ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

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ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

My wife ordered last Wednesday for me a ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome CMOS Astrophotography Camera. Hopefully this will enable me to foray into solar imaging further than I am able to with iPhone or Nikon DSLR. I will certainly need the expertise of imagers here to guide me along. It's an entirely new type of photography for me. I should have the camera on Monday or Tuesday. My main use for digital imaging is to help me document what I see on the Sun visually.

Thanks for any coming assistance!

James

https://optcorp.com/collections/zwo/pro ... o-asi178mm


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
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Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
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Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by JochenM »

That should be a good match for your scopes, James. I'm sure you'll get lots of enjoyment out of that camera (I know I have).


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Martin_S »

James, congratulations on getting a new camera. A tilt adaptor might be on your Christmas wish list. there are some great tutorials on this site to keep you busy on cloudy days.

Martin


H alpha : ,Skywatcher 120mm F8 open frame refractor, a tilted 2" 7nm H-alpha filter as a sub energy rejection filter, Baader TZ4 telecentric focal extender, Player One energy rejection filter, Combo Quark Chromosphere, Naked PST etalon for double stacking, ASI74mm camera
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by arnedanielsen »

Congratulations, James!

Best regards,
Arne


Best regards,
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Hi James, the ZWO ASI 178MM certainly has well-proved its' worth with my two Lunt 60mm scopes, where an image capturing the whole of the Solar-disk just fills neatly into each frame, without lots of the black-stuff showing.

Did you check with the FOV Calculator as https://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/ to check which of your scopes this or any other ZWO camera would be best for your application ??

There is of course a benefit of having a wider field-of-view, as makes alignment to the disk - easier, unless a fixed-mount and GO-TO is used.

Cheers
Terry


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Alto »

I hope it's 'better' than the altairastro version - I can rarely get more than 5-6 fps full frame. Apparently a faster frame count can be obtained by using a USB port directly on the motherboard :D


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Yes Alto, was the same here with my Altair GPCAM's. Just keeping one for WL is OK, but the ASI178MM's certainly are better for Ha and Cak.

Terry


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Alto »

Cheers Terry, I do have a zwo 178, but it's colour - intended originally for an allsky setup, but I've delayed installing to see what images of Mars will be like when cloud allows!


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by eroel »

James:
Congratulations, you will like the camera it works very nice.
Best wishes and hope to see your shots soon.
Eric.


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by rsfoto »

Hi James,

Congratulations. Now you have a lot of new things to learn.


regards Rainer

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Rusted »

Well done James! :bow

Now you have absolutely no excuse not to post new images every day the sun shines. :cool:
Or we'll certainly want to know the reason why! :mrgreen:

A USB3 port helps the fps cause. No more than 3m [10'] USB3 cable.
You get a nice and floppy 'freeby' 2m [6'] USB3 cable in the camera packaging.

I prefer SharpCap for capturing. It's simple to use, obvious and foolproof.
NO indecipherable symbols or ancient hieroglyphics!
Start at 500 images Mono8 in AVI.
Keep your exposures around 5-6ms and use Gain to make the picture like a pencil drawing in density.

Followed by Autostakkert to stack your video. Simple and obvious to use.
Try stacking 75 images out of 500 at first.
A nice short capture reduces wind wobbles, thermal agitation and drift.

GENTLY sharpen your final still in ImPPG. "Spottiness" is overdoing it.
Aim for a natural, realistic look. I mostly use the default settings and it works for me.
Just use the sliders in the "wiggly worm" box to sharpen and brighten by dragging the + cursors around.

Save as a 16 bit .Tiff with a useful title like date and capture time as a minimum.

Then colour, crop and polish in an image handling software. [Free?]

Enjoy. :lol:


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by ffellah »

Congratulations on your new ZWO178 camera, James. I have one and it is good with short focal length scopes. Enjoy !

Franco


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by krakatoa1883 »

Very good camera for solar imaging, particularly for full disc captures but nice for hires work too without the need for very slow f/ratios. I strongly suggest Firecapture for working with it, just start with the basic tools as described here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ1SpbCmM9U

then gradually add more and more functions.


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

I agree with Rusted James, by keeping it simple at first with SharpCap and AutoStakkert and remembering to convert the TIFF image to JPG of course - for your excellent daily reports and images on SolarChat - please.

Have fun !

Terry


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by rsfoto »

Keep your exposures around 5-6ms and use Gain to make the picture like a pencil drawing in density.
Hi,

Here I disagree using gain and limiting your exposure time to 5-6 ms. The camera makes at 8 bit 60 frames per second and 30 frames per second in 14 bit or pseudo 16 bit.

