Who said it had to be easy - capturing the Whirlpool Galaxy. K-70, M200 f4

DrawsACircle · 11-09-2019, 12:17 PM - **6 Likes**

Last year I decided to give it a go at the Whirlpool Galaxy. Went out in the garden with my tripod, K-70, O-GPS1 and the M200 f4 lens.
The hardest part is to find it, get it into and keep it in the frame. But I managed (it’s there)

This is the uncropped version, postprocessed to pull it out from the dark. 1x50sec, ISO800, Astrotracer.

Now it’s “just” a matter of centering it and keeping it there

**Kevin B123** · 11-09-2019, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by DrawsACircle

Last year I decided to give it a go at the Whirlpool Galaxy. Went out in the garden with my tripod, K-70, O-GPS1 and the M200 f4 lens.
The hardest part is to find it, get it into and keep it in the frame. But I managed (it’s there)
This is the uncropped version, postprocessed to pull it out from the dark. 1x50sec, ISO800, Astrotracer.

That's better than my efforts, since I can't usually find it

.

It makes me appreciate the superb images that we do see of it, knowing the effort that it requires.

Since this is 200mm on APS-C, I don't think I will try again on FF since it is so small.

Nice capture all the same

DrawsACircle · 11-09-2019, 12:40 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Kevin B123

That's better than my efforts, since I can't usually find it

.

It makes me appreciate the superb images that we do see of it, knowing the effort that it requires.

Since this is 200mm on APS-C, I don't think I will try again on FF since it is so small.

Nice capture all the same

You”re right, there’s actually a slight risk of ending up wanting to throw your gear away after half an hour of trying to find it and keep it in the frame

Thank you, I wanted to show the capabilities of our wonderfull cameras

Roadboat24 · 11-09-2019, 01:35 PM

Very Nice effort. Especially with that equipment. You have Wayyyyy more patients than myself.

fsge · 11-09-2019, 01:39 PM

Did you test your skills on other galaxies?

**mlt** · 11-09-2019, 01:43 PM

Awesome !!

Wasp · 11-09-2019, 02:17 PM

Great stuff!

This type of photography is beyond my abilities - I would have a hard time finding any particular star or galaxy. And my gear is not up to the job either - no astrotracer in my bag.

All I have managed in astrophotography so far was to get the exposure right, but I kept it simple by using a Samyang 8mm fisheye. There was some coma at f/2.8. I will try f/4 next time.

ecostigny · 11-09-2019, 06:36 PM

Very nice. Deep sky photography is another level of challenging because the target objects are so small and dim.

DrawsACircle · 11-10-2019, 12:22 AM - **5 Likes**

Originally posted by Roadboat24

Very Nice effort. Especially with that equipment. You have Wayyyyy more patients than myself.

From what I’ve experienced later on, it’s actually pretty good, just shows the capabilities of a Pentax camera

I have not ben able to do 50sec exposures other than this one time. Everything must have been comming together, calibration and the position of the galaxies.

Originally posted by fsge

Did you test your skills on other galaxies?

I’ve never been that deep, but the Orion Nebula with the K-70/DA*300:

Running man/Horsehead Nebula, with the M200 f4:

The final Whirlpool picture after stacking the frames:

I’ve also got some pictures of the Andromeda Galaxy, I got a M42 Super Takumar 200mm f4 lens, but I’m not satisfied with the post processing (lack of Pixinsight competences).
Then I upgraded, still using my K=70:

Now it looks like this:

And I’m soooo happy

**OzzRod** · 11-10-2019, 03:30 AM

You should be happy, and then some. So encouraging to see the great results that legacy glass can produce. And the first uncropped image seems quite extraordinary to me for the undistorted character of stars right across the frame - all the variables sure did harmonise for you. Terrific stuff.

Wasp · 11-10-2019, 03:34 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by DrawsACircle

Now it looks like this:

And I’m soooo happy

You have every reason to be happy. The rest of us are jealous.

fsge · 11-10-2019, 04:42 AM

Thank you for these very nice pics, I see serious equipment, way beyond super takumar !

**Kevin B123** · 11-10-2019, 05:27 AM

Originally posted by DrawsACircle

And I’m soooo happy

That one is great!, clean and clear. For the best results it seems there is no substitute for better kit no matter how much skill you bring to bear.

Legacy glass is a cheap gateway to get hooked, or not. Much depends on the availability of a clear sky at your location when the moon permits.

DrawsACircle · 11-10-2019, 05:43 AM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by Kevin B123

Legacy glass is a cheap gateway to get hooked, or not. Much depends on the availability of a clear sky at your location when the moon permits.

Exactly Kevin, legacy glass is what brought me to where I am now. Doesn’t matter that I knew where I would end (journey is far from over yet), I’ve always been interested in the universe, now I have legacy glass and astro gear, win-win situation

I want to try my Super Tak with the camera on the HEQ5 mount to shoot the Andromeda, just to see what i looks like compared to the one I shot using the DA*300:

**StiffLegged** · 11-10-2019, 07:41 AM

That's great!

