LaurenceT

Affinity Photo for Ipad does stacking as well as other good stuff.

I haven't had a chance to use it since then due to health reasons (sciatica!) but I did a test image the other night that I've not yet processed. The image in this thread came in from some criticism: pages 9 and 10, due to some red/blue star fringing which disappeared when reprocessed and also some comet shaped stars in the corners which could have been due to me not screwing in the camera 100% to the scope. Only a small extra turn but it may have made a difference. Frankly I can't see what's wrong with the stars in the corners but perhaps you could have a closer look at the corners in the image I've posted here. I would add that this image is not full sized, the revised image in the other thread was full size. The image you are looking at here was taken using an L-Enhance filter, I have considered getting the Astronomik L3 filter but I'm unsure whether if I could stack it with the L-Enhance or use it by itself and lose nebulosity. I'm not going to be the pixel peeper I was for years with my terrestrial photography as I'm now too old and too new to this hobby.

I've just seen a Canon FD 135mm F2.8 for sale, I've got an FD to Nex converter and a Nex T2 adapter so I could use it on my Sony A9 and also for astro with my Asi cameras, just don't tell my wife......

Can you all please stop posting stuff about 135mm prime lenses. It's probably my favourite focal length lens for "ordinary" photography and astro. I've had several of these over the years but sold them all on, and now I'm looking for yet another one thanks to you😄

Welcome, excellent image.

Welcome

I think that Point and Track is an excellent feature, the main challenge for a beginner like me is actually knowing in the first place whereabouts in the sky my target is. Once I've found it and selected it in the app then I have found the tracking is very good. I can then use my Turn Left at Orion book for star hopping.

I use the WO ZS61 as my main scope but since a recent back problem I've been intending to use it on my AZ GTI instead of the much heavier EQ5. Knowing the limited load capacity of the AZ GTI I weighed everything being: ZS61, FF, ASI533MC, mini guidescope, ASI120MM mini, ASIAIR Pro with mini router, ZWO EAF and dovetail bar, the whole lot came to 3.85 Kg. Close to the maximum for the mount in Alt Az mode but somewhat over the recommended limit for imaging but seeing how many people use greater loads than that on the AZ-GTI I'm quite prepared to take that chance.

Bear in mind that it's quite weighty, it was maneuvering mine out of the back door that did for my back recently but then I'm an idiot 😆 . It's a well known photography axiom that when it comes to tripods you can't have cheap, stable and light in one tripod. This Skywatcher tripod is quite cheap as they go and very stable so light it isn't.

I put mine on the Skywatcher stainless Steel tripod, very stable. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-star-adventurer/sky-watcher-stainless-steel-175-tripod-with-38-thread.html

If you want some idea of how much you might need to pay for a modified dslr have a look here: https://cheapastrophotography.com/

It depends on the firmware version, if the dual mode firmware is installed then to use the mount in alt az mode then that mode is selected when the app starts and then the scope must be installed on the right of the mount. If the single use firmware is installed then the scope is connected to the mount on the left as you correctly indicate.

That is a step up from my Talentcells, you won't have problems using that. I have one with slightly less power and it powers my ASI533mc camera and a usb dew heater for some hours. I have a smaller one still and it powers the AZ GTi for hours also.

These adverse events seem to be quite common but they've never happened to me so I have no first hand experience. However, many of them seem to be connected with the altitude/latitude settings as transmitted by the tablet or phone being used. Another thought is that it may be connected with power supply. Some people have found that power from batteries is more prone to errors than using an external power source. I have always used a Talentcell power brick to power my AZ-GTI and I have had no problems.

Glad you're getting familiar with it. We live within earshot of the M3 so hearing the noise of an AzGti is the last thing neighbours are concerned about 🤣

I have been mounting my Maksutov 127 on my AZ GTi in Alt Az mode for lunar and planetary. This tube weighs only slightly less than the 130pds, I found that when using the Point and Track function it was much better when the mount was balanced with a counterweight, tracking was almost perfect. When not balanced there was much more drift noticeable. I was just using the single Star Adventurer counterweight with adapter.

Sad to read this, he always struck me as a very nice chap and very willing to offer sound advice.

Lovely image

Hi from a fellow Surrey forum member.

Interesting, that's how I power my Asiair when using my travel rig. I also power 2 dew heaters from the Asiair but haven't experienced any power problems. However I also power the AZ-GTI mount from a Talentcell power pack and my ZWO camera and guide camera from a second larger Talentcell power pack. The only other connections from the Asiair are the data cable from the camera and the EQDIR cable to the mount. It seems that our Asiair is very picky when it comes to power.

How were you powering your Asiair when that happened?

Thanks for your encouragement Lee 👍

Thinking more about this, I'd have to decide which Astronomik L filter to get (I'm currently researching this) and whether there would be any advantage of a fairly expensive luminance filter over my cheap Svbony UV/IR cut filter. Also, could you please explain to this novice what you mean by "apply as a luminance layer "? Thanks again for your help and advice.

That's a shame because the skies were pretty good last night. Is that scope your renovation project?

Another step forward tonight, first time I managed to organise guiding so increased subs to 120 seconds up from 60 seconds. Still haven't bitten the calibration files yet so that's my next adventure! 60x120secs subs, WO Z61, Asi533 MCPro, Evoguide 50ED with asi 120mm mini, Asiair Pro, Skywatcher EQ5 Goto. Processed in APP, DxoLab, Lightroom and Topaz. I wasn't sure about using a filter so I stuck on a Baader Moon and Skyglow filter to see what happens!