TareqPhoto

Good choice, it is in my Wishlist with other cameras too and i narrowed it down to two including this one. About ROI, i really don't know, but sensor size could play for FPS, i mean i don't know if i have say 1" sensor and 1/2" sensor and i set both to same ROI i don't know if both cameras will give same FPS, when i looked at ZWO site for different cameras and then they mentioned FPS for different ROI i didn't see them being equal at same ROI of different cameras models.

Hi, I am thinking about buying a new camera for planetary with so many models hitting the markets since few years ago now, i have 6 cameras so far for that [1 is damaged and one is a mini design for guiding only] and they are all great for sure, but to keep myself updated a bit i am thinking about one more to add, and for this one i am thinking about those things for choice: 1. Color, i have two mono so no plan for more as i will buy third mono but for solar [and maybe lunar too] 2. It has 2.9um pixel size, i want to image in focal ratio range of f/12 up to f/20 maybe, and i feel that 2.9um is a good middle solution, i have one color camera with 3.75um already, but 2.9um mono [ASI290MM] so i want a color. 3. It has small sensor, so this will help for planets to be more cropped and centered for better ROI or FPS, i don't want to have larger sensor and do heavy ROI and crop after 4. High QE if that can help for anything, just to have a bit cleaner results if i use high gain The scopes i am going to use mostly for planets will be either existing ones i have such as SW 180 Mak or 8" f/5 Newt or something new in future either 14" newt or 20" Newt which they have something like f/4-f/4.6 focal ratio, and i have 2x/5x Powermate and i can add 4x later if it is necessary really, so i want to keep it like f/10-f/24 maximum, but if i buy that 20" f/something maybe 4 then with 4x/5x i will be at f/16-f/20 and i believe that 2.9um should be a great match. Cameras for planetary i have so far including the damaged and guiding: - QHY5L-II-M [Guiding] - ZWO ASI120MC [Damaged because i forced it into powered USB3.0 hub and it fried inside something, it is only USB2.0 camera] - ASI385MC my beloved camera for planetary and moon in colors, was a replacement for that above 120MC damaged in very short time, could be a nice bad luck - ASI290MM perfect for mono planetary things with certain scopes - ASI178MC giving me wider FOV of the moon in color -ASI174MM a superior camera in mono for solar and lunar, my favorite mono so far

Yesterday i was testing the camera and i noticed that the ASCOM driver now is changed, i mean before maybe last year or almost beginning of this year with ASCOM driver i can only start Gain at 100 up to whatever, but yesterday i was able to start from 0 up to 100 only, so not sure if it is same thing or not, also with Dark Level not sure if this is same as Offset the values are from 0 to 10000, very strange, anyway, i chose whatever settings as i was only testing after so long time purchase without test, test for the scope too and filter and even wifi adapter connected to the mount, but i had all kind of issues this year because of my laptop and power and cables, even my ZWO E filter wheel 5x1.25" USB port just damaged. I will not give up this camera no matter what will happen, i am tired to keep paying more for brands names or even what is calling "SERVICES" thing, as i live overseas and i have a lot of gear now so far then i really don't need that service after buy, many of my gear already passed or will pass 1 year in no time, so one way or another i will pay for shipping and service if something happen later anyway, then i don't need to pay more initially, i really respect ToupTek/RisingCam for making this available for those lower budget people, i can't just buy like 4-6 cooled cameras all from ZWO/QHY, i have 1 from ZWO and 2 from QHY already, so it is time for me to give a chance another brands/manufacturers.

