Petrol

Really nice setup and you live in a beautiful part of the world Martin. I found with my wooden obsy / roll off, that ventilation itself wasn't enough to keep damp out despite being insulated. I ended up with a small heater and dehumidifier to keep things in check. That said I live in NW UK where it's mega damp. Just a heads up and thanks for sharing your setup, much appreciated.

Pete
 

Hope people are getting better skies than me! Managed about 8 hours on the Iris neb with a Player One OSC Cam.
 

All comments welcome.

Pete

I started imaging 10 years ago. looking back at my imaging dates, there were plenty of cold, clear nights this time of year. After a 10 year break I've noticed a significant reduction in clear nights. I've also noticed a massive increase in light pollution, then there's the satellite trails. I have a roll off in my back garden, but prefer to drive to darker sites. I'm in the process of building a second mobile rig to maximise the few clear nights we now get.

Pete

9 hours ago, JonHigh said:

Very well put together! The time lapse of the clouds were amazing. Was that done in camera? 
Also the wide shots of the Nebulas were stunning. You have inspired me to use a wide angle lens. 👍🏻

I tried using the in camera time lapse but found I got better results recoriding real time and speeding up on the edit. It also gave me the option to speed ramp. Uses a lot of data and batteries though
I've upgraded my kit since I started this project and also learned a lot. I'm already planning my next one.
Thanks for the comments and feedback.

Pete

This year I've spent quite a lot of time both at home and away searching the skies. This video, in 4K contains everything I've achieved including day/night timelapses and deep sky objects. There's been plenty of failures, lots of disappointments but more importantly, some fantastic fun and spine chilling moments.
 

Equipment list is at the end.
Thanks for looking, all comments welcome

Pete

4 hours on the Heart and Soul, Player One OSC. Rig is still work in progress.

Clear skies
Pete

That's not an easy act follow Olly. Awesome doesn't come close!

 

On 28/09/2023 at 15:35, ollypenrice said:

New image from our Samyang here.  Love that lens! 

 

That's not an easy act to folllow Olly. Absolutely awesome but here goes.
9 hours from a dark(ish) sky. I stopped a couple of nights in my motorhome near Fleetwood to do this. Moon was out though. OSC,  (IMX571) chip

Please feel free to be brutaly honest, I won't be offended. All I want to do is improve!

Clear skies

Pete

Thank you for taking the time to help me out guys, I genunely appreciate it. This was suppost to be a 4 panel mosaic but I ran into problems with the other 3 panels. The mount wouldn't slew far enough in NINA after a flip because I had mount limits enabled in Ascom. I just stacked the one panel.
I've had another look at it and as you say, I've clipped the darks by an awful lot! I use starXterminator then stretch the background using the histogram. I wasn't aware but theres a lot of data is in the stars image. I think I need to lift the darks in the stars image before using pixel maths to recompile them. I've stretched the original stacked image and I've lost a huge amount of data by not stretching the stars image properly. I get red halo's around stars of a certain colour and it's a real pain because I have to clone them out of the background image. From what I've read, the dual band filter doesn't focus certain star colours properly when using fast optics, a downfall of OSC.

Next time it's clear, I'll go back to a dark site, focus on one target and get maybe 8 hours of data before processing. I've spent quite a lot of time setting up this mobile rig thanks to @Adreneline and I'm convinced it can produce some decent images with improved skills and processing. I appeciate it can be a delicate subject criticising someone elses work but it's so much easier to improve with guidance. It's also 100X faster than trial and error! Again thank you for your time, it's very much appreciated.

Best regards
Pete

Honest opinions on this please.
2.5 hours of 180s subs with flats & dark flats from a bortle 4 location
Player One Poseidon-C Pro (IMX571)
ZWO dual band filter (not recommended for fast optics)
ZWO autofocuser
EQ5 mount guided
I appreciate OSC has it's limitations but I'm looking to improve
All comments very welcome
Clear skies
Pete

It's great fun camping under good skies. I live in a light polluted valley which is often misty. I'm planning to go to dark sky locations this year and had a test run in my small motorhome. The full moon didn't help with the timelapse but everything worked out OK. I've now got a couple of scopes ready to go with a guided mount.
 

Pete

On 16/07/2023 at 20:36, aleixandrus said:

Wow, it looks amazing but, to be fair, a bit overkill IMO given the pixel scale. I use the Astrodymium kit and it just works out of the box. However, I'm thinking adding support to the camara (ASI183MM) because despite having the Canon bayonet replaced with the M54 (M48?) adapter, I think I'm having some tilt...

