Where does the out of bandwidth leak occur? In the filters or the mechanics of the OTA?

I will be switching cameras for tomorrow's test (Saturday) and will apply the Barlow at that time.

Jack

FireCapture v2.3 (beta 15) Settings ------------------------------------ Camera=ZWO ASI120MM Filter=CH4 Profile=Sun Filename=Sun_162322.zip Date=150415 Start=162322 Mid=162322 End=162322 Duration=0s Frames captured=10 File type=BMP Binning=no ROI=1280x960 FPS (during start of capture)=30 Shutter=3.7...

These settings produced: FireCapture v2.3 (beta 15) Settings ------------------------------------ Camera=ZWO ASI120MM Filter=CH4 Profile=Sun Filename=Sun_162604.zip Date=150415 Start=162604 Mid=162604 End=162605 Duration=0s Frames captured=10 File type=BMP Binning=no ROI=1280x960 FPS (during start o...

I got some better results today. Turns out that without a UV/IR filter, I get the blown out image. Each time I used the filter I got an image. Here are some images and the FireCapture log. FireCapture v2.3 (beta 15) Settings ------------------------------------ Camera=ZWO ASI120MM Filter=CH4 Profile...

I got some better results today. Turns out that without a UV/IR filter, I get the blown out image. Each time I used the filter I got an image. Here are some images and the FireCapture log. FireCapture v2.3 (beta 15) Settings ------------------------------------ Camera=ZWO ASI120MM Filter=CH4 Profile...

Mark,
What part of the setup would add most value to photograph?

Jack

Thank you for your settings. I will put them into play tomorrow.

Jack

I have the Lunt 100mm for the ERF. I tried again today without the ND25 filter and no matter what settings I used for every channel, exposure, brightness, gain off...I could not get any detail. I am away from my computer so I cannot post the log from FireCapture until I get home Wednesday. You wil s...

Thank you!
I was at 5ms and even less without the ND25 filter and it was still overexposed. The only way I could get any image at all was to add the filter.

Something is definitely funny...

Jack

Here is the FireCapture Log as one example. Keep in mind this is my first use of this software: FireCapture v2.3 (beta 15) Settings ------------------------------------ Camera=ZWO ASI120MM Filter=CH4 Profile=Sun Filename=Sun_153748.avi Date=120415 Start=153748 Mid=153754 End=153800 Duration=12s Fram...

I borrowed a friend's ZWOASI120MM to test for my PST100 Stage One mod. The image was completely blownout. So I turned gain off, kept exposures in the lowest bracket available for each channel and made sure the Histogram kept at about 75% or less for each channel. The image was still blown out (zero ...

Derek,
That is an exciting setup.

Thank you for sharing.

Jack

WOW Derek! I saw your images on the GSTAR site. Egad that's amazing stuff.

Jack

Derek, Thank you for the referral to the GSTAR camera. I will certainly check it out (and thanks again to Valery for the referral to Point Grey). I love seeing the options out there I can drool over waiting for more funds to show up at the door. I have to laugh...no...you are not the last of the ana...

Valery, Thank you for the link. I'd like to suggest that from this point forward comments not center on disparaging remarks about my equipment if possible (you've made at least two of them). I love my equipment and for good technical reasons as well. When I looked at your link I thought that your co...

Valery,
Would you mind sharing a link? I can't seem to find the camera you are referencing.

Jack

Valerie, Thank you for the challenge. It means I have an achievable goal. So let's look at root causes here and potential avenues to pursue: 1) Quality of Optics: Can't change...100mm Nexstar 2) Quality of ERF: LUNT...can't upgrade to Baader at this time 3) Quality of Camera: Mallincam is excellent,...

I've fixed optical train alignment issues and am starting to get some very pleasing images. Note that this image is a single frame grab from a Mallincam Jr. Pro video camera. Not as sharp as a true CCD, but for watching a live shot I am very happy. Post processing can be done later with captured mov...

I never even had a chance to focus well since the clouds were moving so quickly. I only had about 30 seconds at a time.

Rain tomorrow.

Jack

Pictures at last! I was able to grab 1-2 minutes at a time with the sun which was covered by a 75% thin cloud layer. At least I was able to record essentially what I have been seeing. The good news is that the scope works and I have the most detail I have ever seen in the sweet spot of the PST. I am...

BETTER! The sun was behind about a 50% cloud veil. The sweet spot was a much bigger field of you with the straightened out optics. But what made the most difference was using my 25 ND filter. So what I defined as a sweet spot, it seems to be over exposure, too much light.so now what I'm thinking is ...

I cut the gold tube, and in so doing it unleashed the loctite so I could finally get the tube and etalon and black box all apart. I could not remove three of the screws (more loctite) from the prism box so I could only assess alignment of the prism by removing the etalon and BF. I did not have any g...

I just got a few minutes observing. Most slip was removed though I don't know if axial alignment is spot on. I found a huge amount of leopard spots in the FOV and discovered the objective had fine watermarks on it perhaps dew formed while in the observatory. Again, the entire image is nice and brigh...

Good idea. I wonder if I still have my laser...

What should my expectations be for clarity across the FOV? A PST has the famous sweet spot. Should I expect the same with my mod or should the entire FOV b consistent?

Jack

Theo, You read my mind. The prism was my task for tonight. Good point about axial alignment as well. I don't have the funds at the moment for a nosepiece so if you have a clever device to share I am all ears. Also fascinating is your description of uneven brightness. I will check to see if I am expe...