I understand your point, it is just when you said before in the past that it is a little bit more expensive than Astronomik, that made me to think how, because you are not comparing both filters not by size and not by band pass, so it is like not fair, which means people won't go with antlia because it is a little bit more expensive? It is ok, prices in UK is out of this world, thank GOD that i am still using FLO as my only UK favorite site, but they don't sell Antlia unfortunately and i use different stores. I am waiting to see the price of Optolong SII 3nm and its result to compare with Antlia SII 3nm, then i will decide if i should get Optolong or Antlia, i do have Chroma OIII and SII 3nm, but they are at 1.25" size only mounted to one camera from ZWO, my other cameras aren't ZWO and can't work ok with 1.25" size, already have Antlia Ha 3nm for one camera so i have to decide the third camera which SII to buy [ZWO will use Chroma OIII, because i know most OIII 3nm have halo either from antlia or something else, Optolong could have that too, so i think that i should just keep using Chroma OIII 3nm and buy extra SII 3nm for third camera, i keep Chroma SII 3nm either as extra or if i buy another ZWO camera to work out with 1.25" size].

Sorry for late response, why don't you compare Baader 7nm to Astronomik? Or even Optolong and ZWO 7nm/6.5nm to Astronomik? It is not logic to compare 6nm to 3nm, in fact even with Astrodon, their filters of 3nm is more expensive than their 5nm filters. For £100 more going from 6nm to 3nm i will do that with heartbeat, no thinking twice, people paid a lot for Astrodon and Chroma to get to 5nm and 3nm regardless there is Astronomik 6nm, so Thank God that antlia made something less than Astrodon/Chroma finally, and i did mention that i bought antlia Ha 3nm at 2", i will never able to buy this either with Astrodon/Chroma or even with Astronomik 6nm, not worthy for 6nm anyway.

Great, i already have RPi4 that i never used but bought it for curiosity, will not choose it then as i know with a mini PC i will be in love all the way, i am a computer guy with several laptops, so i am good with Windows and Mac and not Linux based OS.

I will keep looking at more options or choices for guide scope, you gave me one, others gave me more, so i will read them and see which one has less hassle and good price and performance, i hope i choose the right one that i will be happy to use and keep it for long time, i might add OAG just i case. Well, i saw some used OSc under Bortle 8/9, i have to give it a try, i won't say it will be any better than a mono, but i have enough mono cameras that i feel i should try OSC anyway, and i did buy one good, so i will see how it will treat me under our sky, and i will go at targets i feel it is easier and away from LP effect, Orion for example, i will be happy if it can give me acceptable results, who knows. Regarding a full frame, i just keep it in my mind, not saying i will buy it for sure, i just feel like for how long i will keep avoiding thinking or getting a full frame, others bought it for nice work and being happy, so it is like i only stay away from it because i am not good at it or my gear isn't, then when it will be the time? And Mosaic for me is more time spending and maybe worse trying than using a full frame itself, i still try to do one frame rather than a mosaic, but i will keep that in mind for future, but if i will include mosaic then why not include a full frame as well for any reason. I am not thinking about ZWO ASIAir for now, and EKOS is ok as long if i know how to use it, it sounds i should use something like Raspberry Pi for it, which i have, but i am thinking about buying a mini PC, but there are other options for plate solving, i got one, and someone told me to use NINA as it has one i think, i feel that NINA will solve many problems i have, i should think seriously to use NINA again and get used to it as soon as possible, no time wasting now with outdated software or one with issues and lacking some features needed somehow.

