Confession: I've become a pixel peeper

Support this channel and join an amazing community of over 900 other amateur astrophotographers: / nebulaphotos

[@seanmasten8187]

Im glad to see there are names for my disabilities...

[@Fluffy-777]

We need a support group 😂

[@capturethephotons2078]

We are not alone in the pixel peeping universe 😅 clear skies

[@joedenisco6033]

Hi Nico, that image is fantastic. Being critical of yourself is one of the reasons you are one of the best out there. Everything about that image was perfect me. Thanks for inspiring me.

[@lukomatico]

Hey Nico, hope you're doing well mate! :-D What a wonderful video subject and presentation as always! - I'm an avid pixel peeper too, early on it was frustrating but honestly I kinda love it these days! that feeling of satisfaction when you track down an issue and solve it is magnificent! You really hit upon a lot of points that resonated with me through this, so thanks for taking the time to share - you make wonderful quality content and it's appreciated!

[@yosry7232]

I am a beginner in the astrophotography world, this guy has learned me the most about that Hobby, He made too many things so easy for me even if English isn't my language, Thank you nico

[@Reptileowner]

Your English is pretty good but instead of learned it would be taught

[@DataSmithy]

Sounds like what you are saying is: by staying with the same setup for a longer period, you have more of a chance to improve your knowledge and skills using the equipment to fine tune it, and get better results that way. That way, when you do upgrade, you are ready. This could be an analogy to learning play a musical instrument. Learn how to play what you have to it's best potential before moving on to a more expensive instrument. But most importantly, enjoy making music!

[@robertsipes7391]

Don't feel bad. I have all of the latest equipment and software and haven't begun to use it, which is probably worse. Thanks for bringing these issues to light!

[@LogansAstro]

Great video Nico, talking about the balancing act of pixel peeping, gear acquisition and improving oneself as an astrophotographer. I don't see pixel peeing as necessarily a bad thing unless the only outcome personally is to feel bad about the hobby. I pixel peep to try and look for ways to improve my images and in some cases, it is because of the inherent problems with a particular type of gear (i.e the telescope) and it will never be solved by continuing to use that item. But for other issues, as you have talked about, it is to try and re-examine your techniques either in how you are acquiring the subs (such as your quick fix of blocks on the ground) or the processing of the image (which tends to be more of a detail/colour issue rather than wonky stars). Pixel peeping isn't really required for astrophotography if KZbin is the really the main reason for the hobby because no-one will see those faults necessarily on the KZbin video (unless the issues are super obvious). So I personally pixel peep to try and improve myself as an astrophotographer and I also compare myself to others on Astrobin with similar setups to give an indication of what I should be aiming for in quality/improvement. At the same time, there is no point comparing your $1500 telescope, $3000 mount and $2500 cooled camera in Bortle 6 skies with someone's image taken from Chilescope with a $500K scope, $500K mount in Bortle 1 skies.

[@cityspaceastro]

The biggest piece of advice you gave here was to not compare your images to those of others. That is so right If I am proud with an image I post it and the fact there are other that are better is great but what matters most is that I am happy. I know of AP's who never post a thing because they feel their images are not perfect. We are all in this for enjoyment right so keep doing whatever makes you happy.

[@AstroQuest1]

A must see for anyone thinking about this hobby or just starting out 🤪. My shapen stars on the Edge800 are due to in part to collmination and overtightning the corrector plate when I installed the dew ring (pinching). I did some adjustments and they seem to be better now, but as you pointed out, a little pixel peeping is helpful. Your GAS acronym is brilliant and it sure does exist. I can ubnderstand how you are pulled into two directions since you are doing the KZbin AP as your profession yet you have your own pet projects.Yor Astroshed with two mounts is a great idea, one dedicated to the channel and one to do your own specialized projects. - Cheers

[@michaellorentzen1672]

Hey Nico! Im not creator myself, but I’m willing to bet as a astrophotography content creator you struggle to come up with Interesting content that isn’t processing or “tonight’s imaging session” vlog style vids. Well let me tell ya, I love these “adjacent” type of videos. I’m sure they are hard work as well, but they’re great to watch and help build out the community. Thanks!

[@CameronGillis]

Wonderful and much appreciated video Nico👌 Indeed, I believe many of us can completely relate; I know I can, working on achieving 3 stable rigs for the sky survey I'm planning on eventually starting, maybe by next year? 😁 Most important wisdom is to make sure you "enjoy the journey"... Thanks again for producing and sharing your experience for our beloved hobby. Keep looking up and enjoying the journey ✨️ Clear Skies! Cheers! Cameron

[@ClearSkiesAstro]

Hi there Nico! I completely agree. After starting my KZbin channel, I began obsessing about the images and imperfections. I have to admit that it did drive me to some Gear Acquisition Syndrome! Lol! I'll remember to take some images just for me. Happy to hear I'm not alone! Great advice, as always! 👏

[@kanakrt9210]

I own a Canon DSLR and a tripod, and that's all I've had for the past 1.5 years. I've been doing astrophotography from my terrace, but initially, I wasn't happy with the pictures I took of the moon. It was frustrating, but I learned how to capture the moon better using the same lens. Now, it takes no time for me to take a clear picture of the moon! I then moved on to capturing planets, stars, constellations, and bright nebulae. However, I'm currently limited to taking only 2 to 4 seconds of exposure. I tried capturing the Orion constellation using just my tripod, following your tutorial. It was my first attempt, and I wasn't well-prepared for it. That night turned out to be a disaster! But I didn't give up. I made myself a Bahtinov mask and tried capturing Orion again. This time, I managed to gather some data that I'm currently happy with. After conducting a lot of research and talking to people who share a similar interest, I've learned a lot theoretically. I have also decided on the setup I want to purchase for astrophotography while staying within my budget. I want to express my gratitude to you, sir, as your videos have been extremely helpful and informative, helping me make the right decisions.

