastest shipping company in the US (must be used within 5 days)
agenaastro.com/?rfsn=7545037.59bc8b
RC-Astro Links: I use Blur, Star, NoiseXterminator in EVERY image I process nothing beats it!
www.rc-astro.com?refId=216d478290ee0cce
Telescope Live: 2 Months HALF PRICE: DRI4TL (Promo Code)
telescope.live/start/v2?DarkRangersInc&DarkRangersInc&DarkRangersInc
You didn't mentioned the importance if image circle size when considering the camera sensor size.
@@luboinchina3013 true most scopes can handle 533 or 2600 sensors. In my recommendations I mention have FPL-53 glass and a Strehl test. I don’t know any scopes that have those features that can’t handle even a full frame sensor at that point.
But yeah definitely something to consider great point!
Do not take for granted these “basic” infos. In my beginning this type of guide will have saved me tons of time and money!!! Great video Ryan
Thank you sir the message was also to a lot of us guys who have been doing it for a while, who get caught up in the gear! A lot of of us think we are ready before we have maximized what we already have.
This is a great video. I suffer so much from thinking buying more equipment will improve my images when in reality my images suffer due to my lack of skill. Hoping to see more videos like this since this is a MAJOR issue for me.
Really pleased with how you and your channel has progressed mate well done on all you have accomplished
Yea low bortle makes such a large difference. I have 8 minutes of 2 minute exposures on the Lagoon and Triffid nebulae from bortle 3 that has more signal than 1.5 hours of narrowband data from by backyard
First off, absolutely beautiful bortle 1 image here. Also ganna save this vid for later, really good advice for processing and tools to use.
I have the equipment, but staggering to get it started. So far have tripod, CEM70G, ZWO294, ASI Air Pro, Zackery Power Source, 2” L Enhance light pollution filter (bortle 6 area), reducer/flattener and SVX130T. Your 140 is how I found this channel.
Right now just want to know how to safely assemble it all and start gathering data before starting the processing. From what I’ve found, ideally want 4-16 hours of data to work around with. But gotta get to that point to begin with lol
You can schedule some time if it helps my website has shows some of the stuff I can help with but basically anything astrophotography related. If you want to reach out to Ryan@DarkRangersinc.com
Very well done Ryan
Totally agree with the triangle of improvement
After a year of Astrophotography, I have just bought my first “serious” mount in the AM5 and yesterday I decided to buy the ZWO533MC pro as my first dedicated Astro camera after using and entry level DSLR up until this point.
I have a trip planned at Christmas to get under Outback Aussie skies so hopefully this will lead to some improved images when coupled with more refinement/practice of my processing skills.
Cheers
Si
Sound advice, I will focus on my processing from now, as I have gotten over my initial GAS :)
I almost did the requisite definition of Gear Acquisition Syndrome lol
Very informative. I like your recommendation of upgrading the camera before anything else. I too started with the 533MC. It was a great low cost beginners choice but I'm now seriously debating the 2600 to get better options for framing instead of a different 'scope, but 3 yrs into this it then makes me think MM instead of MC too. Fingers crossed for some ZWO year end sales.... :)
I think the 2600MC will have a sub $1500 sale soon especially with the Duo out. If you’re a few years in and already have a color, Astro cam, I would really highly recommend going monochrome you’re going to get a lot more out of the upgrade. I really suggest the MC version for folks in their first year or so but after that, definitely make the job, you’ll see a much bigger improvement overall 💪🏼
Hi, I’m an avid watcher of you excellent videos but I really have a question regarding laptops. I have bought Pixinsight and as you know there are plenty of things to download such as Blurexterminator Etc. My laptop is an 8 go with a 512? Whatever, I’m not technical minded at all. On which drive does PI sit on? I’m bothered that soon my machine will crash due to whichever drive is full. So what are the specs I need for a new laptop. Hope this makes sense, I look forward to your comments.
When you say your laptop is an “8” what do you mean by that?
Pixinsight will sit on your hard drive. What I recommend to people is to get a solid state portable hard drive, like the ones from San Disk, I actually plugged that into my ASIair and image on it. That way when I’m stacking using Pixinsight, it’s not taking up space on my hard drive.
Regarding upgrading, there was just a conversation where one of the developers of the program jumped in on the conversation. You’re typically going to want 64GB of Ram and a Solid State style hard drive. If you’re looking for PC you’ll want a solid graphics card as well.
For Mac with the newer M2 Chips in the MacBook Pro or Mac Studio I would get 64GB of Ram any of the chips should be able to handle it. I have the Max so it had 12 cores and a 38 core GPU and it handled everything great in Pixinsight.
For “bang for the buck” I think my electronic focuser probably takes second place (right behind the l-extreme filter)
yeah I agree EAF is essential. I have a couple other videos where I talk about the importance of that. If you like the Extreme you'll love the Ultimate. I've owned both and the L-ultimate is basically a Halo Free version with a little more contrast.
I’m gonna play devils advocate here, yes, absolutely, dark skies rule. However, isn’t it true that you can offset them with more exposure? Especially in narrowband….
In fact, I am such a believer of this that I bought two identical rigs, so I can double my image time from my backyard in a Bortle six .
No, APODs as of yet 😊…
You can to a certain extent I also love shooting broad band targets and that’s where dark skies really separate themselves. It’s just a matter of how much integration time you want to get. My backyard is Bortle 5 so not horrible but the difference to B1-2 is pretty insane.
