Gerd Waloszek       

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Photo Comparison Vaonis Vespera Pro versus Sky-Watcher Evoguide 50ED with ZWO ASI676 - Part 2

On this page I compare photos of the same DSOs, which I took with my Vaonis Vespera Pro and my star friend Oliver with a combination of Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED and ZWO ASI676. In addition, I will show photos that I took with the original Vespera, where available... This time, the comparison of the photos will be carried out more systematically and as a longer-term project. More about this in the introduction!

See also page Photo Comparison Vaonis Vespera Pro versus Sky-Watcher Evoguide 50ED with ZWO ASI676.

 

Introduction

A comparison of the Vespera Pro with the ZWO ASI676 is interesting because both use the same Sony IMX676 sensor. If you then use the Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED as a telescope, as my starfriend does, you have almost identical technical conditions:

• SkyWatcher EvoGuide 50ED: 242 mm focal length, f/4.8 (3532 x 3532 pixels, pixel size 2 µm)
• Vaonis Vespera Pro: 250 mm focal length, f/5 (3536 x 3536 pixels, pixel size 2 µm)

Comparison of FOVs

The Evoguide 50ED with ASI676 and the Vespera Pro have nearly identical FOVs; Vespera Pro in yellow (Custom Scope)

Conditions

However, a real comparison would require the photos to be taken under similar conditions, which was absolutely not the case in our first "quick comparison". That is why we are making a second attempt with somewhat more controlled conditions:

• No mosaics with the Vespera Pro, just normal exposures (about 1.6° x 1.6° FOV on both telescopes)
• No filters on the Vespera Pro (at most, additionally...)
• Even if I will expose longer overall with the Vespera Pro, I will check what comes out with comparable exposure times.
• No complex post-processing with the Vespera Pro (except brightening the image and darkening the sky a little); possibly more complex processing as "additional information"

Where available, I will also include pictures that I took with the original Vespera; however, these were not taken under "controlled conditions".

Setups

I will briefly introduce the two setups below.

Sky-Watcher Evoguide 50ED with ZWO ASI676

The Sky-Watcher Evoguide 50ED is mounted on the finder shoe of my star friend Oliver's telescope, so it observes exactly the same target as the main telescope, but with a different camera, the ASI676, and therefore with a different field of view. However, it is not used for guiding, which would of course also be possible, but for independent photos. The telescopes are mounted on an iOptron HAE29 mount, which in turn is mounted on an iOptron carbon tripod. This is an equatorial mount (which can also be used in AZ mode), so Oliver can and will take longer single exposures than is possible with AZ mounts - up to 60s, depending on the object. This is not possible with the Vespera Pro, which sits on an AZ mount.

Photos: Sky-Watcher Evoguide 50ED with ASI676 (mounted to C8 and Olifractor)

Photo: Sky-Watcher Evoguide 50ED with ASI676 "stand-alone"

Apart from UV/IR blocking filters, Oliver will probably not use any filters for his photos, especially no nebula filters (e.g. dual band filters, LEnhance filters).

Oliver uses SharpCap 4.1 as his control software which offers the option of setting the gain and offset individually for each object (and he will do so). So there are no comparable standard parameters. In addition, he can directly influence the recording process and the histogram and thus very well control and influence the rendering of the object during live stacking. His images are therefore not post-processed by him.

Vaonis Vespera Pro

The Vespera Pro is described in more detail on this page. It sits fix on an AZ mount and this in turn on a small tripod or on a Gitzo carbon tripod. The software used is the Singularity app, which allows you to set the exposure time and gain individually, but I do not use this feature (defaults are: exposure time 10s, gain 20 dB). Initially, I will photograph all objects without a filter; in cases where the use of a filter is recommended, I will also photograph with a filter.

I typically use the JPG stacks that Vespera Pro saves to post-process the photos (brighten up, move black point). Lately I have also been trying to use the "final" TIFF and practicing "stretching". I also denoise many images, especially those of galactic nebulae.

Photo: Vaonis Vespera Pro - equipment in action (simulation...)

Conclusion

Each of us will try to achieve the best with our setup and present the results here. Apart from the same aperture and the use of the same camera chip, however, there are no established parameters that allow an objective technical comparison of the two systems. Nevertheless, a comparison should be interesting!

