bottletopburly

I went for a zwo533mc osc mainly due to uk weather combined with a LExtreme filter really happy with the results . rosette Nebula with 9hrs of Data .

I’d say the debayer exercise wasn’t very successful tbh .

How long are your flats , using a zwo533mc I use 3 sec flats to get an Adu of around 25k using L-Extreme .

But more data one previous was 7hrs not 9 , found another 3hrs bringing data to 10 Hrs

Can only go on my experience Steve until I squared focuser up only then could I get collimation right using the concentre mind it was way off being square.

@powerlord check your focuser is square to the ota first I found this out fitting a steeltrack to my 200pds no amount of collimating will fix this until it’s squared up .

I do remember the willow being quiet big Pete when I visited and thinking that needs to go lol 😆

Lovely image Stuart 👍 amazing camera loads of detail and for just 1hr astounding really

I use Startools using the compose module once you get to the colour module you have a Choice of different colour choices in the matrix menu more info here https://www.startools.org/modules/composite @jager945 @Stuart1971.

Managed so far 9hrs on the Rosette Nebula ,over three sessions, 2min exposures , Tecnosky 70AG quadruplet , L Extreme filter ,zwo533mc bias and flats no Darks ,stacking in DSS processing in Startools

Excellent image well done the 2600 is an amazingly good camera .

Apt can be set with offsets for each filter you can also run a script to refocus after filter change and some filters as I see it are par focal , most imaging software will be able to do the same .

I read this on cloudy nights post from may 2020 , if no go try Astap works well for me in APT In the newest version of EKOS, you go into the alignment settings, and below the python setting, there's a new "sextractor" setting. Select this instead. It's much faster than Python, and about as fast as ASTAP, but more reliable. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/696428-ekos-plate-solving/

@Rodd I would highly recommend getting platesolving working in whatever program you use ,I use APT and use ASTAP to platsolve most software will work Astap from within as far as I’m aware and communicate with CDC then no need to do three star alignment.

I believe it does do multi session by date but maybe @han59 could clarify

So a bit of fettling on the 200pds to make ota rings more rigid and added 400mm guidescope to support bars , steel track fitted and Deepskydad AF3 autofocuser fitted and scope re collimated all ready for first light .

Your exposure is to long for Astap , short exposure work better for Astap try 4 seconds ,I use APT and use Astap for near solving and blind solving if it fails then increase iso for platesolving , I use a zwo533mc and default iso in settings is 100 you may need to tweak to suit your camera .

You could use guys Replay to load the log file from your session and edit if you wanted @jager945 may advise better. https://forum.startools.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1368

Looks cracking to me 👍

I love the zwo533mc I use with a 350mm fl and a 1000mm , issue I did see were from the darks calibrated in DSS , I then used darks calibrated in nebulosity (now free btw)and used those in dss and darks weren’t an issue so may be down to the program your stacking in .

You can Autofocus a canon camera/ lens using APT if your connected to a pc

Having bought a Baader steel track focuser from the widescreen centre I wanted a 2” M48 adapter but at the time of purchase was out of stock as were all other Astro retailers, but once they had one in stock they emailed me to see if I still wanted one and had put one by for me , despite being a Sunday I replied and had a reply soon after and put in an order which was swiftly delivered , would recommend as for service can’t fault them , emails were quickly replied too , only fault I could say is delivery options for smaller items are expensive and an option for Po 1st class delivery would be helpful.

Better fitting an autofocuser , I use via Apt works a treat using autofocus aid in Apt now works with dslr cameras though I use a zwo533mc.

New target for me 3hrs , l-Extreme filter , tecnosky ,70AG Refractor , No darks flats and bias .

Yes you will have too , same camera different sensor no two will be exactly the same hot pixels etc , I use darks on my zwo533mc.