If you haven’t tried it, I definitely would! there’s a certain factor that you just can’t describe in your data and it’s really cool to be out there enjoying them visually as well as seeing what comes out on the other end of your scope! Being under a snow globe of stars is a really cool feeling with the Milky Way as bright as day in front of your naked eye 🌌
After you expend hours sitting on editing….. how real it is? It’s just a personal taste, but taking this hobby to compete to everyone else, who can get better fantasy colors, just my inexperience opinion.
It's not about competing with others. It is about getting the best results from your equipment considering limiting time you can use to capture your object between the strikes of bad weather. When you spend your free time to capture night sky instead of having a good sleep or going to bars you want to have the best results possible.
@@luboinchina3013 You pointed out the real spirit of this hobby, stay outside having fun, getting pictures of everything you want, doesn’t have to be “professionalized” as your dialogue goes…… expending more time in front of a computer instead practicing Astrophotography….. we’ll definitely not my thing, again just my inexperience opinion. Clear skies.
@@luboinchina3013 very well said that was the real point of the first half of the video. Rather than spending a lot of money like we all like to do (guilty 🤚) we usually can get more by practicing and honing our skills and enjoy what we already have.
@@haggy38I think you may have missed the spirit or intention of the video it’s about getting the most out of your data not spending all your time editing. You actually get faster and spend LESS time as you get more proficient.
The point was to get the most out of your gear and how to get the best results. I don’t believe I used the term “professional” I did set a personal goal of winning an APOD which is an amateur free daily contest but that’s just for me your goal can be whatever you choose.
No one is saying ti take time away from being outside under the stars. I don’t know if you watched the entire video, but I show five videos about dark sky trips and share my experience of getting out and camping under Bortle 1 skies.
Processing was 1/3rd of the equation I showed to improve your images the other two are about getting outside and using the best gear your budget allows and of course have fun doing it. Maybe watch the video again and its entirety keeping these comments in mind 👍🏼.
Getting better at the hobby doesn’t make it less fun it makes it more fun !
Why only talking about refractor and not reflector? Newtonian are a lot cheaper and you collecting a whole lot off light with them so lots off data. I love my 150p Quattro and it’s native 600mm at F4 and with the coma corrector it’s 518mm at F3.45 still using a Nikon D5600 is will get me the Ares-c pro and Uranus-c pro. 😊
Reflectors seem cheaper but usually aren't in the long wrong for the same level of results as an APO. I'ved owned the 200p Quattro and it starts off cheaper at $650 then you have to get a coma corrector which was $450, then a new focuser because the stock Crawford focusers flex and cause issues with your stars.
Nearly every owner of a Quattro I have seen has either upgraded to the Featherlight or an Electronic option that replaces the entire focus unit ranging from $680-2500 so now you're between $1780-3600, plus a laser to calumniate and it's also much larger and and heavier for travel unless with perhaps the exception of a 150p but most get the 200 or 250.
I think if you want to be 800+MM especially over 1000 a reflector I.e. newt/SCT/D.K. make a lot of sense but under in the 500mm range that you're talking about im 100% of the time going for an APO.
Both have their pro's and cons but giving advice to more of a beginner especially when talking about traveling to dark sky sites I recommend a refractor. The size, simplicity with no need to collimate, durability and great results I think its a better option at first.
@@darkrangersinc I got lucky than with my 150p the coma corrector was included and only paid about $500 for it. I did already some upgrades like better spider and mirror mask and flocking. And I always have to go on location cause I can’t do it from my backyard. I don’t mind setting it up every time and braking it down after a night off imagining.
@@MrGeert1972 yeah if you can get it set up like that then it’s a good deal! I took my 200 to dark sky spots. It wasn’t too bad, but obviously quite a bit bigger than an Apo
I have a C8 with AVX mount. I have an ASI585MC but now am looking for a cooled ZWO camera. I plan to use an OAG. I use an ASIAir Plus to manage. I'm looking at the ASI533MC Pro, ASI294MC Pro. Running the CCD Suitability calculator in Astronomy.tools I've made notes of whether the camera over samples or under sample at native and 6.3 focal reducer focal lengths. With the ASI533MC Pro unless I run the camera at Bin 2 the native and focal reducer focal lengths show over sampled. The ASI294MC Pro over samples at native with Bin=1, is in range with the 6.3 focal reducer and Bin =1 but is in range if Bin =2 for native. Not sure how much the quality of the image changes between Bin values. I figure the ASI294MC Pro's larger sensor would open up more targets without mosaics. I can't afford a 2600 and its a very heavy camera, 24.6 oz vs ASI294MC 14.46 and ASI533MC 16.6oz. I've got a Celestron OAG which is heavy. I suppose if I can't image non mosaic anymore with the ASI294 I might as well go with the ASI533MC. Any advice is appreciated.
I 533 is a more modern sensor, and won't have some of the issues present in the 294MC like amp glow or weird background issues I've seen complaints about with the 294, the pixel size isn't that different 3.7 vs 4.6 micron I believe and like you said you can run it in Bin 2 and be right where you want to be. It's a smaller sensor, but the results are pretty close to the 2600MC just with less FOV. If you can save a little longer I would really recommend going for the 2600 it's on sale for $1499 right now at Agena Astro. At that focal length your FOV will be pretty tight with those two cameras.
@@darkrangersinc Thank you. What is your opinion of the ASI071MC? No amp glow, APS-C sensor, 22.5oz, $999 on sale. The only Con I've read is the sensor window can freeze up. Thanks
Happy Thanksgiving.