11-09-2019, 12:17 PM - 6 Likes	#1
DrawsACircle Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Ulfborg, Denmark Photos: Albums Posts: 434	Who said it had to be easy - capturing the Whirlpool Galaxy. K-70, M200 f4 Last year I decided to give it a go at the Whirlpool Galaxy. Went out in the garden with my tripod, K-70, O-GPS1 and the M200 f4 lens. The hardest part is to find it, get it into and keep it in the frame. But I managed (it’s there) This is the uncropped version, postprocessed to pull it out from the dark. 1x50sec, ISO800, Astrotracer. Now it’s “just” a matter of centering it and keeping it there

11-09-2019, 12:25 PM	#2
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,176	Originally posted by DrawsACircle Last year I decided to give it a go at the Whirlpool Galaxy. Went out in the garden with my tripod, K-70, O-GPS1 and the M200 f4 lens. The hardest part is to find it, get it into and keep it in the frame. But I managed (it’s there) This is the uncropped version, postprocessed to pull it out from the dark. 1x50sec, ISO800, Astrotracer. That's better than my efforts, since I can't usually find it. It makes me appreciate the superb images that we do see of it, knowing the effort that it requires. Since this is 200mm on APS-C, I don't think I will try again on FF since it is so small. Nice capture all the same

11-09-2019, 12:40 PM - 1 Like	#3
DrawsACircle Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Ulfborg, Denmark Photos: Albums Posts: 434 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kevin B123 That's better than my efforts, since I can't usually find it. It makes me appreciate the superb images that we do see of it, knowing the effort that it requires. Since this is 200mm on APS-C, I don't think I will try again on FF since it is so small. Nice capture all the same You”re right, there’s actually a slight risk of ending up wanting to throw your gear away after half an hour of trying to find it and keep it in the frame Thank you, I wanted to show the capabilities of our wonderfull cameras

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11-09-2019, 01:35 PM	#4
Roadboat24 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 487	Very Nice effort. Especially with that equipment. You have Wayyyyy more patients than myself.

11-09-2019, 01:39 PM	#5
fsge Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Genf Posts: 1,138	Did you test your skills on other galaxies?

11-09-2019, 01:43 PM	#6
mlt Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,159	Awesome !!

11-09-2019, 02:17 PM	#7
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	Great stuff! This type of photography is beyond my abilities - I would have a hard time finding any particular star or galaxy. And my gear is not up to the job either - no astrotracer in my bag. All I have managed in astrophotography so far was to get the exposure right, but I kept it simple by using a Samyang 8mm fisheye. There was some coma at f/2.8. I will try f/4 next time.

11-09-2019, 06:36 PM	#8
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	Very nice. Deep sky photography is another level of challenging because the target objects are so small and dim.

11-10-2019, 12:22 AM - 5 Likes	#9
DrawsACircle Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Ulfborg, Denmark Photos: Albums Posts: 434 Original Poster	Originally posted by Roadboat24 Very Nice effort. Especially with that equipment. You have Wayyyyy more patients than myself. From what I’ve experienced later on, it’s actually pretty good, just shows the capabilities of a Pentax camera I have not ben able to do 50sec exposures other than this one time. Everything must have been comming together, calibration and the position of the galaxies. Originally posted by fsge Did you test your skills on other galaxies? I’ve never been that deep, but the Orion Nebula with the K-70/DA*300: Running man/Horsehead Nebula, with the M200 f4: The final Whirlpool picture after stacking the frames: I’ve also got some pictures of the Andromeda Galaxy, I got a M42 Super Takumar 200mm f4 lens, but I’m not satisfied with the post processing (lack of Pixinsight competences). Then I upgraded, still using my K=70: Now it looks like this: And I’m soooo happy

11-10-2019, 03:30 AM	#10
OzzRod Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Newcastle, N.S.W. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,322	You should be happy, and then some. So encouraging to see the great results that legacy glass can produce. And the first uncropped image seems quite extraordinary to me for the undistorted character of stars right across the frame - all the variables sure did harmonise for you. Terrific stuff.

11-10-2019, 03:34 AM - 1 Like	#11
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	Originally posted by DrawsACircle Now it looks like this: And I’m soooo happy You have every reason to be happy. The rest of us are jealous.

11-10-2019, 04:42 AM	#12
fsge Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Genf Posts: 1,138	Thank you for these very nice pics, I see serious equipment, way beyond super takumar !

11-10-2019, 05:27 AM	#13
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,176	Originally posted by DrawsACircle And I’m soooo happy That one is great!, clean and clear. For the best results it seems there is no substitute for better kit no matter how much skill you bring to bear. Legacy glass is a cheap gateway to get hooked, or not. Much depends on the availability of a clear sky at your location when the moon permits.

11-10-2019, 05:43 AM - 4 Likes	#14
DrawsACircle Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Ulfborg, Denmark Photos: Albums Posts: 434 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kevin B123 Legacy glass is a cheap gateway to get hooked, or not. Much depends on the availability of a clear sky at your location when the moon permits. Exactly Kevin, legacy glass is what brought me to where I am now. Doesn’t matter that I knew where I would end (journey is far from over yet), I’ve always been interested in the universe, now I have legacy glass and astro gear, win-win situation I want to try my Super Tak with the camera on the HEQ5 mount to shoot the Andromeda, just to see what i looks like compared to the one I shot using the DA*300:

11-10-2019, 07:41 AM	#15
StiffLegged Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,617	That's great!