373 replies to this topic

[GSBass]

I can vouch for the playerone, very robust nice camera… as for RGb settings, Astro cams usually boot with red blue and green set at equal intensity and left up to the user to adjust that via whatever program they are using, I’m unfamiliar with stellar but I’m sure it has RGb sliders or it would be unusable

The only camera that I can find with the imx464 chip is from Player One, a company that I have not heard of. I am a newbie and would prefer a more "mainstream" camera that hopefully would be more likely to be supported here on CN and I assume more likely to be natively supported by Stellarmate and other products. Forgive my ignorance if I am off-base here. Also, I am interested in what you mean by "changing the cameras RGB settings". Does the software that comes with Stellarmate allow this? If not, since I am not interested in post-processing this could be an issue. I am hoping from some natural colors in live stacked images. I notice on Cuiv's video that he was getting blue/green and red in his Dumbell Nebula stacks with his ASI 178MC camera.

[Borodog]

Just noting the Vespera is 50mm and gets away with using the 462 chip, so the imx464 is what I would be looking at for that project…should be plenty big for that scope size….. as far as sampling, they are 2.9 also and I am not seeing any issues in Vespera sample images ….. I also should point out that although not spot on, both these cameras are more color corrected out of the box than 485 and are far easier to dial in….

I have not used any of these chips, but I believe that this is exactly the opposite of what Ittaku reported; The color cast of the 462 is strange and difficult to deal with, while the 485 just works.

[GSBass]

I have both… just the opposite for me, the 485 has a very strong green bias that can be a little anti intuitive to dial out, minimal adjustments required for both imx462 and imx464….. and positive it’s the same on all 485’s , I had to send one in do to a usb issue and my replacement performs exactly the same, it takes good photos… just takes more effort to achieve color balance

I have not used any of these chips, but I believe that this is exactly the opposite of what Ittaku reported; The color cast of the 462 is strange and difficult to deal with, while the 485 just works.

Edited by GSBass, 25 October 2021 - 03:45 PM.

[GSBass]

Should note both 462 and 464 require external ir/cut filters, the 485 ir/cut is built in, they just coat the sensor window…… if your reference was trying to use the 462 without the filter it would have made colors a nightmare

I have not used any of these chips, but I believe that this is exactly the opposite of what Ittaku reported; The color cast of the 462 is strange and difficult to deal with, while the 485 just works.

[flamidey]

Hi everyone,
I'va had a long time interest in astrophotography but, apart from a short and unconvincing C9.25 experience, no real experience and a relative lack of time. Cuiv's video definitely opened a window for me for a new try with limited risk while getting rewarding results.

 

The idea is to be able to get some DSO large/medium objects in decent resolution (not for printing obviously), with as much automation as possible, in a white zone (Montreal). I want to occasionally be able to move it around easily. I know I'm not getting top of the line image quality with such a setup but as a first approach, getting a satisfying-ish picture within a reasonable timeframe is what might lead me into the rabbit hole.  

 

It's not super easy to find the exact parts recommended in the video in Canada so I'm exploring and also trying to get the basics (please forgive the ignorant questions). 

 

What I can maybe get: 

The Skywatcher alt-az mount seems more or less available, the most reputable sites having it backordered. Is there any alternative in the same price range? I love the simplicity of the alt-az for a small setup like that. It would need to be compatible with stellarmate I guess.

 

What I can get but unsure how this would impact the integrity of the setup:

- Redcat 51 (instead of the Evoguide 50 which is pretty much out of stock and for which the flattener seems completely unavailable with a preorder pointing to 2023)

- ZWO ASI533MC (instead of the 3 proposed cameras, all which have lower pixel counts); it looks like the fov is ok but as a beginner there is some anxiety that I'm missing some compatibility problem. For someone doing digital non astro photo like me, it's always a bit stressing to read 6MPs as output but I can live with it. 2 MPs like the ASI178 is really making my skin crawl. Maybe the ASI485? Doesn't seem available here though.
 

Thinking about adding a ZWO AEF as well.

 

Aside from that, I'll use the Stellarmate setup.

 

Any advice is welcome and thank Cuiv for lighting the flame with such a "simple" setup and great enthusiasm...

