Can Maxim be used to take DSLR Light Frames?

[AstroManDan]

Can I program Maxim DL to take my light frames?

I can see the option for 'Lights' in the Autosave section, but I thought you take light frames with the DSLR set to 'AV' and let the camera decide on the exposure.

So I can't see how you could do this in Maxim by setting a set time for the exposure and I thought that Maxim can only control a camera when it is set to Manual or Bulb...but I might be wrong..am I?

Daniel

[FraserClarke]

Surprised this hasn't been answered yet. I don't use a DSLR with Maxim, so I might be wrong below, but based on using CCDs with Maxim, here's what I do...

"Light" in Maxim language is an image of the thing you are trying to image (i.e. a galaxy). I think you're talking here about "Flats" instead? (i.e. images of a flat evenly illumated source for calibration). In any case, the only difference Maxim has between these two is a keyword in the image header. The actual way it takes the data is the same.

When I take flats, I play around with the exposure time until I get the right amount of flux on the detector, and then set that exposure time in the Maxim autosave section. You could do the same with a DSLR in Manual mode of course. I've never seen anything in Maxim that would let you use the Av setting... (but I've never looked very hard either!)

[AstroManDan]

Thanks, yes I meant "flats" I keep getting confused.

Yes I think you can only set your DSLR to manual using Maxim, that's a good idea to try the AV mode, get the timing and then set that in Maxim.

When you say 'flux on the detector' what exactly do you mean?

Thanks

Daniel

[FraserClarke]

When you say 'flux on the detector' what exactly do you mean?

Just the brightness of the image...