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Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) jmasin Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/22/08 Loc: Murphy, TX (DFW) Imaging with multiple cams in parallel       #5361877 - 08/10/12 02:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey all, This may be crazy, but why not...Does anyone image with multiple CCD in parallel? i.e. at the same time? I currently image with an ST-8300. I have a Lodestar guider and a QHY5 guider. And of course a DSLR. The QHY5 does practically nothing now because I don't use it. So, crazy idea, get some wide-field B&W images piggybacking on my main scope. Might be interesting... but I'm not sure how this would work software wise. Post Extras:       Konihlav Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/05/09 Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: jmasin]       #5361900 - 08/10/12 02:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I do (well I do 1x in a Month due to still bad weather here all the summer), but either I do it on two mounts in parallel: http://blog.astrofotky.cz/pavelpech/files/2011/12/2011-08-30-session.jpg http://blog.astrofotky.cz/pavelpech/files/2011/12/2011-11-21-session.jpg or I use two setups (one very wide) on a SBS plate (as guide is piggybacked) and for control I use two laptop computers one has right amount of delay between subs as the other does dithering with fixed settle time... two mount approach is very hard and takes lot of strength... Post Extras:       jmasin Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/22/08 Loc: Murphy, TX (DFW) Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: Konihlav]       #5361920 - 08/10/12 03:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   thanks. I've got two mounts but I'm not up for that Yeah, two PC's... That's what I was wondering. I can cover that with the old netbook I used to use for capture I guess. Post Extras:       InIt4TheImaging member Reged: 02/20/12 Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: jmasin]       #5361990 - 08/10/12 03:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey Jon, Here is a mount that would get some serious parallel work done!! Still need two scopes, cams and computers though... Nice to be able to do synchronized lum and rgb www.mesu-optics.nl/mount_en.html Edited by InIt4TheImaging (08/10/12 03:54 PM) Post Extras:       jmasin Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/22/08 Loc: Murphy, TX (DFW) Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: InIt4TheImaging]       #5362005 - 08/10/12 04:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's a sweet lookin' mount. Post Extras:       CounterWeight Postmaster Reged: 10/05/08 Loc: Cloudyopolis, OR. Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: jmasin]       #5362095 - 08/10/12 05:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Jon, The thought goes by my brain cell often as imaging time or better put, clear skies - are infrequent for so much of the year here. If there's a relatively inexpensive way to accomplish it I'd also love to hear Post Extras:       Alex McConahay Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/11/08 Loc: Moreno Valley, CA Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: CounterWeight]       #5362254 - 08/10/12 07:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have several times imaged with a DSLR running piggyback on my newt. THere are various ways to do it, but the simplest is to just set the CCD/Guider on the main (newt) tube, and have it do its thing. Then have another computer running the DSLR with a different set of cables, etc. Using one computer to control both cameras is a pain (for me) because when the CCD is downloading, it takes over the whole computer for as long as half a minute. And that causes conflict with the DSLR management software. I am not sure what the effect of the mirror slap, etc. of the DSLR on the main camera, or whatever. I really do not think the CCD notices when the DSLR shutter/mirror functions, but every once in a while I think it might. Someday I will have to trace that down. Alex Post Extras:       alpal Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/15/09 Loc: Melbourne Australia. Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: Alex McConahay]       #5362347 - 08/10/12 07:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I was thinking that if I bought 2 Baby Q telesopes & put them on my mount - I could have a one shot colour in one of them & a mono camera taking luminance on the other. I would get double the data in the same time. Handling the software would probably require 2 laptops though. Post Extras:       rigel123 Postmaster Reged: 06/29/09 Loc: SW Ohio Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: jmasin]       #5362640 - 08/10/12 11:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   John Graham does it all the time. He has two matching scopes set up one running his Mono for L and the other with a DSI OSC for chrominance. I think they are on the older Meade mounts if I remember correctly. I know he just got a new Atlas so not sure if he will be doing much of that anymore. John posts in the Beginner/Intermediate forum. Post Extras:       BlueGrass Carpal Tunnel Reged: 07/25/09 Loc: Wasatch Front, UT Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: rigel123]       #5362683 - 08/10/12 11:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Jon, Tom Davis has done some imaging with dual CCDs and of course his results were impressive. He posted a LOSC image almost a year ago here in the CCD forum that triggered my interest in this method. I contacted him about the process and procedures and if I remember, it seemed to be straight forward. I'll see if I still have his response in my files. Post Extras:       alpal Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/15/09 Loc: Melbourne Australia. Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: BlueGrass]       #5362758 - 08/11/12 01:02 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes Warren & Jon - it seems like a good idea. The problem for me is that I have far too few nights that are suitable for imaging. I've only imaged once since February due to clouds. Imaging for deep sky also requires no moon which cancels many other possible nights. I really need to make the most of a short time. This is one reason why I'll be using a QHY10 OSC camera soon. Post Extras:       InIt4TheImaging member Reged: 02/20/12 Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: alpal]       #5362839 - 08/11/12 03:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Have you guys seen Greg Parker´s mini-wasp array? Sweeeet!!! Looks kinda expencive though www.newforestobservatory.com/wordpress/wp-content/gallery/equipment/img_7561_nfo.jpg Also google the super-wasp... Post Extras:       alpal Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/15/09 Loc: Melbourne Australia. Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: InIt4TheImaging]       #5362854 - 08/11/12 04:06 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Have you guys seen Greg Parker´s mini-wasp array? Sweeeet!!! Looks kinda expencive though www.newforestobservatory.com/wordpress/wp-content/gallery/equipment/img_7561_nfo.jpg Also google the super-wasp... Wow - what a great setup! He's even made a custom box to hold everything tight - must be to stop differential flexure. 5 hours on one night would be like 20 hours for anyone else. SuperWasp is different - it's not covering the same target. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperWASP Post Extras:       InIt4TheImaging member Reged: 02/20/12 Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: alpal]       #5362858 - 08/11/12 04:42 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah different beast altogether. Post Extras:       vdb sage Reged: 12/08/09 Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: InIt4TheImaging]       #5362939 - 08/11/12 07:36 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I do 2 mounts all the time, so easy ... I tried once side by side but we had issues with one telescoop rotating in regards to the main imaging guiding scope. The optical axis was to different and I guess polar alignment needs to be dead on ... You need them to get as close as possible as well and the fact it was done with a 2.4 and 1 meter scope didn't help either I guess ... Edited by vdb (08/11/12 07:36 AM) Post Extras:       budguinn Post Laureate Reged: 11/24/04 Loc: Gold Beach, Or Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: jmasin]       #5363080 - 08/11/12 10:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Three Scopes, three cameras and one scope... Pic of setup The one problem of multiple cameras is in dithering...the differing download speeds makes this very difficult. I had to make my own bar for the three scopes, but there are many bars available for two scopes. Triple bar page With my bad back it was getting quite difficult to change out scopes...this cured that...with short, mid and long focal length scopes mounted...I can shoot individually and dither...of all at once (no dither).....but lots of data in a single evening. (Weather is very unpredictable on the coast of Oregon). Post Extras:       InIt4TheImaging member Reged: 02/20/12 Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: budguinn]       #5363822 - 08/11/12 07:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You do NOT drive a forklift for a living.. Guess I should have payed more attention in school Post Extras:       alpal Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/15/09 Loc: Melbourne Australia. Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: budguinn]       #5363840 - 08/11/12 07:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Three Scopes, three cameras and one scope... Pic of setup The one problem of multiple cameras is in dithering...the differing download speeds makes this very difficult. I had to make my own bar for the three scopes, but there are many bars available for two scopes. Triple bar page With my bad back it was getting quite difficult to change out scopes...this cured that...with short, mid and long focal length scopes mounted...I can shoot individually and dither...of all at once (no dither).....but lots of data in a single evening. (Weather is very unpredictable on the coast of Oregon). That's a great setup. There are so many people who own multiple telescopes & yet shoot with only one at a time. This seems like an awful waste of possible data. Photoshop easily allows you to combine data in different layers - best being a luminosity layer. By the way - how did you solve the obvious dithering problem? Do you use multiple laptops? Post Extras:       budguinn Post Laureate Reged: 11/24/04 Loc: Gold Beach, Or Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: alpal]       #5364496 - 08/12/12 10:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: By the way - how did you solve the obvious dithering problem? Do you use multiple laptops? As I mentioned in my post the dithering problem, with multiple cameras, was beyond my capability. The problem is in the download speeds. It can be done if you want to re-tweak the settings every 1/2 hour or so, but I like to set it up and take a nap (it's what we old guys do). I only use one computer....AstroArt allows multiple sessions to run...and can easily control three cameras. Also, when I use my QSI with the other cameras I'll use Maxim to control it, and they all seem to play together well. There are always hiccups, but seem to be able to work out. The hiccups usually involve the USB busses....USB does not always play well. Post Extras:       alpal Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/15/09 Loc: Melbourne Australia. Re: Imaging with multiple cams in parallel [Re: budguinn]       #5364533 - 08/12/12 10:46 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Bud, That's great that AstroArt can handle multiple cameras. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

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