Object List

Initially, we agreed on a list of a maximum of 10 objects, but it grew a little. Here is the current provisional list; there may, however, be changes at any time, for example, because objects may not be accessible for one or both of us:

Number	Name, Further Catalogue Numbers	Constellation
IC 1396​	Elephant Trunk​	CEP
M 31	Andromeda Galaxy	AND
M 33	Triangulum Galaxy​, NGC 0598​	TRI​
M 42	Orion Nebul​a, NGC 1976​	ORI​
M 45​	Pleiades​, Mel 22	TAU
NGC 869/884​	Chi Persei Double Cluster, C014, Mel 13​	PER​
NGC 2024​ & B 33	Flame Nebula with Horsehead Nebula	ORI
NGC 2174​	Monkey Head Nebula, Sh2-252​	ORI​
NGC 2237​/44	Rosette Nebula​	MON
NGC 6960​	Western Veil/Cirrus Nebula ​	CYG
NGC 6992/5 ​	Eastern Veil/Cirrus Nebula ​	CYG
NGC 7000​	North America Nebula ​	CYG

 

Photos: Comparison Vaonis Vespera Pro versus Sky-Watcher Evoguide 50ED with ZWO ASI676

In progress

Note: Many of the Vespera Pro and Evoguide 50ED & ASI676 photos are provisional

IC 1396​ - Elephant Trunk

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
IC 1396, Nov 1, 2022 - 10 min		IC 1396, Oct 11, 2024 - 10 min
IC 1396, Nov 1, 2022 - 10 min, made brighter		IC 1396, Oct 11, 2024 - 10 min, made brighter
IC 1396, Nov 1, 2022 - 30 min		IC 1396, Oct 11, 2024 - 30 min
IC 1396, Nov 1, 2022 - 30 min, made brighter		IC 1396, Oct 11, 2024 - 30 min, processed
		IC 1396, Oct 11, 2024, 62 min
		IC 1396, Oct 11, 2024 - 62 min, made brighter
Current Best...
IC 1396, Nov 1, 2022 - 30 min, made brighter (for comparison)		IC 1396, Oct 11, 2024 - 62 min, section, processed (TIFF), denoised (DN)

Details for Vespera Pro in progress

M 31 - Andromeda Galaxy

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
M 31, Jan 28, 2024 - 10 min, mosaic, CLS filter		M 31, Aug 24 - 2024, 30 min		M 31 - 8 min
M 31, Jan 28, 2024 - 10 min, mosaic, CLS filter, made brighter		M 31, Aug 24, 2024 - 30 min, made brighter		M 31 - 8 min, slightly processed
M 31, Jan 28, 2024 - 30 min, mosaic, CLS filter		M 31, Aug 24, 2024 - 30 min		M 31, Oct 27, 2024 - 10 min
M 31, Jan 28, 2024 - 30 min, mosaic, CLS filter, made brighter		M 31, Aug 24, 2024 - 30 min, made brighter
M 31, Jan 28, 2024 - 57 min, mosaic, CLS filter
M 31, Jan 28, 2024 - 57 min, mosaic, CLS filter
M 31, Jan 28, 2024 - 57 min, mosaic, CLS filter
Current Best...
M 31, Jan 28, 2024 - 57 min, mosaic, CLS filter, made brighter		M 31, Aug 24, 2024 - 30 min, processed (TIFF), denoised		M 31, Oct 27, 2024 - 10 min

Details for Vespera Pro in progress

M 33 - Triangulum Galaxy (NGC 0598)