[alphatripleplus]

Hi everyone,
I'va had a long time interest in astrophotography but, apart from a short and unconvincing C9.25 experience, no real experience and a relative lack of time. Cuiv's video definitely opened a window for me for a new try with limited risk while getting rewarding results.

 

 

Welcome to the EAA Forum. Just remember that if your interests are really in DSO astrophotography, rather than EAA (which involves only on-the-fly processing rather than post-processing), you might want to ask your questions in the Beginnining DSO Imaging Forum. We can help here with EAA, but this is not an AP forum.

[flamidey]

Welcome to the EAA Forum. Just remember that if your interests are really in DSO astrophotography, rather than EAA (which involves only on-the-fly processing rather than post-processing), you might want to ask your questions in the Beginnining DSO Imaging Forum. We can help here with EAA, but this is not an AP forum.

Thanks Errol, I though it would be appropriate as it was in Cuiv's post but I do get your point, thanks, I will migrate my questions to the appropriate forum.

[Revpancake]

My mount was just delivered today! As soon as I get home from work I'll be assembling my version of cuiv's build. I have an Apertura 60ED that was gathering dust, and will be using my old QHY163C as the imaging camera, and I even have an extra ZWO EAF to include. Got this battery pack from amazon to power everything https://www.amazon.c...0?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I will post pics once I get it all put together.

[Revpancake]

Here she is. I have ordered some cables so everything will be the appropriate length and will clean them up with zipties, but everything works! Now, about those clouds...

Attached Thumbnails

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[alphatripleplus]

Here she is. I have ordered some cables so everything will be the appropriate length and will clean them up with zipties, but everything works! Now, about those clouds...

Looking good.

[Joey44]

It's not super easy to find the exact parts recommended in the video in Canada.......Evoguide 50 which is pretty much out of stock and for which the flattener seems completely unavailable with a preorder pointing to 2023)

Amazon in the US has some in stock, not sure about Canada. I haven't seen the flattener anywhere.
 

 

[halsmaulwurf]

I implemented Cuiv's suggestion for an ASI485c and looked out of the window with my AZ-GTI setup with a Z61 360mm with flattener.


I'm not sure yet which live-stacking software to use, I've been working partly with Jocular and partly with ASI Studio Liva Stacker. The camera is definitely more versatile than my previous one with the Sony 224 chip. The conditions from a window in a medium-sized city are far from optimal, so maybe I should go back to the countryside.




M81 15S Gain 300

M97 15S Gain 300

Edited by halsmaulwurf, 28 October 2021 - 05:10 AM.

[alphatripleplus]

I implemented Cuiv's suggestion for an ASI485c and looked out of the window with my AZ-GTI setup with a Z61 360mm with flattener.


 

Impressed that you are able to do EAA through just an open window!

[halsmaulwurf]

I let the room cool down beforehand, but I am also amazed at what is possible through a window. Unfortunately, I don't have a balcony. The light pollution at my location is bortle 5 and yesterday there was also 50% moon.

[Escape Pod]

I implemented Cuiv's suggestion for an ASI485c and looked out of the window with my AZ-GTI setup with a Z61 360mm with flattener.


I'm not sure yet which live-stacking software to use, I've been working partly with Jocular and partly with ASI Studio Liva Stacker. The camera is definitely more versatile than my previous one with the Sony 224 chip. The conditions from a window in a medium-sized city are far from optimal, so maybe I should go back to the countryside.




M81 15S Gain 300

M97 15S Gain 300

Umm...that is an amazing shot of M81/2. What a testimony to the power of exposure, and a good sensor. This should be a ZWO brochure. I'm inspired. 

[halsmaulwurf]

I am already quite happy with the camera. Before the ASI 485mc, my most expensive camera and most advanced camera was an ASI178mc. It almost makes me want to take AP again, but I'd have to go to the country for that. Before the ASI 485mc, my most expensive camera and most advanced camera was an ASI178mc, which I also found quite nice.

If it clears up today, I will try my luck with a
Optolong filter L-eNhance and EAA from the kitchen window, which would be east sky.

Edited by halsmaulwurf, 28 October 2021 - 12:30 PM.

[steveincolo]

I implemented Cuiv's suggestion for an ASI485c and looked out of the window with my AZ-GTI setup with a Z61 360mm with flattener.