[@sevenowls7776]

It can strike at any age... I'd hate to be a JWST astronomer; can you imagine the 'only if' that goes on there..?

[@maverick9708]

For sure, it would tear me up every hour of every week

[@AfricanAstro]

I just love your honesty Nico. For me as a newbie in astrophotography, finding someone that is clearly passionate about the “hobby” with great advice I can actually use is a tremulous encouragement. I’ve just spent 4 nights under the dark African skies of the Kruger National Park, taking roughly 200 pictures of the Milky Way with just my DSLR and tripod. I believe the next step is to “stack” them using software and maybe stitch them together in a panorama. Don’t even know where to start, but I will. My point is that your contribution to the pain and art of astrophotography is a gift and the hours you put into doing this are truly appreciated. Thanks man!

[@TheDarkgusgus]

I'm so happy you decided to give yourself some personal Astro time with personal equipement.

[@scottrk4930]

Hi Nico . OMG , this has been your best video to date ! I've watched it twice , each time nodding and smiling at each point that I too have experienced . "G.A.S." is very similar to "F.O.M.O." , Fear of Missing Out , which is of course driven by the Astro Industry . This was great ! Thanks ./SRK

[@coryweston2100]

Paused on the Bucket List. Thanks for some great target ideas! Which reminded me of the Anglerfish Nebula you shared a while back which led me to your Astrobin gallery, with more good stuff to try. I don't judge my images by other's, but I do take inspiration from the wonderful stuff shared by this community. I just hope to continue to discover the incredible and endless beauty that is exposed by my own efforts.

[@utahdesertremoteobservator8328]

Interesting observations. Only the best photographers worry about the fine details. Too many just assume their images are great but don't look deeply enough to find flaws - and then learn how to fix them. But finding flaws and fixes is how we learn. Regarding the out-of-round stars - there are a variety of fixes that I'm sure you already know about. For instance, you can sort through the subs and throw out the ones with bad stars. You can also do an integration of just the few that have really good stars and use just the stars from that set (if you're using a starless workflow). You can even get good stars from just one frame (or one each or R,G&B). Lastly, you can fix oblong stars in Photoshop with a simple duplicate star layer in Darken blending mode and offset it just enough to hide the offending portion of the star.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I feel you Nico - and completely agree between KZbin channel and personal goals. I've also been looking for a full frame sensor with small pixels *just* for KZbin reviews...

[@josemariaantaalvarez4208]

Couldn’t agree with you more Nico. This is simply one of the best videos ive seen in years, love your view and honesty here :)

[@harryl9077]

Hey Nico, You where the first person and I think THE person who got me into astro photography. Being by training a "repro(duction) photographer, and that is more than 40 years ago, I have seen it all and been at most "places" Already in film days, but it really came to its full truth in digital photographic times, an old saying came true. The Amateur worries about equipment, the professional worries about money, and the artist worries about light!! You doing awesome!

[@TheDicsolovag]

Another great topic, glad you talked about this. I'm also trying to stick to the rig I have and only add new accessories that will make the versatility broader. I recognized though that my pixel peeping throws away large number of subs these days. I throw away a sub even when only a very tiny distortion is visible on it.

[@barrytdrake]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I recently bought the Askar FRA 400 as an upgrade to the ACL 200 I used for most of last year's images. It's a little too much for my SWSA mount of course, but I've been a little hesitant (still tempted) to spend $2k on either an EQ-6R Pro or a harmonic mount. Thank you for counseling patience and not encouraging my GAS. It really helps to know that you have the same kinds of struggles, and that our best competition is *only* with our past selves.

[@astrojourneyuk]

Some great advice there Nico. I think everyone gets GAS at some point in their journey. 😀 Also, I heard once that “Comparison is the thief of joy” which is worth remembering too. Thanks for a great video.

[@flipper8652]

Thanks Nico, another honest video. it quick becomes an expensive venture trying to achieve those results you see in others photos. comparing yourself and wanting to achieve the same results. cameras, mounts, software, plugins, filters, fuel to dark sky sites all adds up. I think a lot of photographers/asto photographers have a keen eye for detail. perhaps being less self critical and just enjoying the lerning curve instead of racing to get there is the way to go. finding a cheap solution tho can be frustrating at times 😀

[@michaelcolford6817]

My solution to GAS is to put my wife in charge of the acquisition part. Since the budgeted funds are zero, I learned to maximized the use and fun with my current set up. Your cover photo is perfect as I feel exactly that way. Nico, keep up these great video!

[@humbugnh]

Love seeing the broader topic content. As someone mostly into visual it's nice knowing you have your own version of Aperture Fever! Best of luck in NH this summer. We have a great astro community up here.

