First Ha Solar Image

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bart1805
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Re: First Ha Solar Image

Post by bart1805 »

Hi Ewan,
FC works for me, as does Genika. But Genika misses some features. If I want to make an animation I set the fps at about 40 fps. Otherwise the SSD explodes in a short time. As far as I know I can't control the fps in Genika.
The PGR IMX174 has a 10/12 bit ADC. So it seems that you can't take 16 bit images. Or am I wrong?
Clear skies, Bart.


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Re: First Ha Solar Image

Post by Ewan »

bart1805 wrote: Sun Feb 04, 2018 11:09 pm Hi Ewan,
FC works for me, as does Genika. But Genika misses some features. If I want to make an animation I set the fps at about 40 fps. Otherwise the SSD explodes in a short time. As far as I know I can't control the fps in Genika.
The PGR IMX174 has a 10/12 bit ADC. So it seems that you can't take 16 bit images. Or am I wrong?
Clear skies, Bart.
Your quite correct Bart RE 12Bit ADC (although I just checked & Astrograph advertises it as 14Bit ADC ?) & on the FLIR website there is a knowledge base article that explains how you can acquire 16Bit data by putting the camera into 16 bpp mode, something I will have to read up on. So strictly speaking my captures are 12Bit Doh ;-)

Yes FC does have a lot of controls etc which was one reason I moved away from it, just not required for what I do as Genika is more than capable.
What size SSD do you have ? my 1TB has only ever nearly filled up once as I was doing a long animation, other than that it is the best upgrade choice I made.

Atb
Ewan


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Re: First Ha Solar Image

Post by bart1805 »

Hi Ewan,
It is a bit strange. When you look at the datasheet PGR ? Flir say it like this:
ADC: 14-bit (10-bit GS3-U3-41C6,10- and 12-bit GS3-U3-23S6,GS3-U3-32S4,GS3-U3-51S5,GS3-U3-89S6,GS3-U3-123S6)
VideoData Output: 8, 12, 16 and 24-bit digital data
https://www.ptgrey.com/support/downloads/10146
So, I am a bit lost here. And I must say that this is a bit out of my league. I will just test it in the field and try to find out which setting is the best for me. By the way, in the same data sheet you can see the difference between Mode 7 and Mode 0

It is 256 GB, and it is the only harddrive in the laptop. It gets worse. I borrow the laptop from the love of my life, so about 150 GB is allready taken. A new laptop (and one solely for Astro imaging is the next project....
Clear Skies! Bart.

ps.
Maybe this is the start of the answer:
The Grasshopper3 U3's ADC is configured to a fixed bit output. If the pixel format selected has fewer bits per pixel than the ADC output, the least significant bits are dropped. If the pixel format selected has greater bits per pixel than the ADC output, the least significant bits are padded and can be discarded by the user. Image data is left- aligned across a 2-byte format.
https://www.ptgrey.com/support/downloads/10125

Most of the GS3 models are 14 bit. The one we have is a 10 / 12 bit. 12 bit in Mode 7, 10 bit in Mode 0. But the information on the Flir site is not consistent. Sometimes this camera is referred to as having a 10 bit ADC.


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Re: First Ha Solar Image

Post by Ewan »

Don't want to hijack Christopher's 1st FD image any longer surfice to say I will have to do more reading but I can also say when the data is loaded into AS!2 it is detected as 16Bit as well, Flir do make it sound like 16Bit captures are possible with this camera but not clearly ;-)

Bart take a look on CEX sometime as I have seen the same drive as my EVO on there for peanuts so much so I may have to get one for the desktop.

PS Christopher I am looking forward to seeing how your imaging comes along & you getting the most from your gear, well done so far though.

Atb
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Re: First Ha Solar Image

Post by Christopher »

No worries gentlemen. Excellent discourse on this very capable camera and its features and specifications relative to the capture software. Now, any advice on cloud-shifters? :lol:


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Re: First Ha Solar Image

Post by MapleRidge »

Hi Christopher...

Well done for a first image!!!

You have a great solar setup with the solar scope/camera combo.

Brian


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Re: First Ha Solar Image

Post by bart1805 »

Hi Christopher, a few more things after some reading.
Set Brightness to zero. In your example you have got it at 327, your histogram is to far to the right with that setting.
I though that when you disabled Gamma, it would be by default in the neutral position. As far as I understand now it is not. From the PGR site:
Gamma values between 0.5 and 1 result in decreased brightness effect, while values between 1 and 4 produce an increased brightness effect. By default, Gamma is enabled and has a value of 1.25. To obtain a linear response, disable gamma.
So if I understand it correctly Gamma is neutral when it is 1. It corresponds with about 1.000 in Firecapture.
Good luck! Bart.


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