Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

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Radon86
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Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by Radon86 »

Hi,

Seasons Greetings/Merry Xmas to all on Solarchat.
Happy New Year 2022 !

1) I think the Daystar Flatcap has been discussed before over 1 year ago here on SCF, but I did not see if anyone thought it was a real improvement on existing bag flats/defocus methods etc.

I thought the video was interesting as well.

http://www.daystarfilters.com/FlatCap/Index.shtml

I would be interested in your opinions, or your results of your Flats testing.

2) The T adaptor for the Quark is quite expensive.
http://www.icstars.com/Store/daystar/ac ... apter.html

FirstlightOptics have a 20 GBP version from Astroessentials, others cost about 42 GBP. I thought this was a bit overpriced.
Not sure if there is a cheaper overseas version. Is this item still may need spacers to get the focusing position correct ? Is this mainly to reduce vignetting effects for your camera e.g. if you have APS-C or mid size camera and you get vignetting with the standard 1.25 inch camera adaptor ?


Thanks.
Magnus


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
Accessory: SW Auto-focuser
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Re: Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by marktownley »

Hi Magnus.

There are the professional options you have identified above. Personally I just use a piece of clingfilm, after i'm done with it I just scrunch it back into a ball and put it back in my box of bits. Periodically the cling film gets crispy and I use a new bit. I just tend to recycle bits of cling film that have been used in the kitchen prior.

Mark


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Re: Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by Radon86 »

Thanks Mark,
I thought about cling film before but was advised to use these other plastic films by Alexandra/Marty Wise etc.

Maybe I will do a scientific evaluation of plastic/film for flats.

Merry Christmas.


Magnus


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
Accessory: SW Auto-focuser
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Re: Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by Jordan Konisky »

Magnus,

I have been using the Daystar FlatCap with good success. Easy to use even though you have to set an abhorrently long exposure time to adjust the histogram. For masking setups, I will insert a blackened piece of cardboard to the inside of the filter. Hope that works ok.

Jordan


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Re: Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by Montana »

I use cling film too, for the Quark anything else but cling film is too dark. It depends on your filter, the Solarscope is fine with a fruit bag, but the Quark most certainly was not :)

Alexandra


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Re: Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by Radon86 »

Montana wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 7:52 am I use cling film too, for the Quark anything else but cling film is too dark. It depends on your filter, the Solarscope is fine with a fruit bag, but the Quark most certainly was not :)

Alexandra
Thank you Alexandra.
MalveauX (Marty Wise) uses bag flats (from cereal packaging), so I copied him. I will compare this to cling film now..

Many thanks Alexandra

Magnus


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
Accessory: SW Auto-focuser
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Re: Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by Jordan Konisky »

I need to give cling wrap a try. The Daystar Flatcap is soooo dark.

Jordan


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Re: Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by Jordan Konisky »

BTW, after applying the cling wrap, do you adjust the histogram to match the pre-wrap histogram?

Jordan


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Re: Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by rsfoto »

Jordan Konisky wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:17 pm BTW, after applying the cling wrap, do you adjust the histogram to match the pre-wrap histogram?

Jordan
Hi Jordan,

I have never used flats for my Sun imaging but from DSO imaging I know flats need to have about 50-60% of the maximum ADU value of your camera.


regards Rainer

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Re: Daystar Flatcap and Quark to T adaptor

Post by Radon86 »

Jordan Konisky wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:17 pm BTW, after applying the cling wrap, do you adjust the histogram to match the pre-wrap histogram?

Jordan
If you use Firecapture, you can apply the Flats to your image and after taking the Flatcap/cling film off, you adjust the exposure to that what you will image with. An over or under exposed flat will show in your image.
I think there is further considerations depending if there is a lot of dark space in your camera FOV or if the sun is entirely filling the frame.

Generally the flats should be between 50 to 70 % (average values read out in Firecapture, so maximum of 70 per cent average histogram value).

MalveauX [Wise imaging , did a few videos on Flats calibration on youtube, worth checking those out].

Still you need to practise and make notes on what works for you and your image acquisition software.

Magnus


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
Accessory: SW Auto-focuser
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