M45 Merope Comparison

  This test compares the two cameras performance in recording reflection nebulas. Below are crops of Merope Nebula located in M45 Pleiades enlarged to 200X. These are a combination of short 3 minute sub-frames so as not to over saturate the image due to the extremely bright stars. Using Images Plus the only processing was calibration and DDP using a portion of the nebula for reference to bring both examples to an approximate stretched level and a G2 star weight applied to the XM version during RGB combine.
• The XM version shows more correct blue hues and much cleaner star edges.
• The XCM blue shift is due to the differences in the spectral curve of the blue Bayer filters but can be easily adjusted during processing.
   No big deal though as other astronomical filters sets can also have a shift due to different curves.
• The XCM displays slightly more background noise that can be cleaned.
• The XCM shows star edge color artifacts on the smaller stars that will require additional processing to reduce their presence.
• The XCM displays a less harsh halo around Merope when compared to the XM version that used filters which I prefer aesthetically.

	200X Crop of Merope taken with the XCM ST2000-XCM data details: Date - 02/02/2008 07:30PM Temp - 37F 3C Humidity - 70% Dew - 28F -2C Visibility - 10 miles 16.1Km Wind - 6 mph 10 Km/h Exposure - 63 X 3 minutes Bin 1x1 Sigma Average Combine CCD Temp -25C OTA - TMB130SS APO w/ Baader UV/IR filter Image scale 1.68 arc seconds/pixel
	200X Crop of Merope taken with the XM ST2000-XCM data details: Date - 01/26/2008 00:19AM Temp - 34F -4C Humidity - 62% Dew - 20F -7C Visibility - 10 miles 16.1Km Wind - 5 mph 6 Km/h (R)20 X 3 (G) 20 X 3 (B) 20 X 3 minutes Bin 1x1 Sigma Average Combine CCD Temp -25C OTA - TMB130SS APO Image scale 1.68 arc seconds/pixel

Merope After Processing

  The following XCM example of Merope after applying Adobe CS noise reduction, color balance and using a star mask and selective color tool to reduce the star edge color artifacts. This isn't a finished image but just a demonstration that differences in this type of object between the XCM and XM can be adjusted.
  Unlike DSO objects such as M1 Crab Nebula that contain fine details that can test the XCM's performance limitations, reflection and emission nebula performance can be on level grounds as the XM camera when processed correctly.

	200X Crop of Merope taken with the XCM after noise reduction, star edge artifact cleanup and levels adjustment. This example is close to the quality of the XM image. Differences will be less noticeable at the native image scale.
	200X Crop of Merope taken with the XM

Noise Reduction Measurements

  This section displays the noise reduction improvements using Photoshop noise reduction tool. By using the Std. Deviation measurements of Photoshop, actual results can be measured. Selecting the same sky background area the Std. Deviation values can be seen between the before and after noise reduction examples of the XCM image. Notice the processed XCM image displays slightly lower noise compared to the unprocessed XM version. The reduction may smooth some structure, as can also be the case with the XM, but additional processing techniques can restore it.

XCM version before noise processing. Note the high Std. Deviation value.

XCM version after noise processing. Note lower Std. Deviation

XM version with no noise processing.