Ok, i numbered your reply so you can reply back by numbers as well. 1. I will look at this recommendation or choice you mentioned, SVbony is having good reviews these days, so i assume their guide scope will be good enough and good price, just i hope it isn't same focuser as my ZWO 60mm, helical focuser that rotate whole thing, the camera, i have that, will see. 2. I am under Bortle 8/9, but i feel like if the target is rising high in the sky then LP is less, like it became Bortle 6/7 high by zenith, i got many targets narrowbanding fine, even Orion and Horsehead nebula with boradbaning, so i can work on that as much i can. Regarding the color camera, i bought it so i just focus once and leave it to collect data whole night, with using LRGB filters most likely i couldn't finish all filters at best, so i always have missing or lacking data there, or at least one filter is bad result mainly the blue, so i wanted to save time with color camera to capture as much as i can without worrying about changing filters and refocusing much if the filters are parfocal, so if i will spend like 2-4 hours with RGB i better use the color camera, after all people told me that the details is from the lum, not from the color RGB mostly, and i will take lum with the mono camera and leave colors for color camera. 3. i can't finalise ne setup now because i know i will keep changing and modifying it several times with new added gear, so i better finish at the end when i get all or most gear i can get, i am doing like dual or multiple imaging setup, so i am not using one setup anyway, and if i can manage to finalise dual or triple setup then it will be easy for me to finalise one setup if i have to, why wasting time with one setup and everything good then when i add something else i do it all over again and i need to rearrange my setup again, it is like i do the job twice when i can make it one time only. Regarding the last point, i am working on that, i have 5 cameras, 2 of them are the same sensor and another two are also same sensor but one is OSC[color] and one mono, so i am trying to finalise the two same sensor mono first, i ordered two scopes for that [60ED doublets], one arrive which i tested 1st night of this month or say 1st-2nd night, pity the other scope is still not shipped, kind of the seller is making unnecessary delay, and i told him i am giving him like 6-7 days of December, now left like 3 days i think, if nothing then i will ask him to refund and buy same scope of another brand elsewhere, then two cameras will be done, but because both are mono and doublets i was thinking i will use them only for narrowbanding, moe forgiving, and because they are lightweight setup then i can add third scope so i use each camera with different filter, i saw some did this and it worked nicely, i will not say i won't see issues, it is part of challenge, i have issues even with one setup anyway, so i will make sure it will work, then later the other two cameras [APS] i will try find matched for them, i have two APO scopes, one is a triplet and the other is a quintuplet, both are great but different aperture and different focal length, i am thinking to be same scope of either and then i will be done with those two cameras as well, i got those scopes and cameras by last year and this year, so in the past i wasn't doing any imaging enough, i was focus on planetary which is another story, now i am trying to finish DSO rigs then i am relaxing and slowing down or taking my time. Thank you very much for your answer, good you didn't ignore it and made a time to say something, also appreciate it so much 👍

Hi, Thank you very very much for replying me at least, i appreciate it a lot. Ok, i will look at ASTAP, and also i will see what DSD will offer me for autofocusing, thanks 😊