[@avt_astro206]

As A Beginner, I used to be A Pixel Peeper myself. Because Maybe when I started the hobby, I just didn't set my expectation well enough. Things Got more overwhelming to a point, when I realised, Why I do Astrophotography? I Love The Hobby and Love The Science behind it, And Now, I do my Astrophotography from a Bortle 8 Backyard and An alt-Az Mount that Doesn't Track Very well, And Yet I figured out with Short exposures i can Get Perfectly Round stars And Use my hand Controller to Manually Guide the Mount. Im Feeling The progress the More I try to shoot Diffrent object in the night sky With a Great Level of Perseverance and Passion. It made realise indeed That Astrophotography is Definitely Not A competition. Its an Incredible Journey! I can Agree that Buying Better Gear Does not Make you any better at Astrophotography, But Rather making the Most out of What you have and Learning it as a skill /experience. Great Video as always!

[@markmruczek4391]

Hi Nico, great stuff! I have been building a single rig as you say and it is very enjoying. Started with the mount, then scope, reducer EAF, quide system, OSC cooled camera, and 3 good filters, and filter drawer. I know the system and enjoy using it. Only 80mm but I have seen a lot of improvements in myself over the year that i have had it and that gets me even more excited (only wish the weather kept up with my excitement). I will always make small tweaks to it but it will not change for now. Just moving into mosaics so can't wait. Best advice as you say, build something you can afforded , use it and improve with it, there is no better enjoyment!! Clear skys! Mark M

[@genekaplan7738]

Thank you Nico for this excellent post. I am a little over a year into this and am having these exact same feelings. I love my Orion 104ED refractor on our EQ6 equatorial and our C9.25 Alt/At has been fine for planets but is difficult for deep sky, so of course that has me thinking about de-mounting it and buying a new heavy duty mount, new guide scope, etc. Big money. I have decided to buy the .7 reducer and get all we can out of the Alt/At mount before moving up. Regarding your decision, it sounds like the right thing to do. My brother was a career professional photographer and would agree with your approach I am sure. I also wanted to share that I think more posts like this are good. Not everything has to be about the latest gear, etc. In fact I would submit that you could build a series around the stages astrophotographers go through, the emotional side of the equation, encouraging the newbies, etc. The “how to” content is invaluable but there are plenty of gear reviews. You clearly have a talent for talking about other aspects of the hobby and I for one would love to see more of it.

[@chessymajewski9669]

You Hit the nail right on the head. I mostly use my 8inch reflector for imaging and never have a problem night after night, but when I change it to a refractor, It never functions right, always having to tweak here and there and that frustrates me. I'm with you on that one just stick to one rig and leave it at that.

[@nadirteymurov1]

Nico, I feel you ! I've gone through the similar and I think have finally settled down. As for the triangular stars, I think the reason is the pinched optics.

[@aydinastrophotography]

Hi Nico, love this video, a must watch one. Thank you for creating this.

[@enigmaticfool]

I love this. One of my favorite videos from you. Candid insight into the struggles that you (but actually all of us!) feel. It’s incredibly validating and really healthy to feel the loneliness of some of that PP-GAS syndrome slip away as you help reveal the normalcy of those feelings. And you know they really extend beyond Astro and into their various analogous syndrome in many many (perhaps all?) hobbies. Thanks for this candid video!

[@Dvour420]

I started woodworking to support my Gas habit with astronomy. Then I had to get a fulltime job to pay for that now. Thank God drywall is very easy on a persons body.....

[@fazergazer]

The tracking issues over several nights….if you were only focused on gear, one would miss that simple fix! This video is so on-point!!!❤

[@RandallKayfes]

You said it perfectly what I was trying get across on the TAIC. Fix one problem one solution at a time and solutions can be so simply as to fooling us into thinking it can't be that simple. Due to economics my system has to be simple and done once.... Great vid!!!!!

[@andydungan3335]

Thank you for your honesty. These are important issues. Learning to master your gear and therfore your photos makes so much sense.

[@DSOImager]

Great Video & images Nico! Yep, I pixel peep. I think I'm my own worst critic too. GAS is part of the hobby. That said, keeping a stable rig does allow one to become very familiar with it. That's why i keep adding rigs, lol. CS!

[@gregerianne3880]

These are some great insights, Nico! Thanks for sharing all those. I think your personal solution is great! Watch those roaming animals, though.

[@LeeMize]

Excellent video, Nico! As a beginner, I have a ways to go before these maladies become relevant, but it's good to know about them. I will focus on comparing new images with my past images. :)

[@ricklaird2218]

Really helpful video. Thank you. I have been doing some comparing to other people's images but this is helpful to look back at my own improvements. thanks

[@VRzichtbaar]

Hi Nico, there is a Dutch saying that directly translates to: you hit the nail on the head. To me the value of videos like this is higher than gear test of the latest and greatest. For one I don't have the money to do so but also it doesn't resonate to my situation. Don't get me wrong your comparison video's are by far the best. But following your heart is always better. I hope that you will be able to share you passion project because in the end that is what a hobby is about. Thx for sharing for what many of us experience and possibly drive us away from star gaming. My 2cts, Bob

[@othonbenavente1876]

Fantastic insight. I greatly appreciate finding a kindred spirit. Thank you.

