Focusing with SharpCap

[HAL]

Anyone have any tips or tricks for achieving a really good focus with SharpCap?

[rigel123]

Focusing with any program, start with either the limb or a sunspot if available. Crank up Gamma to get high contrast and get the sharpest image you can. If seeing is really poor (the sun looks like it is under water) you are going to have a tough time getting any focus at all.

[marktownley]

Sorry, i'm a firecapture kinda guy...

[rsfoto]

Anyone have any tips or tricks for achieving a really good focus with SharpCap?

Focusing on the Sun is a question of observing the changes over the short time.

I really never succeeded with any automatic focusing algorithm.

Get a motorized focuser and observe the Sun, as Warren said, sometimes under water and sometimes over the water. Find focus manually until you have brief moments of sharpness and ignore the underwater periods.

[Alto]

I sometimes manage to get something with the seeing monitor option - snag is if I set a threshold it'll often not get back to it.

Trial an error me thinks - after all it is called lucky imaging....

[DeepSolar64]

Use your zoom feature in SharpCap to aid in focusing. Run it up to 100 percent. It helps me focus.

[pedro]

I also use Firecapture. It helps to focus at 200%

[Rusted]

I use SharpCap and my home made, electric FT focuser.
It uses a so-called Skywatcher DC gearbox motor and belt drive to the fast motion knob.
The motor support plate is clamped to the stainless steel band behind the focus knob.
The belt allows slippage when manual control is needed to move the focuser rapidly a long way.
Mouse control in slow motion is controlled in the drop down box on the monitor.
Easily adjustable in size of steps or continuous motion. With reverse of course.

I move very slowly inside and outside of focus using a HiTecDC Focus box and its driver/software.
https://www.hitecastro.co.uk/index.php/ ... focus.html

This usually works by finding the highest contrast on my 27" monitor. But there are times...

P1460740 focuser crop.JPG (86.9 KiB) Viewed 583 times

[Jordan Konisky]

I am going to give the SharpCap autofocus tool a try using the Fourier analysis mode. Does anyone have any experience with it?

[allhoest]

I proceed the same way as rsfoto.
Furthermore, I monitor the focuser lower and higher positions (in step in my case), where I'm sure that I'm out of focus in both directions.
Generally, I then navigate between these min and max values.

CS
Alex

[Alto]

Try, also, stretching the histogram - that'll help with the contrast. At least sometimes..... Otherwise I do as others, keep moving either side of focus until I can't get it any better ( seeing permitted ). Electronic focuser is a godsend - at least you don't normally have to wait for the 'scope wobble to settle down....

[rsfoto]

Anyone have any tips or tricks for achieving a really good focus with SharpCap?

Focusing on the Sun is a question of observing the changes over the short time.

I really never succeeded with any automatic focusing algorithm.

Get a motorized focuser and observe the Sun, as Warren said, sometimes under water and sometimes over the water. Find focus manually until you have brief moments of sharpness and ignore the underwater periods.

Hi,

Honestly I was just nosy ...

I open the roof, slew to the Sun, go for a coffee, wait 30 minutes and I do not even need to adjust focus again ... in both cases H-alpha and White Light

That is the advantage of having a permanent installation.

Sorry, the older one gets, the lazier one gets

[DeepSolar64]

That sounds so nice, Rainer.

[Alto]

I find WL and CaK relatively "easy " in comparison to Ha!

I prefer to set up, slew, then enjoy a fine wine indoors at the pc. Mind I've been caught out a time or two by a shower!