Hi all, We are by the end of this year, and i enjoyed the last years into astro regarding all issues and breaks i was going through, but i never give up and it helped me to keep going, and i am almost putting some final touches to my gear so i can be ready next years as much as i can. A. I had issues with guiding in the past, didn't know why, but i finally figured out why, very shame that i wasted like 2 years without solving the guiding issue only just recently, so this require me a question now as long i solved the guiding issue and also asking again what is the solution if i need to. 1. What guiding scope you can recommend me to get beside the one i already have which QHY mini guide scope? I have ZWO 60 one but i don't like it at all, and the weight of ST80 for now isn't a good choice, i will have two separate dual imaging system, i might use this mini guide scope with the lightweight or with the heavy, which means i need another one, but not QHY mini guide scope again, OAG is included but i don't know if it is a good idea with small to medium scopes sizes anyway. B. Plate Solving now became like a necessary for my imaging, sounds i am wasting some time nowadays only to do stars alignment every time before imaging, and sometimes it just take longer time than it should be, and also i fail in meridian flipping, not sure how can i do imaging smooth and good enough without solving those two. 2. What is a good plate solving software to use? I am using SGPro for now, not sure when i will move to NINA but maybe sooner than later, so i don't know if there is like a stand alone for that or use the integrated one, your advice. Also with meridian flipping, is there a better way to do it without issues like the frame is shifted or focus being lost or maybe cable disconnect for a device by accident? C. As long i am increasing my equipment i need to make it like complete, so now i am having many different scopes i am thinking about buying many autofocuser or motors to match them, and i want to match few of them with color, i have one already, so will think about more. 3. What autofocuser rather than ZWO EAF i can buy that has either blue color or black? I have Pegasus one for my 90 triplet, i want to buy same or another one if blue for my small 60mm one that has blue touch, people don't care about it, yes, but i prefer to be in sync with colors, i have FRA400 so EAF will be the one, also the second 60mm it will be red so another EAF i will choose, i just don't want to have ALL my scopes only with EAF and only with Pegasus, refractors are almost done of choices with colors, while my Newt i don't know, one has blue and the other is just black and white, i am not in rush to buy motors all now, but i will have time to add them to my order list and buy them one by one, i might buy two EAF for two red lines scopes, the rest i can wait. D. In future i might or might not get a full frame sensor for astro, but if that is in my mind and plan i want to know about how good to go with it if many keep saying that sometimes it is more issues than it is helpful, for example matching scopes, but i see some people buying it regardless what they are using it with or for what, so i don't want to keep myself away from this option or avoid it forever. 4. If i plan to get a full frame, should i go with mono or OSC? And if i go with mono for any reason, should i make sure that i only buy 2" size filters for my smaller sensors now so i just be ready if i upgrade? I have APS-C both mono and color, i don't know if 36mm is enough for this sensor size, i just try to add some 2" filters for it in case i go larger in sensor, and for color cameras it is easier and more affordable to have 2" than mono filters, i bought UV/IR cut at 2" for my OSC, i also bought Ha 3nm 2", now i am thinking about dual band filter and SII filter [OIII i will stay with small sensor only as i have Chroma OIII 3nm 1.25" or getting it from the dual band filter], should i get SII 3nm as 36mm or as 2"? At the end i won't use a full frame with full set all filters anyway, the full frame if OSC will be used with Lum or dual band filters only, if mono then only Ha and/or Lum for details. For now those above are my main plan to finish this year or soon except the last point, just the SII filter i can make it soon if i know the choice, or wait to see some new items coming for filters then i can decide, i can't wait to put my gear into use as soon as possible, i used my new scope by 1st-2nd date one night for narrowbanding target, and i made sure to use all filters that night, i got data, but they are not good or not enough for 1 night, but that gave me a hope that once i add another camera to get busy with a filter then i can have enough data per night, and i can make an extra night only to finer the details more, rather than using 1 setup which it was a headache after all, i hated imaging with 1 setup no matter how good i make everything, i was lucky to get data of three NB filters, but i know it isn't good enough, and soon i will process the data and post elsewhere to see the quality of scope optic maybe, stars are bad because no dedicated flattener/reducer and no correct back focus. Sorry for typing this, but i am really getting to finish this small setup very soon, so only left serious bigger setup in future such as a better mount and larger aperture scope for visual or even larger scope for smaller distant targets, but that is for future plan, for my current mount i can use it for small setup either dual or triple, will see how can i put it all together. Thank you, Tareq

A little bit more expensive? Let Astronomik make 3nm filters and then we will see how much they will charge for it, their high speed filter MaxFR is expensive already, i bought Antlia Ha 3nm Pro 2" for $430, i bought Astrodon Ha 5nm 1.25" in 2017 for $485 i remember, Antlia 1.25" 3nm is $269 i think.

Funny it says visual and used for imaging. Well, i think i will go with more gear option over EEVA.

I am trying to have that identical combo or setup to reduce the data gathering time for sure, i have one and i am thinking about another, but not sure how should i do it anyway as i can keep smaller sensor for 280mm or i use APS-C with 280mm and then i find a scope much wider for smaller sensor 4/3". What is eeva?