[@timwilde4200]

Hi Nico. I've been a photographer for something like 50 years, and if you really care about your work as an art form, and aren't into the self-delusion of so many who get into the field, then you're ALWAYS going to find fault in some way with an image. Out of the tens of thousands of images I've captured through the years, I don't think there's a single one I could ever say was perfect, and that's probably a good thing because it means you're staying grounded and striving for better things. There's always a fault somewhere - the contrast, or a tree or cloud on the border that's been cut in half, or a distant figure in the background you weren't aware of at the time you released the shutter. Photoshop can fix many things, but to me, once you do that, it's an acknowledgement that the image is flawed and needs fixing or enhancement - the absolutely perfect image is one that doesn't need a thing. Even people such as Ansel Adams were often unhappy with aspects to their work, and as a master of the darkroom he frequently played with the final image to mask faults. Given the increasing advances in AI (some very uncomfortable) I wouldn't be surprised if a program like Photoshop soon has the facilities to intuitively correct out of focus images with a word or fix issues such as yours with ease. I find pixel peeping a particularity dangerous rabbit hole to go chasing, and simply use it as a defining border on how far I'm willing to go in terms of potential enlargement for screen display or prints. An example is a recent trip I went on to India and Nepal, where I took a newly acquired Sigma Art series lens. I didn't have time to thoroughly test the lens before I went and ran into the one issue the Art series are notorious for - while famously pin sharp and excellent in many areas, the autofocus can be very iffy in a way that isn't obvious through the viewfinder, and I ended up with 10-20 percent of my images out of focus to varying degrees. It was heartbreaking in the sense that I could see that a number of them would have been excellent but for the focus issues, none of which can be fixed through conventional sharpening. All I can do is hold them back and wait for potential advances that may be able to fix them. Yet with that said, a number that are borderline are perfectly usable as long as I work within the restrictions and limit the size to something like 5 x 7 or 10 x 8. Pixel peeping at them makes me cringe, yet keeping the final product small enough renders them serviceable. :)

[@keithhanssen7413]

Love the open full disclosure. For me, I’ve been putting off building a small tracker rig with a Canon R (h-alpha mod). Finally did it. Wish it would stop raining 😂 (actually we need the rain so it’s all good).

[@mariannesigal1532]

I loved this video. Literally laughed aloud because even as a newbie to this hobby I understood these issues! Really helpful points to think about. Thank you for your videos they’ve been extremely helpful to me from day one that I got into this incredibly amazing hobby.

[@stefanschneider3681]

Great video! Weather and my low expectations kept my till know from having this disease. But at your level I can very well understand. I even took a step back doing much more with just the camera and the star tracker, because it is much more forgiving and still keeps me happy 😊. But I know: A few clear nights in a row and I will start thinking: Dam, that apochromat that is on sale right now … my gear could handle the weight … that chromatic aberration of my lense is really annoying …. Maybe … why don’t I … then the next storm comes around and I am saved 🤣.

[@kenhansard3734]

Hi Nico, you raise some really relatable points here. It's like that Buddhist thing that desire leads to unhappiness. For me I like to use envy and ambition and disappointment as a way to drive myself forward. But also do the opposite of that and just not get too wrapped up in new gear or what others are doing. Thanks for sharing this!

[@Mico-Xiyeas]

Desire doesn't lead to unhappiness, attachment does

[@score-graffix5694]

Nice 1, Nico! I've never commented any of your videos - just plain enjoyed and learned(!) from them. Though not being so deep into full-on astro (just a mobile tracker with a sharp 135 f/1.8 on a hires full frame - so far), I do have to as well admit to being a GAS-PP as well :))) Keep going with the skill-sharpening hints - I really enjoy them! Maybe a hint to all mobile owls out there as to an alternative to using bricks as a tripod base, especially in swampy areas: I usually get a thick, untreated broom stick, cut it in three equal lengths, sharpen one end and put a 90° sink in the other (for the tripod spikes to sit in). On locattion I pound them into the soft ground where the tripod legs need to be and then set the tripod with its spikes onto the poles sticking barely out of the ground. I find the solution super stable - even acidental kicks to the tripod hardly mess up alignment. And when done for the night (or two or three), I just leave the poles in the ground without worries, since the wood can naturaly decay due to being untreated ;-) Wishing sharp exposures!

[@leonardoleite1085]

Great video Nico, thanks for sharing!

[@alec5545]

new to the channel and am just awestruck with what sort of images you are able to capture and found myself itching to get into the hobby. I'm going to set a budget of $0 for this however since I don't have the time and money for anything else in my life. that said i'm going to start my journey with my Pixel phone mounted on a step ladder and also a hand me down Panasonic Lumix and focus on making do with what I can and just focusing on accumulating knowledge like i've been getting from your channel. thanks!

[@ametsia]

As usual, you post a video that deals with exactly what I've been going through recently - triangular stars, pixel-peeping, and hatin' on my photos. How do you know?! Haha. Your self-awareness is very much appreciated. Thank you, Nico.

[@gestor2008]

I started in the hobby just 2 years ago, and Nico is my main reference in learning. There are many others superclass as Nico, but i like very much nico's explanations and videos, there are clear and human. Thank you

[@MazzifLOL]

Thanks Nico... Now my wife won't think I "need" that new mount! 😂😂😂

[@Lyrenoorfeu]

That’s how we solve most of our astrophotography problems in my country. As we have a limited budget, we can’t solve everything buying more gear so inexpensive solutions (as the bricks) is the way to go.

[@plato1234plato]

great comments! I think part of the joy of photography, regardless of the subject matter, is finding ways to exceed your expectations for the rig you already have. You can't do that if you don't pixel peep. When I overcome those limitations and get a great photo I feel a huge sense of achievement. A better rig can get a better photo, but I got a great photo with the rig I have, and that gives me great satisfaction especially when I tell people what I used to get the shot.

