Photosbykev

I had a play last night with a EQ3 Pro mount and Canon 5D3 and 200mm lens. I delibrately offset the PA by a few degrees and then shot a vertical and horizontal image which PPA solved using a local installation of AT in about 5 seconds/image. What threw me was the image that popped up showing the red X etc, because I was about 4 degrees off the magnification of the visual image was too large to see the X and the true NCP. I also struggled to visualise what the move instructions meant i.e. move 4 degrees right and 2 degrees down. Am I right to assume I had the mount 4 degrees left of the NCP and 2 degrees too high??

Also does the alignment of the camera relative to the axis of the mount significantly affect the results?

It looks like the functionality came in with CS3 extended The technique can be read about here http://petapixel.com/2013/05/29/a-look-at-reducing-noise-in-photographs-using-median-blending/

This is a quick comparison between a single Canon 5D3 3200iso x 40 second image on the left hand side and 11 similar images processed with the Median stacking in PS CC. The raw files were converted to Tiff via Adobe Bridge and Camera Raw with no adjustments applied at all. The image below is the centre 1000x667 pixels save as jpg with no adjustments.

That sounds great but not exactly sure what you mean (i only have CS2 at the moment) any chance you could post more details at some time.

Thanks

Alan

I'm not sure cs2 has the functions needed. There are some good online tutorials for the technique I'll dig one out when I get on my laptop

sent from my Sony Xperia Z2

To stack widefield images I used to use Dss or PI but recently I've been using PS with good results. Use the automate script to load the stack of images into one layered image, lock a reference image typically in the middle of the stack and then use the auto PS alignment. Convert the aligned stack to a smart object and then use the Median stack mode to blend all the layers together. The noise reduction in this method is surprisingly good without using darks

sent from my Sony Xperia Z2

Ok so there is no way to enable PEC of any sort.. There is no PEC indexer on the main worm. Unless one keeps track of the PEC index blindly in NVRAM. I'm tempted to Arduino it myself... But that would result in a DIY and less reliable setup.

Just started a project thread in the DIY section to replace the control system

The one I had from FLO for review I've opened up to see what Skywatcher have done internally. The DC motor has a gearbox going into a 24T spur gear and then a 42T and 37T spur gears going into a 144 tooth worm/wheel, the rear of the DC motor has a 44 slot encoder disk. I need to get a tacho onto the encoder and 24T gear to check out the gearbox ratio.

My personal thoughts are to throw away the control board, it's no good for timelapse work and develop my own speed/position control system, maybe Arduino based, to replace it so my timelapse photography is more controllable, but that will be another thread

no complaints from me, my emails are answered promptly (even for the stupid questions) and the goods are delivered very quickly. No system is perfect and occasionally it goes wrong but any problems are quickly sorted

JTW Astronomy have just announced they can debayer DSLR sensors for 200 euros. Sounds very interesting

I contacted FLO via the helpdesk system asking about current stock of the Hutech IDAS LPS2 filter and adaptor for a Canon camera. 10 minute later James emailed back to say they are in stock. Ordered it around 14:30 yesterday and it was delivered this morning, can't ask for better than that. Thank you

Some images from a debayered Canon by JTW, I love the feel of them lol http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.454003267988583.107751.174295462626033&type=1

He will be missed by all of us and it will be a long time before someone else comes along who has had such an impact on astronomers. RIP

Interesting product - fancy using one for solar observing and also being able to fit the PST. Does the base have a thread so a standard photo tripod can be used?

It has a 3/8" whitworth thread that most prosumer tripods have

PhotsByKev init

I was thinking of a PsychoBilly Kicking lol. I'll run it through the PBK testing and post a review on my site

Looking forward to a PBK test report on this mount

Sent from my P-7300 but still can't type

ok I give .... what the hell is a PBK test?

the Virtuoso was delivered this morning, shame I'm 200 miles away so I'll have to wait until tomorrow

woohoo, the new toy is on the lorry heading my way

Thank you Steve, I've ordered one to play with. Anyone want a Skywatcher 90mm Maksutov scope? lol

Are they in stock with the AP-R3C (C3) Canon lead? I would like to try one out for the Geminids meteor shower next week? It should produce a nice panning timelapse

Looks like an interesting option for Gigapan photography but it's missing another bracket to allow a camera to be moved forwards and backwards to set the nodal point for panoramic imaging and to allow the camera to be mounted in portrait mode which is the normal orientation for panoramic work.

edit: I just read the L-bracket is included

Minor error in the feature list I think:

• Power Requirement: 12v DC 1 Amp Power Supply (Tip Positive). Skywatcher
  
• Power Tank Recommended or AA Batteries (not supplied)
  

should read

• Power Requirement: 12v DC 1 Amp Power Supply (Tip Positive).
  
• Skywatcher Power Tank Recommended or AA Batteries (not supplied)
  

Well I'm using v6.7 of camera raw with ps cs5 and an 1100D with no problems what so ever , I suggest you click on updates in the help menu and see what it gives you, I still prefer digital photo professional over camera raw anyway.

Sorry my error, it was 7.1 that was not compatible with cs5.

One advantage of the Camera raw is, imo, the lens correction and vignetting adjustments. They seem better in Camera raw than in DPP, but for general use I use DPP or Phase one Capture Pro

Never mind your coat, I think you should be looking for your flame retardant underwear

James

I always wear that

I think it was an honest mistake, Ags was coming out with some reasonable opinions so naturally you assume she is a he ;)

I'll get my coat (chuckle)

Oh yes they are you need to update the camera raw software to about v6.7 that will allow PS to see the file.

v6.7 isn't compatible with cs5, v6.3 is the latest version for cs5 that works

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Blame Apple for the typos and me for the content

I notice the firm doing mono Canon DSLRs don't include the 1100D (Rebel T3) :- http://www.maxmax.co...amera_order.asp

I noticed that as well Also on the Honis site the 550D has different sensor filter hardware, it seems a lot easier to remove the standard AA and IR filters

The poor thing has been polished, ground, peeled, chipped, hammered, filed, and just about everything else by the looks of it. I'm speechless lol.

It gave it's life for the greater good. Well it didn't give it as such, more like murdered lol