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Quark- first light


Zakalwe

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First light with the new Quark chromosphere. This is with a focal reducer on the nosepiece of the camera. Altais Astro 115mm triplet and mono Chameleon camera.
80 frames from 400 stacked in AS!2 and a quick wavelet sharpening in Registax. No other processing (I prefer Lucy Richardson deconvolution to wavelet sharpening normally).
I can see the potential already.
The image doesn't have that much contrast, but that can be sorted in processing. I can see the difference that the extra aperture makes to the resolution compared to my 60mm Lunt.
The field illumination seems good- there was no flat used in these images.

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That's an excellent first go Stephen, I've found I need really good seeing to use the Quark with 100mm refractor without the .5X f/r, it also seems to need flats more without the f/r.

Dave

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Nice job. Looks pretty spot on but if you haven't already, still worth a play with the tuner just to see what works best with your set-up. You may get a touch more contrast. For me, one click left is best.

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Really superb second set of images.

OK that's it. I need one.* These are remarkable!

Olly

*Need, that is, in the astronomical kit-buying sense of the word...

Go on Olly, RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!!

The only way I resisted temptation was by getting a Solar Spectrum 0.3Å H-alpha filter (secondhand). I still occasionally think I should also get a quark. It might get a more prom detail, whereas the 0.3Å filter might be a bit restrictive there. For travel, the Quark is also way handier, I think

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Excellent first light, the inverted close up is really good. 

Olly, my misses thinks everything is astronomical, the price that is, best get a Quark ordered before the monthly finance committee meeting.

Robin

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OK that's it. I need one.* These are remarkable!

The number of times I've said that over the Quark, Olly !! :grin:

Great images from a staggeringly good device for the money.

Open question here, no side, no axe to grind, relying on the comments of other users only - have they got the QC pinned down now?

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Open question here, no side, no axe to grind, relying on the comments of other users only - have they got the QC pinned down now?

Steve,

I don't know and it was something that I was very wary off. I know that they changed their production techniques to remove the dimples that some people were getting. I have seen images from recently bought Quarks that had uneven illumination and distinct off-band areas. The problem is that that could be down to the 'scope's focuser sagging, the Quark being tilted in the draw-tube or the camera tilting in the eyepiece holder. I wouldn't like to pass judgement without seeing how the user has set it all up. Imaging with such a narrow-bandwidth of light puts a heavy onus on the system to being perfectly orthogonal. I personally haven't used a diagonal in my setup as I can see how that would lead to things moving as the 'scope tracks. Instead i use a 2" straight extension tube.

There's a few things that do need improving. Daystar use a single clamping screw to hold the camera in the EP tube which is highly likely to cause tilting (and Newton's Rings). The thread that's in the rear of the Quark is an odd size.....1.375" (the same as Celestron used to use for some ancient eyepiece projection adapters), so converting to T2 thread and a proper twist-lock arrangement isn't straightforward. I believe that a 35-37mm camera lens step-up adapter can be forced into it. A 37-42mm step-up ring can then be used to convert to T2 thread. I'd also like if they offered an adapter that would thread onto a suitable focuser...I have a pathological hatred of clamping screws, especially when there's over £1000 of gear hanging from them!

I was pleased when I saw that my field illumination looks pretty even. If it wasn't then it was going straight back to the vendor. A single sample isn't enough to say that they are all going to be spot-on though (and a zero-percent failure rate isn't feasible). As with most things, buy from a dealer that won't muck about with returns.

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They are tested before shipping, apparently it is one of the reasons there can be long delays, seems even normally sunny states get their fair share of cloud.

My own Quark has been back twice, the first time it wouldn't reach lock, except for one setting where the images were rather poor. It came back and would reach lock, but for nearly every setting, the detail is lacking. I expected it to give my Lunt 60DS a good run for its money, it doesn't, in fact it is not even in the same league and I think my Lunt SS out guns it. I have tried it in four scopes with both a diagonal and straight through, it performed best in my GT102, not surprising as it was the largest aperture.

Quarks have a real lack of contrast in comparison to other scopes, but capturing in 16 bit and push the post processing can put this back. You gave to realise that the focal length is much longer, my Quark with a 0.5x FR in a 80mm is equivalent to my Lunt with a 2 to 3x Barlow in, you need stable conditions for that.

It has gone back again, apparently they have sent a replacement, it is in the UK and should be back with me soon. I really want the Quark to work, the images others have got from it are really good and would like to use it as a travel scope with WL and CaK. If I can get it to work as well as my Lunt then I will consider selling my Lunt 60 for an 80DS. If it doesn't work then I might still go for the Lunt80 DS but stretch the budget and get a Lunt 50 for travelling.

I know the Quark is a little departure for Daystar, selling a sub £800 device in comparison to their other products, if they get production right I think they will have a huge advantage over others in the market and might help them sell their more traditional products. If they can't get it sorted then expect the price to go up to reflect the harder than expected production/yield.

Robin

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Steve all I can say is that I personally would not hesitate to buy one, I would buy from a good retailer who will take care of me just in case, which these days I would do for any astro gear costing hundreds of pounds. Given the price, given that a good retailer won't leave me hanging, I don't see there is much to lose, and there is a lot to gain if this might be your cup of tea.

Robin, good luck with the replacement.

Olly, I can see it now: The 40 Second Image! :laugh::grin:

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