[@GalenCrayn]

I think people would love the most if you would show them what YOU love. It`s not a bad idea to have both setups but I think people are most interested in YOUR personal journey. So make both and you have double the content and people will love both.

[@Astro_Shed]

Great video and all very true, I went down this rabbit hole with my Tak FSQ85, and when zoomed in 3:1m then my starts were bad, I have always been a pixel peeper, and in the end my scope was bad and I got rid of it, BTW your issue looked more like pinched optics to me, rather than a sinking / moving mount…👍🏻

[@galacticnemesis366]

Kudos to you Niko for chasing your passion for the hobby. I appreciate that perspective on PP and GAS and just the whole hobby in general. It inspired me to review my first ever images of untracked, stacked 50mm f1.8 and compare to most recent. Which in turn led me to an online purchasing session that ended once I'd maxed out my credit card and all of the buy now pay later platforms I could find. 🤯🤒 Just joking. 🤣No really thanks for the elbow nudge. Fantastic content. Clear skies.

[@mikelockwood2104]

Nico - agree 100% with setting up an unchanging rig. I finally realized that about a year ago when I poured a concrete pier for my GEM45. Talk about a game changer ! Same mount/OTA/ power supply , etc. Fine tune your workflow and tweak the bells & whistles. Tweak one rig month after month, image after image until you have maxed out the capabilities of that setup. Then ! maybe you won't have GAS

[@missmissy3279]

Great video. Love the reviews and equipment test, but I too had trouble last night acquiring an image in bortle 8 skies. Used too much focal length (se8) with untested "GAS" and was just about to give up. I will go back to my sv bony 503 and improve my photos from there. I need better glass, but close to a fix for my "Gas". Thanks for the boost to my ego!! Scotty

[@logskidder5655]

I just want my own Carl Sagan 12m Space Telescope? Then maybe I can be a real astrophotographer.

[@matej.mlakar]

Time for "Pixel Peepers Anonymous"? :D Also, I noticed sun-burned hands and I said to myself that Nico must be working on something big outside. So I guess the observatory is already in the making? :D

[@orionm4268]

Run Rabbit Run! Catch those stars, till the night is done Pink floyd

[@linhaixueyuan]

Great video, i found nothing negative in it, on the other end a good solution to my negativities about my images and videos... thanks !!!

[@critshot4694]

Outside my OCD I had no idea this had a name 🤣🤣 If I know my images aren't perfectly sound (which they never are for many and different reasons) I don't ALWAYS feel accomplished with a finished product 😬 But honestly though, your work is incredible and you are my go to for learning all things Astrophotography! my passion literally started with a smartphone and a Dobsonian, terrible... But the more I got invested in it the more proper gear I got, cameras, mounts, astrographs... the whole nine yards. I have learned A LOT from your videos especially with post-processing where, at first, I had ZERO idea where to start. My passion started from normal interest in astronomy with various telescopes refractors and reflectors, but I wanted to translate that into print or online images. Came across your channel through a general search and have been forever grateful and happy since :D

[@taurus7228]

Hi Nico. Thank you for this excellent video. It must be very difficult putting up such a video here on youtbe. I must learn from everyone here and not compare myself. Just like when I started astrophotography. Cheers

[@deep_space_dave]

Hi Nico! Yep this happened to me! I couldn't figure out why my stars were elongated all the time so I thought oh I'll get a more expensive mount that has encoders. End result, still elongated starts! Then I realized my polar alignment was off! After I fixed that problem solved but now I have this expensive mount! I myself had decided to only have 1 telescope (RASA 8) and different cameras depending on the target. So far that is working out since I live near Chicago and seeing /transparency is a challenge. So I totally get what you are say about minimizing your setup to build muscle memory! Also to minimize the GAS or what I call the adventurous rabbit hole as now I have only the filters and other gear that I need. So many aspects of this hobby can send you in a mental tail spin so I am glad you made this video! Thanks and Clear Skies!

[@mistaskate8715]

Follow what you love to do and eventually others who love that stuff will find you too! It's so easy ruining a hobby when turning it into a buissness or similar. I personally love watching your videos both for yor content and for your style of creating videos so I'll sticl around no matter what! Clear skies 😊

[@DavesAstrophotography]

Can't wait to see your obo build!

[@mikemccann8822]

My wife says “I’m glad you have such a relaxing hobby “, and loves by it when I say “ no I don’t really need a new direct drive mount I’m satisfied with my 2 AP and Losmandy mounts” (I started with an 8” dob to look at mars and worked through various iOptron mounts) now if I didn’t fall asleep during PixInsight tutorials and be a pixel peeper I’d have more images:)

[@SmilingJ]

Well, I would certainly put building an observatory into the GAS category. Perhaps even into one of the most extreme form of GAS. But then, it might only be that I envy you for having the space for an observatory. However, I whish you good luck with the build and wanted to thank you for your videos. I always like and enjoy them.

[@timcorso6337]

Everyone (perhaps) is guilty of wanting the next 'shiny' thing, but there is a lot to be said for sitting back and enjoying what you have. This may be a bit strange, but I get a lot of satisfaction justfrom the process of acquisition. Setting up, (I don't have an observatory), overcoming the little issues that challenge you, sorting out guiding, perfecting my composition etc. In someways the image at the end is a nice bonus. Don't push yourself to hard, remember it's a hobby to be enjoyed otherwise burn-out is the only outcome.

