Tried stacking 50 shots of the Orion Nebula with my old DSLR and the result was a noisy mess.

I figured more data would mean a cleaner image, but my camera's sensor just can't handle that many long exposures without overheating. The final stack looked worse than a single 30-second shot. Anyone have a trick for managing heat on an uncooled camera?

3 comments

3 Comments

lane.mason3mo ago

Feel your pain, my old camera used to turn into a space heater after a dozen shots. The heat builds up and creates that ugly pattern noise that stacking can't fix. Try taking shorter breaks between shots to let the sensor cool down a bit. Some people put those little gel ice packs in a baggie and rest the camera on it between runs. It's a hassle, but it might save your data.

angela_dixon3mo ago

My old DSLR got so hot once I swear I could have fried an egg on it. The noise looked like a bad TV channel. What's the worst heat damage you've ever seen in a photo?

coleman.jade1mo ago

You ever get that weird pixel shift where the shadows turn purple from heat? Worst I ever saw was during a summer wedding shoot. My old Canon started throwing this green band across the top of every frame. Thought it was a memory card issue at first, nope, just the sensor cooking itself. If you're in a bind and can't stop shooting, try pointing the lens at something dark for a few seconds between shots. Gives the sensor a tiny break and reduces that heat buildup. Also, never leave your camera in a closed car in direct sun. That'll fry the sensor fast, sometimes permanently.