david_taurus83

Hi. It might help if you can list your equipment, mount, scope, camera etc

3 minutes ago, Uranium235 said:

We wont know until these thunderstorms/cloud go away

This sits nicely between a 135mm and a Redcat.... and if it works as it should, it could beat both of them in terms of field flatness.  I still cant get over how heavy it is, very very solid in construction...lol.. quite like the way the dewshield goes "ding" when you flick it

Will you be testing full frame? Any indication on UK price?

I had ordered a RedCat this week as my Canon 135 is no good at F2 and I can't get a clip in LP filter for my 6D. Have I made the right choice? Hmmm🤔

It put on a good show over Brum last night!

5 minutes ago, CheapAsAstronomer said:

Exactly that. AV and aimed at White screen on laptop.

Some people swear by that method, I havr found it under exposes for my 6D. How did you stack and process your light frames?

How did you take flats? The Av method for exposure doesn't always work.

I done that same mod (non invasive) on my 600D a few years ago. Works well enough to be fair. I always placed the temperature probe in a small gap between the camera body and copper plates. It used to get down to 4 or 5°C in cooler weather.

Recently though, a kind of lockdown project, I made a coolbox for my 6D with water cooling. More bulkier though and with the added complexity of water but I can get the inside of the box to sub zero temps. Think the cost of parts was ~100 quid.

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/354732-yet-another-dslr-coolbox-thread/

25 minutes ago, BallistaSlim said:

Yes I have considered it. But I want to keep it really simple this time without worrying about drivers, connectors et al. Autofocus is coming in the next Asiair firmware update allegedly. 

If all your kit is ZWO then the Air is the obvious choice. Id use it myself, but ive always preferred the variety of choice when it comes to different brands. Why does the EAF not fit the Esprit range? Surely it can be 'persuaded' to fit!

16 hours ago, BallistaSlim said:

Thanks Ice. I have hit a snag though. It seems that the ZWO EAF doesn't play well with the Esprit range of focusers. That means that I have to abandon the thought of going laptopless. Hmm.

Have you considered Stellarmate? Works with many different brands. I used it by connecting to the RPi via VNC with my phone.

The ASIAir never appealed to me as it is only compatible with ZWO products. And as far as I'm aware, it doesn't even have autofocus yet!

Or you could always get a mini PC and run a Windows setup (my current choice). Can connect to the mini PC via RD, VNC etc. I have NINA, APT, Stellarium, CdC, Pixinsight, Sharpcap all loaded on there. Far, far superior to the ASIAir. And all controlled by my phone!

That looks normal. My DSLR bias looks similar if I Superbias it.

I recently sold almost everything. 2 scopes, guide setup, eyepieces, various bits and bobs. Not fell out of love with the hobby but constantly watching weather reports, lugging stuff in and out of the house, it kind of wears thin after a while, especially if the weather or transparency shows its futile after you've set everything up. I'm hoping to move house in the near future and a nice garden thats not bathed in the light of 3 streetlights would be a nice bonus. Then, I keep telling myself, I can set up a permanent system, whether it be a shed or pod or just a pier.

Until then though, I have kept my CEM25P as its a good one (I regretted selling my AZEQ6 prior to this as that was also a good one), my Canon 6D and a Canon 135mm lens. Such a simple setup, its a joy to just throw it out on the slabs in the garden, quick alignment and just leave the camera snapping away on target and not worry about laptops, guiding, cables, hubs etc.

Ps, the CEM25P will cope happily with a 102mm F7 scope at approx 7kg so should be OK with an Esprit 100 unless they are much heavier? The CEM's are tricky to balance though, not as simple as a SW EQ.

Have you tried a different laptop? Sounds like a software bug. As far as I'm aware, the Polemaster camera is just that. A camera with a lens. I used to use mine with Sharpcap and it looped frames as if it was any other planetary camera.

FLO confirm, the D2 is discontinued for EOS full frame. 🤨

Anybody use the Optolong L Pro?

Looks like a bit of lint. Should clean off with a blower.

Did you remember to flip out the screen before imaging? It helps with the temperature. Also worth shooting some darks at the same ambient temperature.

For my Canon 6D please. I had my hopes up on receiving an IDAS D2 clip filter but they are proving difficult to source. Maybe they are discontinued?

I know the stalwart Astronomik CLS CCD is readily available as an XL size but what other options are there? Optolong? Skytech? I'm looking for a normal LP filter BTW, not one of the OSC narrowband type. Your musings please folks.

3 hours ago, Lee_P said:

Thanks for the info, that's interesting. Presumably APT communicates with the lens via a cable connected to the DSLR camera? So this wouldn't work if using a dedicated astrocam?

Yes a simple mini USB cable connected to camera and laptop enable APT to control it. This is my experience with Canon camera and Canon lenses. The Samyang range are manual so wouldn't apply.

What we your plans or intentions and maybe we can give specific advice.

I used to take an image in the home position, platesolve and sync, and then slew to target. Generally was OK but on occasion, the mount would do strange things. Both Skywatcher and iOptron mounts have done this. The last time it slewed my scope into the tripod. I would always recommend you slew to your chosen target first and then platesolve. That way the mount knows for sure which side of the pier it is.

It probably is closer to 442mm if its blind solved. I found it to be very accurate. Heart Nebula probably is in the list. There's an option to tick for an extended list of objects.

2 minutes ago, bottletopburly said:

Look here all you need to know

You literally pipped me to it!

Edit: I believe it supports ASTAP now as well. I should try and update that thread.

13 hours ago, therion82 said:

I think that Baader Protective t ring, is the more expensive version of this https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/flo_2-inch_T_adapter.html , right guys?

More expensive yes, but it enables you to insert a filter into the actual camera ring itself, and not rely on the nosepiece. So you could still thread onto your focuser or however you attach it. It comes with an M42 and M48 ring that fits into the camera ring.

The Baader Protective t ring allows the insertion of a 2 inch filter into the actual body.

APT can control a camera lens if it has autofocus.

23 minutes ago, mbalkham said:

Struggling tonight on RA. Still think this is a setup issue. RA is normally half this error. Any ideas?

What guide setup are you using?

That's an envious setup you have there Adam! It looks like something out of a professional scientific observatory.

I think he does it to all the cameras which have the Baader BCF filter installed to allow daytime use. If its just the IR filter removed for astro, the LP1 filter is left in place and so the sensor cleaning should work. Maybe worth an email to Juan with the camera serial number. He might be able to offer more advice.