60 frames per second allows you to theoretically go up to 16.7 ms exposure time and 30 frames allow you theoretically the double or 33.4 ms.

Gain introduces NOISE and noise is not good ... You will hardly get rid of noise in the processing. Avoid it by all means. If you need to use Gain then the sky conditions are not good. IMHO ;)

With my ASI 290MM Cool I need an exposure time of around 8 to 11 ms according to the sky conditions.

In regard to processing software the best I can recommend is to grab everything what is on the free market or maybe paid market and play with all. Yes I know that is time consuming but you will find what best suits you ...

Since ages I use for AVI processing AviStack as I have seen that RegiStax introduces some strange thick details. Maybe because I do not know how to use it :lol: :lol: :lol:

OK, the more you get into imaging the more questions will arise but here are a lot of experienced imagers and all have different workflow and everyone will say his is the best :-)

I tested a lot of software until I found my workflow.

It is your decision at the end ...


regards Rainer

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Martin_S wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:08 pm James, congratulations on getting a new camera. A tilt adaptor might be on your Christmas wish list. there are some great tutorials on this site to keep you busy on cloudy days.

Martin
What does a tilt adaptor do?


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
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Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
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Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

ffellah wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 4:11 pm Congratulations on your new ZWO178 camera, James. I have one and it is good with short focal length scopes. Enjoy !

Franco
It may indeed work better with my SMII60 than it will with the SMII90.


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

rsfoto wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 3:44 pm Hi James,

Congratulations. Now you have a lot of new things to learn.
That's an understatement! :lol:


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Martin_S »

DeepSolar64 wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 6:54 pm
Martin_S wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:08 pm James, congratulations on getting a new camera. A tilt adaptor might be on your Christmas wish list. there are some great tutorials on this site to keep you busy on cloudy days.

Martin
What does a tilt adaptor do?
It helps eliminate those annoying newton rings that you get with monochrome cameras.

Martin


H alpha : ,Skywatcher 120mm F8 open frame refractor, a tilted 2" 7nm H-alpha filter as a sub energy rejection filter, Baader TZ4 telecentric focal extender, Player One energy rejection filter, Combo Quark Chromosphere, Naked PST etalon for double stacking, ASI74mm camera
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Martin_S wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 8:28 pm
DeepSolar64 wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 6:54 pm
Martin_S wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:08 pm James, congratulations on getting a new camera. A tilt adaptor might be on your Christmas wish list. there are some great tutorials on this site to keep you busy on cloudy days.

Martin
What does a tilt adaptor do?
It helps eliminate those annoying newton rings that you get with monochrome cameras.

Martin
Thanks Martin, I can see a use for that!!


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by rsfoto »

Martin_S wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 8:28 pm
DeepSolar64 wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 6:54 pm
Martin_S wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:08 pm James, congratulations on getting a new camera. A tilt adaptor might be on your Christmas wish list. there are some great tutorials on this site to keep you busy on cloudy days.

Martin
What does a tilt adaptor do?
It helps eliminate those annoying newton rings that you get with monochrome cameras.

Martin
Hi Martin,

I have two monochrome cameras and no Newton rings.

I would say before starting in spending in something which later will no be used and sometimes does not even cure the problem is to wait and see if you get Newton rings or not.

I have two tilters and both just collecting dust. I thought I needed them and then it came out that not.

IMHO

OK, all setups are different ...
Last edited by rsfoto on Sun Nov 08, 2020 8:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.


regards Rainer

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

The inner two boxes are the SMII90 with and without a 2x barlow. The outer two the SMII60 without a barlow and with with a focal reducer. The narrow view will plage me with the 90 because I currently use an altazimuth mount so I must manually track. This would be easier on the 60. would lowering the camera's resolution to 2mp help the SMII90?

I need to invest in at least a Sky-Watcher AZGTI or SolarQuest mout for the 60. To equip the 90 would be more expensive.

astronomy.tools.png
astronomy.tools.png (296.44 KiB) Viewed 5440 times


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

What does a tilt adaptor do? James,
Simply tilts the camera very-slightly in the eye-piece holder to eliminate "NEWTON RINGS."
Only get one if the problem exists and no other way to prevent those NR's...


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by rsfoto »

Hi James,

There is a tiny mistake in your calculation.

The pixel size is 2.4 micron x 2.4 micron and not 2.4µ x 3.0µ


regards Rainer

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

I try again with those two ZWO images
Attachments
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

As has just been said by Rainer, absolutely do not waste your dosh on tilters - unless there is no other way of stopping the NR's from ruining images.

