Monochrome Nikon D600

[Herra Kuulapaa]

This is the first test with the full frame Nikon D600 monochrome sensor. Sensor sees the full spectrum of visible and near infrared light.
I will provide actual astrophotos later when it get darker during the nights in here.



At this point the sensor feels real good and dynamic range is absolutely stunning!!! Unity gain seems to be ISO500, which I'll be imaging next season with.

EDIT: sensor data
=============================
DSLR Sensor Parameters v0.0.7
=============================
Camera: Nikon D600 Monochrome - True dark current enabled
ISO speed: 500
Image Size: 6034 x 4124
Bias frames exposure time: 1/4000 sec
Flat frames exposure time: 1/2000 sec
Dark frames exposure time: 600.1 sec
Gain per channel(e/ADU): [ 0.978, 0.979, 0.975, 0.975 ]
ISO for unit gain: [ 489, 489, 487, 488 ]
Read Noise(e): [ 2.91, 2.9, 2.92, 2.89 ]
Dark Current (e/pixel/sec) [ 0.0113, 0.022, 0.0189, 0.0205 ]
Noise estimates for 600sec exposure
Read Noise(e): [ 2.91, 2.9, 2.92, 2.89 ]
Thermal Noise(e): [ 2.6, 3.63, 3.37, 3.51 ]
Mean values in ADU
Bias Frame 1: [599.9, 600, 599.8, 600 ]
Bias Frame 2: [599.9, 600, 599.8, 600.1 ]
Flat Frame 1: [2597.6, 2579, 2598.3, 2591.9 ]
Flat Frame 2: [2607.3, 2588.7, 2608.2, 2601.7 ]
Dark Frame 1: [ 608.8, 611, 609.8, 611.4 ]
Dark Frame 2: [ 609.8, 612.3, 610.9, 612.7 ]

It still has the checkerboard pattern due to the pre raw write channel scaling. Unfortunately I'm facing some stability issues with the dark current injector so a permanent firmware mod would be real nice

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Here is the comparison of the D5100, in the same temperature (5°C)

=============================
DSLR Sensor Parameters v0.0.7
=============================
Camera: Nikon D5100
ISO speed: 320
Image Size: 4948 x 3280
Bias frames exposure time: 1/4000 sec
Flat frames exposure time: 1/1600 sec
Dark frames exposure time: 599.3 sec
Gain per channel(e/ADU): [ 0.879, 0.863, 0.863, 0.871 ]
ISO for unit gain: [ 281, 276, 276, 279 ]
Read Noise(e): [ 2.52, 2.46, 2.48, 2.47 ]
Dark Current (e/pixel/sec) [ 0.5637, 0.6956, 0.4972, 0.5825 ]

Noise estimates for 599sec exposure
Read Noise(e): [ 2.52, 2.46, 2.48, 2.47 ]
Thermal Noise(e): [ 18.38, 20.42, 17.26, 18.68 ]

Mean values in ADU
Bias Frame 1: [128, 129.1, 128.2, 128.9 ]
Bias Frame 2: [128.1, 129.1, 128.3, 128.9 ]
Flat Frame 1: [688.2, 689.7, 691, 686.5 ]
Flat Frame 2: [681.4, 683, 684.3, 680.1 ]
Dark Frame 1: [ 133.2, 134.9, 133.6, 134.2 ]
Dark Frame 2: [ 136.2, 138.1, 136.7, 137.2 ]

And here is the Monotec D5100 set to 4.6°C

Camera: Nikon D5100 Monochrome - True dark current enabled - Direct cooling
ISO speed: 320
Image Size: 4948 x 3280
Bias frames exposure time: 1/4000 sec
Flat frames exposure time: 1/400 sec
Dark frames exposure time: 599.6 sec
Channel order: []
Gain per channel(e/ADU): [ 0.886, 0.901, 0.903, 0.897 ]
ISO for unit gain: [ 284, 288, 289, 287 ]
Read Noise(e): [ 2.53, 2.55, 2.58, 2.55 ]
Dark Current (e/pixel/sec) [ 0.0099, 0.0141, 0.0095, 0.0097 ]
Dark Current (e/pixel/sec) [ 0.0113, 0.0069, 0.007, 0.0077 ]

Noise estimates for 600sec exposure
Read Noise(e): [ 2.53, 2.55, 2.58, 2.55 ]
Thermal Noise(e): [ 2.6, 2.03, 2.05, 2.15 ]

Mean values in ADU
Bias Frame 1: [127.9, 129, 128.1, 128.9 ]
Bias Frame 2: [127.9, 129, 128, 128.9 ]
Flat Frame 1: [1584.9, 1564.8, 1573.5, 1575.6 ]
Flat Frame 2: [1566.2, 1546.2, 1555.1, 1556.7 ]
Dark Frame 1: [ 131.3, 132.2, 131.2, 131.8 ]
Dark Frame 3: [ 131.5, 132.4, 131.3, 132 ]

[Herra Kuulapaa]

First AP test of the monochromatic Nikon D600. Veil nebula, HaRGB combination, colors taken from unmodified 6D stack, exposed last week.


8x11 minute subs on Ha. Color balance is slightly off, but I fix it later when I get more lights to it.

A minor issue with the true dark current injector though, camera froze in middle of the sequence. I used Digicamcontrol this time due to BYN issues. It's not easy hobby

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Another great success with true dark current mod

Nikon D600 Monochrome, True dark current mod by Nikonhacker, TS 65Q, 12nm Ha, 10x600s

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Monochrome modified D600 showcase continues, a bicolor (Ha+OIII) Veil this time. Compare the color to Ha injected RGB picture above.


10x660s Ha + 10x660s OIII - Nikon D600 Monochrome, true dark current mod, TS 65Q

[Herra Kuulapaa]

NGC7000 and the pelican

Mono Nikon D600, 6x660s, ISO500, 12nm Ha, TS65Q


Ha 6x660s, OIII 6x900s ja SII 8x900s ISO500

[Herra Kuulapaa]

I did some sensitivity testing with D600 with ISO500, 800 and 1600. Expected seeing more noise with higher ISO and therefore clearer image with near unity gain ISO..

Click them large:

[Herra Kuulapaa]

Image for a while - California Nebula NGC1499


Taken with D600am and D800am - (astromomo)

[Tom]

[Herra Kuulapaa]

It's a old and rusty HEQ-5.
Ps. I have one extra monochrome D600 sensor if anyone would like to pursue UVA, VIS or NIR imaging.