Hi all, I don't know how to start and explain my topic here as i feel like i fail to make it clear so people can help me if they can, so i will try my best anyway. I have some scopes and some cameras i want to use for DSO imaging, but i am expanding and i planned that i like to go with multiple imaging setup, that will help me later i believe, but it is always about to choose the correct and right tools for that, and i like to have people opinions or suggestions or recommendations before i decide on anything, i might learn something from someone that can help me and not do a mistake, so i hope i can find that here. I have the following scopes first: 8" F/5 Newt, 6" F/4 Newt, 180mm Mak, TS Optics 90mm triplet, Askar FRA400, and ST80 if i can consider it as a scope for imaging [not anymore]. Following cameras for DSO only: APS-C color [IMX571 sensor based], QHY294M Pro, QHY163M and ZWO ASI1600MM-C Pro. Now i have a budget and will have more again later so i want to finish my setup of multiple as soon/fast as possible then i don't look back and get busy in imaging, so i am trying to have few combos that can match mostly for FOV, and my mind now settled only for WIDE field FOV to make, and i have one combo nice and i am trying to make same FOV with another combo but don't know how or with what, this combo i use as a standard is my Askar FRA400 + 0.7x reducer from them + QHY294M, and i am trying to find a scope to give me FOV using my APS-C camera, from that FOV site it shows that i need something in 330-350mm range, most likely it is of 70mm F/6 + 0.8x reducer, or even 70mm F/5 which is a qudruplet, so i have many options about going with 330-350 scope for my APS-C, there is also 0.65x reducer for my 90mm triplet, but i feel like i want to try something else. My options are: Buying IMX571 mono, but then with what scope? if 90mm triplet then what i can do with QHY294M and Askar, i want to have different filters in each scope. Buying a 70mm scope making sure it is a triplet so i can use it with my color camera APS-C without much CA issues. Selling my ASI1600MM-C although it is new since last year and go with ASI294MM-C Pro so i can still use my high quality 1.25" filters [can't replace them]. If selling that ASI1600mm then i should sell my old first cooled camera QHY163M also and upgrade again to QHY294M and buy Askar FRA400 again. Buying 2 60mm or 70mm doublet scopes to use with my ASI1600mm and QHY163M only and using narrowbanding filters only and not worry about Askar FRA400 or 90 triplet or QHY294M and APS-C cameras, use them for something else not wide field results. A full frame camera will match my 90mm triplet with flattener only, but many didn't recommend a full frame sensor, because of scope design, i was thinking about a color full frame so i don't need to use many filters, only one or two 2" which i have 1 already and can add another, not narrowbanding or LRGB filters. Buy much much wider scopes such as 200 or 135 or 230mm FL so i can use with any two or three cameras then crop them all after final stack to my liking frames of FOV, and later i might add better details from longer FL scopes to that frame to make it better, i don't like to do mosaic at all. Trying to use my DSLR lenses if possible, i also just hate to stop them down with weird spikes, i can use step down rings but only with threaded lenses, my Canon 300mm F2.8 IS lens doesn't have any front threaded mount size, very big similar to 100-120mm aperture scopes maybe, or if i have to keep them wide open such as F1.8 or F2 or F2.8 and use one of those high speed NB filters designed for that, because of light shift, but is that light shift only affected for narrowbanding and not LRGB/OSC? I want to decide quickly before my budget is gone somewhere else out of my astro plan, and then wait again for another budget and still no decision, i am waiting nicer weather to come and winter, some of winter targets are out already but very late time, so in two months they will be out at good time, so i want to be ready this time, i only got my 90mm triplet and Askar both APO refr this year, but i was busy and it was so hot and humidity, so i stopped to continue my buying plan, one more combo and i will be ready, i have to be careful of what i choose so i don't regret later and trying to sell it or buy something else, i believe i will be happy with my 90mm triplet and Askar FRA400 for very long time without replacing them, also my cameras, it is just that time i bought QHY163M not many options around and i couldn't afford, only since last year i started to afford more because i saved money since 2018-2019 and i got more income sources by end of 2019 which helped me in 2020, many will say stop buying and focus on what i have, that isn't part of my plan, i was using one setup for 2-3 years and it was a waste of time and nightmare to just depend on one setup and keep that forever, not idea i want to do, we have many clear nights, but i don't have too much time to keep burning it several nights for one target to perfect and complete, so i found out if i have like 2 scopes/cameras combo at least then i can do that in less time and i keep going longer, since last 2 years i never bothered myself to complete any target next nights, only doing Ha or RGB in one night and stop there, i did with 2 or three targets for like 2-3 nights and i wasn't happy, so telling me about don't buy more use what you have is not the answer. Sorry for this long topic, but i have to come to the a decision or answer so i can buy and then it will slow me down in my choices in future, thank you very much

