11 replies to this topic

[PhotonHunter1]

I recently started a thread regarding bright stars (Alnitak) creating reflections in my images https://www.cloudyni...se-reflections/. Additional research on CN led me to an interesting thread on the ZWO User Forum where a user cut out small rings for his 31mm filters to place over the mount side of his narrow band filters. He stated that this eliminated his reflection issues. Reading about ZWOs high level of customer service, I reached out to Sam and inquired about the dimensions for the 36mm filters as I was going to create my own filter rings. Sam offered to produce the filter rings for me and ship them to me - no charge. I received the rings and placed them on all 7 filters. A big THANK YOU Sam and ZWO, and a testament to their customer service focus. Now only if Sam or ZWO could be as helpful with the weather... 

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[SandyHouTex]

It’s nice that they’re working with those of us who have purchased their products.

[joelin]

Very cool.

Keep us up to date on how it goes. 

[twidget]

I recently started a thread regarding bright stars (Alnitak) creating reflections in my images https://www.cloudyni...se-reflections/. Additional research on CN led me to an interesting thread on the ZWO User Forum where a user cut out small rings for his 31mm filters to place over the mount side of his narrow band filters. He stated that this eliminated his reflection issues. Reading about ZWOs high level of customer service, I reached out to Sam and inquired about the dimensions for the 36mm filters as I was going to create my own filter rings. Sam offered to produce the filter rings for me and ship them to me - no charge. I received the rings and placed them on all 7 filters. A big THANK YOU Sam and ZWO, and a testament to their customer service focus. Now only if Sam or ZWO could be as helpful with the weather... 

 

Mike, I'm fighting the concentric-ring issue on my flats from a 1600MM Pro with the ZWO EFW and 36mm filters. My research here on CN has led me down the veritable rabbit-hole of filter orientation, reflections, FPN, etc........it's obvious that the filters might be contributing to my problem.

 

I have broke down my EFW, cleaned all the filters, checked their orientation, etc, and still have flats circles. The filters I have, purchased around mid-December 2017, have blackened edges. I have been to the ZWO site looking for these filter mounting rings that you show in your post, to no avail. Do you know when or if they will be offered to the general public for purchase?

 

Thanks !!

 

 

PS  The ZWO website has a brief bit about filter orientation (which side of the filter faces the camera) in the Product Description area of the appropriate filter(s) page, right above the Technical Specs section.

Edited by twidget, 20 January 2018 - 11:51 AM.

[baron555]

Email them and they will mail you a set.

[PhotonHunter1]

I reached out to Sam through the ZWO forum. As Phil mentioned you can email them as well. 

[twidget]

Thanks, Mike and Phil! I will send them an e-mail requesting the ring/masks today !

[cfosterstars]

It will take some time. In the mean time, I made some masks with just thick black paper and electricians tape and it work reasonable well. The ZWO masks are nicer, but you will need to trim them slightly to get them to lay flat and then I again used electricians tape to seal the edges. You really cant be too through in fixing this.

[twidget]

It will take some time. In the mean time, I made some masks with just thick black paper and electricians tape and it work reasonable well. The ZWO masks are nicer, but you will need to trim them slightly to get them to lay flat and then I again used electricians tape to seal the edges. You really cant be too through in fixing this.

 

I can cut my own masks as a temp fix, I believe. Maybe this time when I disassemble the FW, I won't drop and lose any retaining screws  

[cfosterstars]

 

It will take some time. In the mean time, I made some masks with just thick black paper and electricians tape and it work reasonable well. The ZWO masks are nicer, but you will need to trim them slightly to get them to lay flat and then I again used electricians tape to seal the edges. You really cant be too through in fixing this.

 

I can cut my own masks as a temp fix, I believe. Maybe this time when I disassemble the FW, I won't drop and lose any retaining screws 

 

You can see from my other posts - you dont have to be neat or tiddy, just be through. My version was rather ghetto, but it worked for the four weeks it took to get the masks from China. I used heavy paper cut with a cricut and lots of small pieces of electricians tape. Uggggly but it worked. Since it was inside the filter wheel you did not even have to look at it. 

[twidget]

As an engineer (retired), I always preferred function over form, and I still do.    First, make it work, then worry about how it looks....unless the missus comes in and corrects my misinformed beliefs..... 

 

It rained on/off all afternoon (I slept in after being out with binocs and the stars till 3ish), so I wasn't able to check my OTA/train for light leaks. Hopefully tomorrow. 

[PhotonHunter1]

Seeing cfosters post, I realized I never followed up on the results of the filter masks. Short answer - much improved! I also took the time to blacken the edges of my ZWO filters with a sharpie per cfosters recommendation-thank you.

Thanks again to Sam at ZWO, and the great Cloudy Night community for the resolution and continued learning.