Regarding EAF, I use NINA with 50 step size (I think I can lower this) and 150 backslash using the overshoot method. I also set 4 steps displacement from initial focus position (I try to set the initial focus manually good enough for plate solving). I'm talking from memory but I can share some screenshots if you need more details.

I agree, it's a bit OTT. The plan was to stiffen it up a bit but I kept going.
Thanks for the NINA AF settings, saved me a lot of hassle!

Clear skies
Pete

I decided to go EAF with the Samyang now I've got the back focus sorted. My options seemed limited but I went for the Thinkable Creations Hyperpod.
I appreciate that 3D printed parts are not the most rigid so a bit of beefing up was in order. I made some pre preg carbon fibre plates to replace the 3d printed ones and fitted some further re enforcing.

The dovetail was replaced with an alloy one and since the camera is a bit heavy, I fitted a WO guidescope ring to support it.

It's all looking good. The next problem is to set up the ZWO EAF which I've never done before.
If anyone is using NINA and would be kind enough to share their autofocus step size / backlash settings I'd be very grateful as it would be a great starting point. I know backlash varies between belt drive and meshed gear systems but I'm starting from zero ☺️

Clear skies and roll on the dark skies!
Pete

I'm a newbie to mosaics (only ever done 1) but from my limited knowledge gradients can be a problem. I've started using the Normalize Scale Gradient plugin for Pixinsight and found it to more effective than WPB alone. I've had limited sucess with Pix and mosaics but I'll be trying the PhotoMetricMosaic when darker nights are back.
Interesting thread and thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Clear skies
Pete

On 07/06/2023 at 20:26, SAW said:

Where do I get 0.1 shims ? Smallest I have is 0.5mm.

Might be worth a mention but I have a few of the 42mm gaskets that came with various cameras and accessories. They vary in thickness quite a lot and you can mix and match to get the right back focus.
I also checked the tilt using the SY and Zwo 294MC camera and it was quite a long way out. It was the same on my RASA
The tilt is a lot less on all my rigs with the Player One camera and from what I can gather, the sensor is very well aligned during manufacture.
My advice would be to get the back focus sorted before moving on to tilt adjustements. It's also important to understand that any slop in the bayonet adapter will cause problems. I would also measure any filter holders, shims or adapters to make sure they are absolutely straight. You might be suprised how some components are poorly made.
The bottom line here is we are pushing the boundries of everything to the absolute limit. That said, I have every faith in this lens and some of the images posted here are testament to that.
Hope that helps @SAW  I was at the point of giving up but after following @Adreneline advice, I'm sorted

Clear skies
Pete

5 hours ago, SAW said:

Out of interest what cameras are people using with the Samyang ?

I'm thinking of buying another one but this time a OSC, normally use mono.

I started with a ZWO 294MC Pro using the bayonet adapter. The results were just OK. The 294 packed up so I replaced it with a Player One Poseidon-C Pro (IMX571) and ran into a few problems using it with the Samyang lens. In particular elongated stars at the corners. Big chip camera with a wide angle lens means bigger problems from what I can gather but after taking a lot of advice from  @Adreneline particularly replacing the bayonet with a screw on M42 adapter and proper back focus setup, I'm getting close.
If you get the back focus right and add a filter you will need to re shim. You really need to shim to 0.1mm tolerance and its trial and error to get it right. It's been a lot of messing about but the combo of a big chip and a wide angle lens means mega widefield images which is what I'm hoping for. It's also a good time of year to get the rig sorted out.
This is 20X 120s lights, flats and a quick process in PI. I'm also using 2 filters - an IR/UV cut and a dual band. The problem with OSC and dual band filters is halo's around stars of certain colours. That's why I'm using an IR/UV cut filter as well to reduce star bloat.
HTH
Pete

Wow that's very impressive Paul and thanks for sharing. I've subscribed to your youtube channel as I'm just starting out trying some night timelapse and milky way imaging. Hope you don't mind me asking but what's the piece of kit on the hot shoe and how do you set the white balance with your astro modded 6D?
Again thank you for sharing your fantastic nightscapes and knowledge.

Pete

8 hours ago, SAW said:

This is where my focus point is using the 600D and Samyang according to my ASI Air Plus, is this where I need my focus to be correctly spaced when using my 2600MM ?

 

That's exactly what I have done following Adrenelin's advice and it's made a massive difference.