[@lifeinabox1]

Great video & growth insights.

[@tristb9196]

When I first started this hobby, I bought a tripod, an unmodified dslr, intervalometer, and an SD card alongside a star tracker (star adventurer.) It lasted me all of about 2 weeks. It was back in the winter when Orion was still high enough in the sky to get, and even with very little knowledge of anything photography, I still managed to get something to show up and then I was always chasing equipment to try to improve upon it. First it was a better lens (let's be real, the kit lens are normally just a pain to deal with when processing.) Then it was this and that, and before long it was a new mount. Then a bigger dedicated lens, then another, etc. I've managed to reign it in a bit, but it spiraled into "what will be the better upgrade for what I want to achieve" fairly quickly, rather than just slow baby steps. I will say however, the best investments were the polemaster and now the asiair/dedicated zwo camera. If there's one thing I loathe is trying to polar align on my star adventurer. Why in the world can't these companies put a light in them is beyond me. But enough of that rant! I've not been looking too much at the various gear I could get, and instead have more looked at long term goals, such as what targets become available later on in the year, any potential mosaics I'd like to try to tackle, etc rather than "I need x item." (Though honestly, it'll break the bank too lol...) Love the video, and look forward to further videos regardless of which direction you were to choose! You've been a great inspiration.

[@petooskey]

Lmao at 1:47, I lost it when you set it on fire. Was not expecting that

[@crrc250]

Totally agree! I see it in some many groups that claim, help for~ 'beginning basic astro', and then they tell everyone~"Ohoooooh, you can't do anything with THAT simple gear, you gotta GO BIG! gotta get a goto"................. pfffttt~ many don't even know how to use the camera they have. Gotta learn to crawl before you can walk. I'm basic. I like simple. Dual purpose camera, lenses, a simple tracker, a few filters, and a tool box with the extra accessories. I like the challenge, the set up routine, finding the target, learning the stars, I just like being outside. My GAS problem is lenses, lol, having just added a fisheye lens today so I won't have to do a pano for what I can see of the milky way arch from my front field, lol! I tell newbies, want hubble quality photos, Buy the Hubble . I like watching many of you astro folks, even using gear I have no desire for, I do learn little tips. Like today, I've had those funky stars before, now I know why. It was on the nights I had to flip the camera over! Your gear reviews help those who are looking for honest opinions. Btw, if those are your critters, and that's where you plan to do an observatory, a pair of small silos would be nice, one for your personal set up, the other for new reviews. I hope you do a build series when you make one. I'm looking to make 2, silo shaped, front field and a back field. Keep up the honesty and great work Nico!

[@maboleth]

Many guys said it already. For me, as a professional lifestyle stock photographer (or just a photographer), the best work I have done and the images that I'm still most proud of after so many years were done by a) a crop sensor camera (7D) and b) a single lens (50mm f1.4 Canon), combined with all-purpose Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 lens. This combo served me years of work, I've done billboards, book covers, you name it. What I'm trying to say is - having LESS gear actually makes you think out of the box, using your brains instead of tech to overcome whatever issue there is. Also, personally, a lot of tech makes me overwhelmed and can even stun me in my work. Clear skies.

[@markwood1660]

Hi Nico, most of us probably don't have the opportunity to buy the best kit available and are using perhaps more "low" to mid level equipment. As a few of the comments below have suggested, in addition to the new kit reviews, comparisons etc ( and I have used a few of yours for my own kit purchases ) seeing how you tackle the daily issues on a one rig set up would really help. Your 6 Pro and my Heq5 for instance aren't all that different and when you work through your issues whether that is hardware or software, I can see how that would relate perhaps to my frustrations. Combine this Personal set up with the acquisition and processing of the Bucket List for instance and I am sure there are many of us who could really relate to those insights.

[@siegfriednoet]

I don't see pixelpeeping as something negative, i have been a nature photographer for many many years (started in the analog time). During the years I was always looking closer and better at my images than most people do, so I always saw something that could be better. By doing so I have learned a lot, and still got better, not by spending more money but learning of my own faults. A few years ago I started astrphotography, and as I am such a perfectionist I also do that in this hobby and keeps me learning more things and above that it keeps me inspired to always do better. So am I a pixelpeeper, absolutely yes, do I regret that, absolutely not ! Great video again Nico, keep up the good work

[@jeromemarie4770]

imagine feeling the same everytime you make food. cogratulation you are now a chef!

[@flutesofmontereypeninsula4169]

Nico, I'm avid follower of your KZbin channel. My philosophy is being a catfish that's a bottom feeder. In photography, I wouldn't buy any gear newer than 10 years old. I've gotten nice photos using old Canon FD lens (they were great in the 35mm film days), a Lumix Gx1 camera and the Star Adventurer mount. It would be nice if an astro KZbinr could set up an informal contest of a specified deep sky object where contestants can only use the most basic set up. Maybe Deep Sky Stacker could be used but NO GIMP or Photoshop.

[@TheNoon56]

Just watching this after spending 3 days asking myself i f i should buy a better lens. The answer i came with is : not yet. So thank you for confirming my thoughts. I really like your cows btw.

