Here
            is some of our initial testing of one of the very first Hutech
            modified 10.1 Mpixel Rebel XTi cameras. The modifications we
            had done was to remove the IR blocking filter, and replace with
            the Type 1a filter, allowing full Hydrogen alpha response. When
            exposed for daylight, the images have a strong red tint, however
            applying a custom white balance profile while in the RAW format
            before conversion using a white solar calibration eliminates
            the cast and produces accurate colors. For the lunar image below,
            the lunar highlands are pure white from being pulverized by cratering,
            and provided essentially a grey card in sunlight for the nights
            shooting. Shooting deep sky on such a bright moonlit night was
            asking for trouble because the sky is a bright blue color at
            night. But getting familiar with this high resolution and very
            low noise camera in the not so dark was a very enjoyable experience!
            

            
Lets start with
            some lunar image with the 12.5" f/5 Newtonian at prime focus,
            and the camera set for ISO400. Here we compare the before and
            after on the custom white balance. Seeing was poor.




            


This is the raw image out of
the camera with the overall 
reddish cast.

            

Larger Size
Clicking the white balance 
eyedropper on the lunar
highlands near the top gave a 
very neutral color correct view




            
Next we applied
            this white balance "recipe" to all of the images to
            yield balanced images. Here is a shot with the 12.5" and
            Televue 2x barlow of the Sea of Tranquility.

            
Click
            here for larger size




            

With the nearly full moon
only 30 degrees away, the sky
was a bright blue color.  Five 
one minute frames of Orions 
Sword were averaged for this
moon fogged image with the
Stellarvue SV80s at f/4.8

            

Larger Image here
The same image after some 
processing shows plenty of
reds, a FAR cry from my un
modified 10D, which shows the
nebula as greens and blues 
only.




            
The crab nebula
            was nearby and just as badly sky fogged. But this three minute
            exposure with the Stellarvue shows the nebula clearly.

            
Larger
            Image here

Instrument:  12.5" f/5 Home made Newtonian
or Stellarvue SV80s
Platform:  Astrophysics 1200 QMD
Camera:  Hutech Modified Canon XTi @ ISO400
Exposure:  1m subframes
Filters:  None
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing  8/10, Transparency 2/10
Outside Temperature:  35F
Processing Tools:  Photoshop CS2, Maxim DL, Canon RAW
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