I should be happy that i passed this kind of level with imaging, and i am even happier and lucky that i started with a mono cooled camera, but the bad and sad news that since i started in 2017 i didn't focus much on DSO and couldn't make much successful images, only recently i put my knowledge and experience towards it, but i still feel sad i wasted all those years, so i hope by now and later that i make much more results great enough so those years aren't wasted. I did my last target of Pelican nebula, in SHO, happy so far, so i think i should be proud that i have equipment that helping me to do it, not sure if i will give that NA nebula a try one day, but hopefully i can get scopes or optics to capture both nebulae at once.

I have 4 cameras, 3 mono 4/3" and one color APS-C, so i am not after a camera, i am after a scope, but in future i might add a camera who knows, if that will happen then a choice of a scope can change also, so i don't know if i should based my decision now upon what i have now or what i might get later in future, uncertainty, that is what is going on. Why used SW 72ED? So there is no any brand new good scope for about $400-600 then?

Hi all, Now a budget will come next month [July], and it will be split into two or three things or items, one of them i almost sure to go with 99%, so only two remaining, one of them is about this topic here. I want to buy a refractor for DSO imaging, and i want cheap small one, i have the choice between 60s aperture scopes or 70s aperture scopes, if 60s then simply i can add 0.8x reducer later and i will be fine, but with 70s aperture then i have to do one of two things, A. To buy a reducer such as 0.65x or 0.7x only, B. Buy APS-C mono camera which is very pricey for now, but it can be a plan later anyway. So with two choices i have to be careful what should i buy, your opinion. I decided to keep my QHY163M and not buy APS-C mono now yet, i think i will leave this camera for next year, unless i get lucky and win money somewhere, so i don't know if i should based my choice on 4/3" cameras or future APS-C mono, and i don't ask which type of refractor because it will be used for NB mostly, so it can be a doublet or triplet not a problem, but cheap, no more than $500, so i can buy two scopes at once, let me see what will be your opinion or choice for me. Thanks!

For Venus i have UVenus filter, and it does the job, i didn't image Venus good yet at all, but the very few times it was fine, hopefully one day with a better scope i will give the filter a go again. I have 4 cameras for planetary, not sure if i will stop there or i keep adding more, still not sure about 462, there is another manufacturer new in the game, and there is another manufacturer which also has some models cameras for planetary but very expensive, so i am not sure what will be my next fifth and sixth planetary camera then.

So i will look at results with this filter and decide if it is the one, thank you

I keep coming a lot back and forth to those two filters, L2 and L3, and i keep thinking about which one to get, i do have good scopes that doesn't give halo or bad CA, but i definitely use flattener/corrector or reducer, and i don't have Astronomik NB or even RGB filters set, so it is not a must for me then.

Nice, i will give it a look, thank you very much

Hi, I want to buy just a simple filter which is IR/UV cut filter to be used with my OSC cooled, but there are like hundred of options, can you recommend something or all of them are the same even the cheapest one? I will buy at 2" size, so i hope not go with the most expensive one for no much gain but only brand name most likely.

I recommend to avoid that mount for DSO, the scope is fine, so you should either find another combo where you see a real better EQ mount, or buy the scope separately and later buy a capable mount for DSO.

One day i might try to follow all the ideas about what rings people are using for their Samyang 135mm, i don't have this lens yet, but i am thinking about getting one to have a dual system of 135mm, i only have Canon EF 135mm, but many said it is not that much good as Samyang, i thing because it must be stopped down, so if i will stop it down then it means i will use it for LRGB rather than narrowbanding, because with Samyang some said they can use it even wide open, wide open which is F2 is super fast and that better match slow narrowbanding filter, with LRGB i can use even F6 for enough exposure values shorter.

Well done there, hopefully i will finish my dual or multiple imaging setup sooner or later and see how it will perform, but i think sooner ir not possible as most stores are delaying shipments, and i am still waiting my APO triplet i ordered since last October anyway, and waiting another nice budget to buy a second APO scope.