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
M 33, 30.10.2022 - 10 min		M 33, Nov 3, 2024 - 10 min		M 33, Oct 5, 2024 - gain 200, UV/IR filter, 19 frames a 32s = 608s, resized
M 33, 30.10.2022 - 10 min, processed		M 33, Nov 3, 2024 - 10 min, made brighter		M 33, Oct 27, 2024 - UV/IR filter, 10 frames a 32s = 320s, resized
M 33, 30.10.2022 - 30 min		M 33, Nov 3, 2024 - 30 min		M 33, Oct 27, 2024 - UV/IR filter, 10 frames a 32s = 320s, resized, processed
M 33, 30.10.2022 - 30 min, processed		M 33, Nov 3, 2024 - 30 min, made brighter
M 33, 30.10.2022 - about 45 min		M 33, Nov 3, 2024 - 1 h
M 33, 30.10.2022 - about 45 min, processed and denoised		M 33, Nov 3, 2024 - 1 h, made brighter
Current Best...
M 33, 30.10.2022 - about 45 min, processed and denoised (for comparison)		M 33, Nov 3, 2024 - 1 h, processed (Siril, AP) and denoised (DN), white balance		M 33, Oct 27, 2024 - UV/IR filter, 10 frames a 32s = 320s, resized, processed

Details for Vespera Pro in progress

M 42 - Orion Nebula (NGC 1976​)

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
M 42 - 640s
M 42 - 640s, made brighter

Details for Vespera Pro in preparation

M 45​ - Pleiades

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - 40 min, mosaic
M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - 40 min, mosaic		M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 40 min
M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - 40 min, mosaic, made brighter		M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 40 min, made brighter
M 45, Feb 6, 2023 - 40 min, mosaic, made brighter, denoised		M 45, Nov 4, 2024 - 40 min, made brighter, denoised, and color corrected

Details for Vespera Pro in preparation

NGC 869/884​ - Perseus Double Cluster

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
NGC 884/869, 12.8.2022 - 7:20 min		NGC 884/869, Oct 4, 2024 - 21 min		NGC 869/884, Oct 5, 2024 - gain 200, UV/IR filter, 19 frames à 32 s = 608s, resized
		NGC 884/869, Oct 4, 2024 - 21 min, made brighter		NGC 869/884, Oct 27, 2024 - gain 200, UV/IR filter, 19 frames à 32 s = 608s, resized

Details for Vespera Pro in preparation

NGC 2024​ & B 33 - Flame and Horsehead Nebulae

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
NGC 2024, B 33 - 32 min, Dual Band Filter

Details for Vespera Pro in preparation

NGC 2174​ - Monkey Head Nebula

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
NGC 2174 - 10 min

Details for Vespera Pro in preparation

NGC 2237​/2244 - Rosette Nebula

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
NGC 2237/44 - 2520s, Dual Band Filter

Details for Vespera Pro in preparation

NGC 6960​ - Western Cirrus/Veil Nebula

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
NGC 6960, Aug 28, 2022 - 650s		NGC 6960, Nov 4, 2024 - 23 min		NGC 6960, Sep 4, 2024 - 18 F, 540s (9 min)
		NGC 6960, Nov 4, 2024 - 23 min, made brighter		NGC 6960, Sep 4, 2024 - 18 F, 540s (9 min), made brighter
				NGC 6960, Oct 27, 2024 - 23 F, 736s (12 min)

Details for Vespera Pro in preparation

NGC 6992/5 - Eastern Cirrus/Veil Nebula

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
NGC 6992/5, Oct 5, 2024 - 12 min		NGC 6992/5, Oct 11, 2024 - 40 min		NGC6992, Oct 27, 2024 - UV/IR filter, 23 F, 736s (12 min), resized
		NGC 6992/5, Oct 11, 2024 - 40 min, made brighter

Details for Vespera Pro in preparation

NGC 7000​ - North America Nebula

Vespera		Vespera Pro		Evoguide 50ED & ASI676
NGC 7000, Jan 11, 2024 - 1 h, Dual Band Filter		NGC 7000, Oct 11, 2024 - 39 min		NGC 7000, Sep 4, 2024 - 18 F, 540s (9 min)
NGC 7000, Jan 11, 2024 - 1 h, Dual Band Filter, made brighter		NGC 7000, Oct 11, 2024 - 39 min, made brighter		NGC 7000, Sep 4, 2024 - 18 F, 540s (9 min), made brighter

Details for Vespera Pro in progress

 

First Conclusions

Only a few photos for now, so no conclusions yet! But we are excited to see what will come out of the "project"...

 

Links

• Vaonis: vaonis.com/fr/ (FR), vaonis.com (EN)
• See also my page offering Astronomy Links.

 

gerd (at) waloszek (dot) de About me

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14.11.2024

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