[@scottchapple4087]

I feel ya. I almost got a new focuser for my telescope after I found out why I could not collimate my secondary mirror right. The problem was my focuser. It was at a slight angle and was throwing off my alignment. So instead of buying a new and improved one know that I would have sent $$$ on a pro setup, I brain stormed on how to fix the rig I love to use. Well after wracking my brain I bought a 1/16 inch rubber gasket, cut out a piece that would adjust the angle and whala! It worked. Great images now and after trying to collimate for the last 4 days took me 30 minutes. Disaster averted. GAS avoided. Thanks Nico. Now I know I am not going nuts!

[@andesastro]

Hey Nico, good content, sad to see you becoming a pixel peeper, hope you don’t waste your savings and rather invest on your observatory! Your advices will help others for sure. Also, will you ever do the critique video from the pictures we send at the end of last year?

[@dmintz88]

Hahaha, this is brilliant, funny, and 100% TRUE. I've been there. But it still doesn't compare to being a LAWN PEEPER.

[@kmh032008]

Nico: “I grown the most when I stay with equipment I have…” Me watching as I’m replacing my narrowband filters

[@3DAstroTC]

Great video! And very good advice. I definitely risk suffering from gear acquisition syndrome.

[@kevins8575]

Good plan. Separate your fun activities and budget from your business efforts and investments. Last night I took my first Milky Way image and was very happy until i looked more closely and spotted star trails. I had inadvertently set 30 second exposure rather than 20 which I had planned. So pixel peeping is a good learning tool if you use it right.

[@naegeleh]

Very good thoughts! Thanks a lot!!!!

[@Neanderthal75]

Great video! Nothing negative here, it's more like a therapy session! LOL! Here is what I know about myself and how I remedy it. I get a much greater pleasure out of using equipment that are either deemed obsolete by most, or not good enough. For example, I could buy an APS-C sized cooled camera and a 120mm refractor to "cure" my problems, but as I know myself, I may not gonna enjoy it as much as using my current gear, that I worked on for months to get it to work. There is that enjoyment and satisfaction, when I can fix something and get it to work, presumed to be "non-fixable" or "not good enough to bother". I would feel a betrayal and taking the easy way out by just buying a new camera and telescope and mount. I'd feel like I have cheated myself. For me it's the road, not the destination. Just like a hot-rod guy, who builds his own car, and someone would say "Why don't you just buy a new Corvette"! - The hot-rod builder guy doesn't want to buy a new Corvette for the same reason I'm not buying a large refractor and a new camera. - my 2 cents. Clear Skies!

[@absorbingphotons]

I've been a pixel peeper with chronic GAS ever since I got my degree in photography, so I feel you 😂 Until recently, I've also been feeling "stuck" creatively in astro for quite some time now. What really helped me get through it was making a massive change to focal length. I've been using my 127mm refractor for a long time but recently picked up a Rokinon 135mm lens and it has inspired me all over again. I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far, and I think I'm going to spend all summer shooting with it.

[@scottbadger4107]

My first OTA was a C9.25 Edge, and though nearly no one would recommend that as an AP starter scope, the first several months with it were probably the most enjoyable that I’ve had because my rig was so simple; just the scope and mount (CGEM), my DLSR (Canon 5D IV), and an intervalometer……no laptop, no cables, I did my best to polar align, star align, focus with a bahtinov mask, and really not much more that I could do other than sit back and enjoy the night sky. I was limited to 2 min subs, and of those kept only 60%, at best, but it was what it was, so not much to worry about. The suffering came with auto-guiding…..first getting decent guiding with a mount that I discovered had extreme backlash in DEC, plus all the hardware, firmware, and software issues, the cables, and of course, USB ports…… I became so fixated on the ‘system’, that I wouldn’t even notice clouds arriving overhead while I wracked my brain for why my guide camera no longer showed anything….. Three things pulled me out of the hole. First a new mount, one that just worked…..no more single direction guiding, camera and east side weighting, and terrible stars anyhow. Second, though I’m sure I could do better, I’m happy enough with my guiding that I don’t angst about constantly optimizing it anymore. For the most part, it parallels the seeing, and since there’s not much I can do about that….. Anyhow, I’m looking at the sky again, and not my laptop screen. The third thing is a shed style observatory. Not only do I not need to schlep my gear in and out every time, but the amount of wind I can image in now is amazing! I’m about 8 miles downwind of the windiest spot on earth (summit of Mt Washington in NH), and without the observatory, I could successfully guide/image about 25% of time when skies were clear, but now I’ve gotten great data with gusts pushing 30mph! Plus, with everything setup and ready to go, it’s worth grabbing short sessions between the clouds. Certainly, we shouldn’t judge ourselves by what others are doing, but that’s a lot easier said than done. To continue progressing personally, at some point you need to start looking closely at other (better) AP images to learn from them, and feelings of inadequacy are inevitable. But on the other hand, given the sort of people we are, if we could all take/process perfect images right out of the box, I bet in the end that would be even more of a buzz-kill than all of the frustration we endure……

[@kerlyn]

Hi Nico, I really appreciate this episode. I am just getting started and you are one of my guide stars ;-) I bought a pre-owned EOS Ra based your reviews and have just received a RedCat 61 WIFD. I've decided to go with the ZWO ecosystem and will be using it initially with an ASIAIR and AM3 mount. I figure I have a lot to learn (variables to control for) with just this minimal rig. I can later add guiding, narrow-band camera, and autofocus gear and hone those skills before I allow myself to feel "aperture limited". (I am debating whether to get an AM5 rather than the AM3, but I suspect I'll appreciate the extra portability.) Congrats on your own patch of dark sky in NH (and don't even _think_ of changing that wallpaper). For a future episode, would you consider discussing your personal astrophoto bucket list and how you arrived at it? Another suggestion is an in-depth comparison of the RedCat 61 WIFD and the Askar FRA300 Pro (is the extra $650 for the WO worth it?) Cheers

