Rustang

Ok I see, I didn't know that's how a camera lens functions. Thanks for the info. One last thing while I think about what to do. For the plate solving, I remember setting up the profiles for the scopes and cameras I have for APT to be able to plate solve. You mentioned about entering the value in point craft, would I not have to set up that profile as well so in regards to a zoom lens which could be many different focal lengths, would I then have to set up profile for each if that makes sense!? If that's the case I guess it would be easier to stick with a fixed focal length lens.

Apologies, I'm really showing my dumbness now! No wonder I struggle with this hobby! 😊 So the rear opening of the lens then!?

Apologies, I get it now, I forgot that a camera lens has aperture blades which I'm guessing is what you mean buy it going down to a 12.2 aperture!?

Its the 55mm has only an aperture of 12mm!? that would be good to understand before i spend out on a lens! 👍

Ok now you have me confused!? Easy done! lol

I'm thinking this is probably a stupid question and that I already know the answer but in regards to setting up to shoot widefield with a DSLR and lens, if I set a plate solve profile for that setup I can then use APT and PHD2 the same way I've been using it!? Is there anything I need to know that's not already obvious!? I'm guessing I would have to set up an individual profile for each possible focal length in order to plate solve but in regards to that, I'm not sure what focal length that maybe especially if I get a telephoto lens such as a 55-250mm, it seems a bit of a faff. It's only because I'm toying with the idea of getting a lens to do some wide shots, hopefully of Orion before it begins to disappear.

Yeah ok, you win!! Stunning image.

Thanks 😊

Well, for 1hrs worth of freezing cold data, I will certainly take that! My best yet! Still some work and improvements to be had but I think I'm pretty much there with the gear I have so my Canon 600D and SW80 ED DS PRO has done me proud! Taken with The Optolong L=enhance so colours not 100% but I like it!

No problem, I hope you manage to get it all up and running ok.

So the way I have it set up and running is as follows: Mount- Controlled by the EQDirect cable from mount to laptop, the correct ASCOM/EQASCOM drivers for the mount downloaded on the laptop. Now when I open APT to connect the scope, EQASCOM opens up and shows what position my scope is in (i.e park), from there i can un park the scope and set it to side rail tracking ready to then slew to target in APT. I can now connect the scope to APT and PHD2 and the mount can be controlled via the EQASCOM control pad, APT and PHD2 for guiding. APT is where I select my target and slew the mount to it, plate solve etc then capture away! I have set up a 'Profile' in PHD2 for my mount and guide camera, you can check the drivers etc are working when you try and connect your equipment in PHD2 when setting up the profile or when connecting to the other software programes. Imaging Camera - Again I have the correct ASCOM driver and a cable running from the camera to the laptop, I can now select my camera in APT where I control it and run the exposure plan Ive set up. As long as all the drivers etc are set up properly, all of the software programes will speak to each other. So when I'm out for the night I do as follows: Everything turned on, first I pola align. I then turn on APT which also opens my EQASCOM control pad, I un-park the mout and set the mount to sidereal tracking via the EQASCOM control pad. In APT I have set up what is needed to plate solve so I then choose my target, send the mount to that target, plate solve then I'm ready to capture the target. I then open PHD2 and check my mount and guide camera are connected to it. Because I have already completed a good enough star calibration I can then start lopping and then auto select a star and start guiding. When I'm happy with the guiding I can go back into APT and run the capture sequence that I have set up. It might sound alot but its only the setting everything up to start with that takes time, once your set up correctly on your laptop, you can be up and running really quickly for a nights imaging. Hopefully that all makes sense.

Make a cone around the lens using card, funky foam or similar to act as a dew shield!? 🤔

Ive got everything crossed that I'm about to fall over!! 😄

No problem, il do my best to help you through it but I may not be able to remember ever part of setting it up.

Yeah that should be the right cable. So I don't use sharp cap so not familiar with it. The process I follow is, everything turned on and connected/talking to each other. I pola Align through the HEQ5 Pro pola scope, I use an app to tell me with Polaris is. Because I've set up plate solving in Apt which again can be a head ache to set up but seriously worth it, I can choose my target in APT, slew to it then plate solve in Apt, sync that to the scope. My target will then be centered in frame ready to then connect to PHD2 to guide, once guiding I go back into APT and press go on the image plan I've set. I now sit back and enjoy the ride..... then wait for something to get upset.........sit back again and enjoy the ride! 😁 Plate solving is yet another game changer for getting you correctly on target. No star alignment needed, just choose the target, solve and then your away, it's awesome. I honestly had a tough time setting it all up but it's seriously made my life easier and really made a big difference to my astrophotophotography so I couldn't recommend doing all of this enough. I owe a big thanks to this forum and it's great members for their help.

Appricate that, my thread probably didn't help the confusion but honestly if you take the time to read through it and set it all up it's worth it, I'm not going to lie and say it's easy, it was a bit of a headache but if I can do it then you can. What else can you do while we have all these clouds! 😉 Get the EQ Direct cable, Download the correct ASCOM drivers for your camera and mount, download EQASCOM. I think everything is within my thread but you will have to hunt for it I'm afraid. It will all be worth it, trust me.

Here's my old thread when I set everything up, it's long but worth looking through. You will probably have less of a headache than me, me setting it up, my brain let's me down the most! 😊

Do it, do it, do it! 😊

So APT is Astro photography tool, it's the software many people use to control their equipment, there are other programs that are great too. The software connects with the EQASCOM software so everything speaks to each other. My mount and camera contect to this software (Apt) which then allows me to do everything I need, set up exposures, slew the mount to its target etc. I appreciate its an extra cost and time to set everything up but honestly its really worth it. I tried my best to get it working off the ST4 cable to start with aswell but it just would not work. The EQ Direct cable is the best £35 I've spent so far, it's honestly a game changer!

I tried for ages to get my HEQ5 mount running via the ST4 cable and it just wouldn't work. I'm pleased it didn't because it was suggested to just run it off a laptop via a Lynx Astro EQ direct cable, I've never looked back and it's made things so much easier. So now I use the EQ direct cable with the correct EQASCOM software and control the mount via that through Apt. I've been loving using it this way ever since, like you I wanted to make my life easier for now with the ST4 but actually the way I ended up doing it with the EQ direct option is easier in the end!

Just stunning! 👏👏

Yeah I used up my trails of APP so I'm going to need to buy it one day, maybe it's time now!

Lovely image, 👍

Thanks. Are you thinking the dither settings could be the issue then? I ticked the 'detect and clean remaining hot pixels' in DSS and set it to 1px, it appeared to remove the problem, I can't see that it has caused anything but I'm hoping it won't cause any other issues in the stacked file.

Il double check what its set to in both programs but I'm pretty I'm set to the right settings for my DSLR. Which would you recommend though? I spent some time looking into this and thought I had it sorted and could tick that part off, we will see!