Clear skies
Pete

11 hours ago, Adreneline said:

Hi Pete,

In my opinion this is essential. I used my SY135 with my Canon 6D in January this year and took a photo of the focus position after using the autofocus routine in the ASIair and checking with a BM, this was the result:

 

No two lens are identical, no two cameras are identical. The back focus of the cameras themselves is subject to a manufacturing tolerance so in the case of a ZWO camera you cannot be sure it is spot on 6.5mm. I fail to understand how some people state the definitive spacing is 44mm (say) for the SY135 when used with a ZWO camera. Filter thickness will have affect the spacing. I use 1mm Astronomik filters so in theory they affect the spacing by ~0.33mm.

Haha! You would like to think so! Again, this is my opinion only, but the SY135 is a consumer dslr lens not a dedicated astrograph. If you are lucky it will be a good one. (I recently bought a dedicated astrograph lens which had been tested prior to despatch but it still didn't perform as one would expect; I am awaiting a replacement).

Well mine is! I guess it comes down to the quality of the flats.

This is my current setup - I've been through so many iterations and variations I've lost count.

I am sure there is no misalignment or droop and the NB filters I use focus in the middle of the 'L' and I still have a slightly dodgy corner. It is what it is and I am happy  

 

 

HTH

Adrian

P.S. I am also a firm believer in using a step-down-ring and not using the aperture control on the lens. I use a 49mm sdr so the lens operates at about f2.6 and you don't get facets around the stars.

 

 

Hi Adrain, thanks and that helps a lot. I've just run a pic through ASTAP and I have 24% tilt with the Poseidon-C. Good news since things can only get better. Think I'll go down the Astro Essentials Samyang Lens to M48 adapter route then shim the back focus so it's in the "L". I've also just put my SY lens on a Cannon  600D and it focuses inside the L. Both my cooled cameras are way outside. Looks like the 44mm backfocus on these lenses is a ballpark figure when used with astro cameras. Interesting you have no tilt when using a Canon camera! Again thanks.

6 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

I did post this 2 panel done with Paul Kummer and Peter Woods on the DSI board but here it is for Samyang lovers.

Wide open at F2, the Blue Horsehead region.

 

This Lens, the small pixel CMOS camera and Russ Croman's software come together with a sweetness rarely experienced this side of heaven! 

Olly

 

Hi Olly, are you suggesting that this lens performs better with a small chip camera?

Clear skies
Pete

I don't usually post images on the forum because I felt they weren't good enough. After a massive amount of help from Yawning Angel, Laurin Dave and Olly, I seem to have made a bit of progress.

M51, 12 & 14th May 23

Bortle 5
APM Astrograph 107/700
ASI 533 OSC @ -10C
ZWO UV/IR Cut Filter
60 Light frames at 60s
Flats & Dark Flats using NINA and a Geoptik panel
EQ6 Guided
Pixinsight, WBP, Star, Noise & BlurXterminator plugins

Thanks for looking
Clear Skies
Pete

I liked my 294MC pro / Samyang setup but my out of warranty 294 packed up and it wasn't cost effective to repair. Basically the PCB went and they suggested I replace it myself with no warranty. It was a no brainer to buy a camera from another manufacturer so I went for a Player One. It was also a good time to have a rebuild of my mobile rig. The cables were getting messy and I've chopped and changed things over the years. This Skywatcher EQ5 mount is over 10 years old, been hammered to death but it's still going strong.  I had to upgrade the USB hub due to the bigger file size from the Poseidon camera and finding a 12V USB 3 hub was not as easy as I thought. This Star Tech hub looks like it will do the trick though. For once, I'm ready in advance!
I usually hate winter but for once, I can't wait to try this rig out.


Thanks for looking
Clear skies
Pete

Barnard's loop 3 panel mosaic with an ASi 294MC pro. I used a ZWO dual band filter which I've read are not recommended with a wide FOV  😮 Processed in Pixinsight. RC astro plugins helped a lot.
All comments and feedback is welcome. I'm new to most of this technology and this is my first mosaic and multi night imaging session.
Thanks for looking.

Pete


 

WOW! Absolutely epic!
You must be pleased with that.

Pete

First light with this lens. 2 hours, 120s subs, asi 294 OSC with ZWO dual band filter.

 

First chance I've had to image this with some new gear and software.
Bortle 5, EQ6, Rasa 8, Asi 294 OSC, Zwo dual band filter, 2 Hours @ 120s. Processed in Pixinsight with all the cheats added 😆

Thanks for looking
Pete