Try the camera first on any of your telescopes, as different scopes may-well give different performances. Only when you have worked-out what is your best camera/telescope arrangement (or indeed any particular camera/telescope arrangement), will you then need to decide if either any focal-reducers/tele-extenders(Barlows) or for NR's - a tilt-adapter maybe required for any particular arrangement...

Of course there is a wealth of experience on Solarchat, but start and keep to the basics first - before ascending in the realms of the more expensive gear - which may never get used...

Cheers
Terry


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Starry Jack »

He will need a UV IR CUT filter, true?


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Indeed that could well be correct Jack, but that can be acquired in due course...

Terry


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

I bet ZWO carries these rings.


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Starry Jack wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:21 pm He will need a UV IR CUT filter, true?
I have an eyepiece mounted one but not so sure if it will work on the camera.


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Patience James is the word, as wait until the camera arrives and you can try it out on the various telescopes.

Then maybe is the time to decide on whatever else is required.

Only get what is required.

Terry


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by rsfoto »

Starry Jack wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:21 pm He will need a UV IR CUT filter, true?
Hi,

May I ask what for ? Perhaps for White Light yes but I recommend to start simple and then grow.


regards Rainer

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by rsfoto »

EGRAY_OBSERVATORY wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:35 pm Patience James is the word, as wait until the camera arrives and you can try it out on the various telescopes.

Then maybe is the time to decide on whatever else is required.

Only get what is required.

Terry
Hi,

An accesory which I really recommend is to motorize the focuser. Observing visually is completely different as the Eye adapts to unsharpness but a camera does not forgive unsharpness ...

James, you will make a new experience when you see in the PC monitor how the hot air waves pass over the surface of the Sun.

Focusing is one of the most critical things for good imaging. :o


regards Rainer

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Can you motorize an helical focuser?


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
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Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
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Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by rsfoto »

DeepSolar64 wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:54 pm Can you motorize an helical focuser?
Yes but more difficult and that is normally a DIY action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S2rpBx2zNI

make a search with the help of Uncle Google ...

viewtopic.php?t=27941


regards Rainer

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Can i under-line what Rainer has said about "Focusing is one of the most critical things for good imaging."

100% agree with that which is the first thing to get right first.

Because of my difficulties of seeing at a distance the smaller laptop's screen, i decided to invest in a 'high-end' computer (not a laptop), plus it's ability to supply two monitors (one hi-res). One can be swung-out close to the telescopes allowing much better focusing etc. and in bright Sun-light...

In fact my indoors laptops all have large screens and or an external large monitor...

I'm not suggesting that you need to go that far, but it certainly has made my Solar-imaging life - much easier...

Cheers
Terry


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

I have a large monitor on my desktop PC. That would be an advantage of an observatory. One could use a desktop with a bigger monitor than what is available on a laptop.


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
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Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
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Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

I have already figured out how critical focusing is with digital solar photography. Ha is a pain to focus using my iPhone and DSLR and even white light lacks the sharpness my eye can see.


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Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by KMH »

Starry Jack wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:21 pm He will need a UV IR CUT filter, true?
Does this make a difference for narrow-band solar imaging? I recently got one for color planetary imaging but haven't tried it for Halpha.

Kevin


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Rusted »

I also agree on holding off on the tilt adapter unless you find you really need one.

______________________________________

Thanks for the heads up on Exposure V Gain. :bow

My theory is that a shorter exposure will freeze thermal agitation more than a little Gain will ruin an image.
The truth is I have no clue where my 7ms max figure came from. I probably read it in a post here and it just stuck. ;)
It works for me while still enjoying low gain. I was seeing 150fps average in the last imaging session. [ZWO'174]
With the SharpCap Gain slider still well to the left despite my using my under 7ms exposures.
Needs more work methinks. I do note a definite slowing down in SharpCap reaction times using longer exposures.


http://fullerscopes.blogspot.dk/

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Rusted »

DeepSolar64 wrote: Mon Nov 09, 2020 4:59 am I have already figured out how critical focusing is with digital solar photography.
Ha is a pain to focus using my iPhone and DSLR and even white light lacks the sharpness my eye can see.
I use a large 25" computer monitor with my 15.6" high res. laptop.
This provide a huge image on a low reflection screen which allows sharp focusing.
Despite the 1:10 slow motion focuser it still takes patience to find sharpest focus!

Being in the darkness of the black finished dome interior kills most reflection problems.
I always wear black clothing when imaging to avoid any direct screen reflections.
Of course this set-up will not apply to most solar imagers. Though dark clothing still helps.
As does choosing to be in the shade when staring at your imaging screen.