[@NebulaPhotos]

Sounds like a good plan Kerry. The Canon Ra is a great camera, and the other gear looks like they will be great choices too. And thanks for the suggestions for future videos. I'll add them to my list. Clear skies, Nico

[@Surfing_Extra]

I had GAS, but never knew it. I managed to rid my GAS problem and get it out of my system when I purchased a Unistellar eQuinox, and Vespera. For me, they put the fun factor back into astrophotography. No, the images may not be perfectly sharp now, but at least I can enjoy the night sky better and not fiddle around with camera/mount/tracking settings all night. It works for me.

[@galacticinsomniac8069]

Your honesty and integrity that you have in communicating the differences between "your job", and "your personal drive" isn't a waste at all. GAS and Pixel Peeping can indeed be harmful, but as you pointed out, peeping to improve your own work with what you have now, or what you enjoy shooting with, is obviously a good thing if you don't take it too far. Someone who can afford to drop thousands in gear to produce really great images, to me, isn't nearly as impressive as someone who can the same with less. I'm not saying minimalism is the way to go, but if you can play an arpeggio, how much music can you make, how many others can you lean, where do the melodies end? Our craft to me is a balance between the technical and the creative, not necessarily capitalistic. It's nice to have reviews, and I have enjoyed many of your videos, but to me, out reach, duh moments, out takes, and simple techniques like a brick, are valuable, and each one of those things to me, far surpass a new scope, or a new mount. I hope your channel serves your personal balance between the joys and fulfillment of the craft, and the economic requirements you have in order to pursue it. As a life long photographer, a Carl Sagan fan, and a desire to explore our cosmos, I'm glad there are genuine channels that are not afraid to be a bit real, a bit vulnerable, while providing the kind of content you do. Just keep shooting.. ! Clear Skies !!

[@roderickwho1983]

One of us.... One of us.... ;-) Thanks Nico

[@bastian6173]

Life is about knowing when to zoom in and when to zoom out. And being able to do so. I think sometimes we need to step back. It’s why painters usually watch their piece a few feet from a distance once they put hours over hours into it. Zooming in means struggle and resistance which is good. Zooming out means letting go and observing.

[@Zvezdar.]

"IT IS NOT IMPORTANT WHAT YOU HAVE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVE THE MOST POSSIBLE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE" - I hope that my translator managed to convey clearly and accurately this "great thought-message" of mine. "That's what Branko said!" (~Nietzsche and Zarathustra). (-: I happened to see this channel and I think the message of this video lesson is very useful. My message, which I wrote at the beginning, and which I often say, fights against "false comparison". People compare results between non-comparable categories. Someone with expensive equipment can take an objectively beautiful photo. But did he achieve the most possible with his equipment? Someone else will get a low-key photo, but it's top quality for his instrument. Which one is better? So, I see that "telephone-cameras" for astrophotography are also asserting themselves?! I think that topic lost its eros a long time ago, it became very accessible. Soon our "smart devices" will record the sky by themselves: "Hey! phone, go take a picture of that nebula and process it, and I'll brag about that picture on the Internet afterwards". I think the category of "successful" in astrophotography is very stretchy and meaningless. I have in mind how the photo is taken, but also how the photo is processed. That's why I would repeat my message from the beginning of the comment: IT IS NOT IMPORTANT THE EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE, BUT IT IS THAT YOU ACHIEVE THE MOST AS POSSIBLE WITH IT. Срп. "НИЈЕ ВАЖНО СА ЧИМ РАСПОЛАЖЕШ, ВАЖНО ЈЕ ДА СА ОНИМ ШТО ИМАШ ПОСТИГНЕШ НАЈВИШЕ МОГУЋЕ" - Надам се да је мој преводилац успео да јасно и тачно пренесе ову моју "велику мисао-поруку". "Тако је говорио Бранко!" (-: Случајно сам видео овај канал и мислим да је порука из овог видео-лекције јако корисна. Моја порука, коју сам написао на почетку, и коју често говорим, бори се против "лажне компарације". Људи упоређују резултате између неупоредивих категорија. Неко са скупом опремом може направити објективно лепу фотографију. Али, да ли је он постигао највише могуће са својом опремом? Неко други ће добити скромну фотографију, али је она врхунски квалитет за његов инструмент. Које је боља? Дакле, видим да се афирмишу и "телефонске-камере" за астрофотографиу?! Мислим да је та тема одавно изгубила ерос, постала је јако доступна. Ускоро ће наши "паметни уређаји" сами снимати небо: "Хеј! телефону, иди сними ону маглину и обради је, а ја ћу после да се хвалим са то сликом на интернету". Мислим да је категорија "успешно" у астрофотографији веома растегљива и бесмислена. Имам у виду како се снима, али и како се обрађује фотографија. Зато бих поновио своју поруку од почетка коментара: НИЈЕ ВАЖНА ОПРЕМА КОЈУ ИМАШ, ВЕЋ ЈЕ ВАЖНО ДА СА ЊОМ ПОСТИГНЕШ НАЈВИШЕ КОЛИКО ЈЕ МОГУЋЕ.