One can buy loupes for cameras and phones.
A magnifying glass is clipped onto the capturing device with a little hood just like a camera viewfinder.
It blocks external screen reflections and provides extra magnification for focusing.
iPhones [and perhaps others] also have a "Loupe" magnification feature] to enlarge the screen.


http://fullerscopes.blogspot.dk/

H-alpha: Baader 160mm D-ERF, iStar 150/10 H-alpha objective, 2" Baader 35nm H-a, 2" Beloptik KG3,
Lunt 60MT etalon, Lunt B1200S2 BF, Assorted T-S GPCs or 2x "Shorty" Barlow, ZWO ASI174.
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Alto »

Ironic really. To view the Sun it's better to be in the dark as much as possible.... :D


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by rsfoto »

Rusted wrote: Mon Nov 09, 2020 3:37 pm I also agree on holding off on the tilt adapter unless you find you really need one.

______________________________________

Thanks for the heads up on Exposure V Gain. :bow

My theory is that a shorter exposure will freeze thermal agitation more than a little Gain will ruin an image.
The truth is I have no clue where my 7ms max figure came from. I probably read it in a post here and it just stuck. ;)
It works for me while still enjoying low gain. I was seeing 150fps average in the last imaging session. [ZWO'174]
With the SharpCap Gain slider still well to the left despite my using my under 7ms exposures.
Needs more work methinks. I do note a definite slowing down in SharpCap reaction times using longer exposures.
Hi Chris,

Do you like the definition of my H-alpha images ? OK, they could be better and I will make some tests using short exposures times and increase gain in my camera. I already did it and did not like it but now that I have more time it does not do any harm to test it our again.

The exposure time right now for all the past H-alpha discs you have seen are around 46 ms to 52ms and neutral Gain. My Oldie camera does not make more then 16 frames per second at my chosen ROI of 904 x 904 pixels. The full image size is 1616 x 1216 pixels and there tha camera makes just ridiculous 12 frames per second at 12 bit. It is a Lumenera Infinity 2-2M microscopy camera ...

The white light images are shot at 82 frames per second with 8ms to 10 ms at a ROI of about 1196 x 1040 pixels or something with an ASI 290MM Cool.


regards Rainer

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

It's here!

ZWO Monochrome camera.JPG
ZWO Monochrome camera.JPG (2.41 MiB) Viewed 775 times


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Rusted »

Christmas came this early? :shock:

You had better wrap it up again and wait for Santa to deliver it! :mrgreen:


http://fullerscopes.blogspot.dk/

H-alpha: Baader 160mm D-ERF, iStar 150/10 H-alpha objective, 2" Baader 35nm H-a, 2" Beloptik KG3,
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

NOT!! :lol:


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
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Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

OK if you have a gap for Sun-light James (at this time of the year), whereas I am limited to just a few minutes from the observatory, so am setting-up for some WL imaging elsewhere in my long-garden, using the very-portable R2 and possibly a Vixen GP-DX mounted 114 Reflector or one of the other scopes available.

I also received an early Xmas present today, as the recorder for the R2, so just sorting-out a suitable small flight-case for all that gear.

Rusted talking about a large monitor, hi-lights what I said earlier and to have or get the matt-screen on any monitor (laptop or otherwise) is a must and especially for Solar-imaging - unless of course one has a separate "warm-room" in an observatory. I have a black-curtain warm-section in my observatory and especially with the "matt-screen" well-prevents the Sun-light from interfering with focusing etc., now...

There is also no white or bright paint on the walls of my observatory, in fact no paint at all !! So it is quite dark at night, with just some dim red-light LED's + other red-lighting etc., whatever is required at the time...

Have fun and enjoy your new-acquisition..

Terry


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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Thank you Terry. I do look forward to this. My biggest difficulty is gonna be my altazimuth mounts.

Does anyone here ever do eyepiece projection? Placing the camera behind an eyepiece. This is what I do with the iPhone and have had some success doing this with my Nikon DSLR. I have no idea how you would support the camera on the eyepiece. Phones have mounts to hold them to the eyepiece. I used a .965 kellner eyepiece which I placed inside the BF on the Coronado and placed the snout adapter over it with the DSLR. It worked. I got the proms on the limb and a little mottling. I posted those back in the summer. One is my only SPOD to date. Ok, Alexandra probably felt sorry for me! 😂


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by DeepSolar64 »

I should have posted this thread in the Camera/equipment section. Maybe Mark or Alexandra can move it there for me. Sorry.


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
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Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
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Re: ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera

Post by Montana »

James, the camera should come with a snout which fits inside an eyepiece holder, my ASI did. You shouldn't do eyepiece projection, just remove your eyepiece and pop it in instead. Always best to find the Sun with the eyepiece first, then do a straight exchange and the Sun should be in the field of view.

Alexandra


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