I'm not sure yet which live-stacking software to use, I've been working partly with Jocular and partly with ASI Studio Liva Stacker. The camera is definitely more versatile than my previous one with the Sony 224 chip. The conditions from a window in a medium-sized city are far from optimal, so maybe I should go back to the countryside.




M81 15S Gain 300

M97 15S Gain 300

Great results, congratulations!  By the way, Jocular has an observation planning tool that is useful for limited views such as yours. 

[CRAZYeye29325]

Can this be done by replacing the goto mounts handheld controller and going direct wired (rj45 to rj45) to the Pi4? Or does this have to be a wireless connection? 

 

Or maybe the better question is, has anybody done direct wired to the goto mount to the Pi4?

 

Thanks.

Edited by CRAZYeye29325, 31 October 2021 - 04:21 PM.

[acrh2]

Hello,

 

I have recently been more and more attracted by EAA (especially thanks to the ASIAIR and news about eVscope and Stellina), so I decided to see whether it would be possible to make an eVscope or Stellina equivalent (e.g. smartphone control, auto pointing and centering, live stacking, just plop the tripod down and it works) that remedies what I see are the main drawbacks of those solutions: modular, ultraportable, cheap and that anyone can build.

 

I came up with Raspberry Pi + Stellarmate + AZ-GTi + EvoGuide 50ED DX + Random ASI camera, but anything works because it's modular ! And I've posted the whole tutorial on how to build this here: https://youtu.be/0JdtL950RjQ

 

I hope this can be useful to anyone starting in EAA (as I am!)

 

Cuiv

Hi. I have a few questions, if you don't mind.

 

1) Can the PI computer be connected to a home wifi for Stellarmate operation? I would like to connect all 3 devices, the Pi, the mount, and an android tablet, to the same wifi router.

2) Does Stellarmate software support ZWO EAF?

3) Does Stellarmate have an option for color balance of ZWO ASI cameras (such as that available in native ASI drivers to compensate for green bias of the pixels?)

 

Thanks.

[halsmaulwurf]

Can this be done by replacing the goto mounts handheld controller and going direct wired (rj45 to rj45) to the Pi4? Or does this have to be a wireless connection? 

 

Or maybe the better question is, has anybody done direct wired to the goto mount to the Pi4?

 

Thanks.

The AZ-GTI has wifi, but I used a self-made EQMOD cable which simply consists of a USB serial adapter with 3.3 volts to RJ11.

You don't need a hand controller for the AZ-GTI.

 

The pinout can be found in this link under "AZ-GTi".

 

http://eq-mod.source...t/eqdirect2.htm

You can also buy a ready made EQMOD cable.

The Indi AZ-GTI Alt-AZ driver can handle it.

[rdmarco]

Well, I was able to replicate Cuiv's results with my AT60ED, with a QHY163C, and a ZWO EAF. AZ-GTi of course, in EQ mode. Cheap amazon tablet for control. Here's a crumby pix of stellarmate live stacking M27. It's a bit fiddly, but doable.

 

 

 

 

 

[Stargazer3236]

I implemented Cuiv's suggestion for an ASI485c and looked out of the window with my AZ-GTI setup with a Z61 360mm with flattener.


I'm not sure yet which live-stacking software to use, I've been working partly with Jocular and partly with ASI Studio Liva Stacker. The camera is definitely more versatile than my previous one with the Sony 224 chip. The conditions from a window in a medium-sized city are far from optimal, so maybe I should go back to the countryside.




M81 15S Gain 300

M97 15S Gain 300

You are dealing with thermal equilibrium. Warm house, cool outside, temp inversions up the wazoo. You wont be able to get real good focus unless the scope is all the way out the window.

[halsmaulwurf]

You are dealing with thermal equilibrium. Warm house, cool outside, temp inversions up the wazoo. You wont be able to get real good focus unless the scope is all the way out the window.

I realise that, although the temperature inside and outside was the same that evening. In the future, I'll try to build a frame for the windowsill so that I can shoot with a 135mm f2.8, which would be much smaller than the Z61 360mm.

For me, the EAA is also more about speed and lots of subjects.

If I want perfect conditions, I go to the countryside and freeze my hands off, but then I get better pictures.

[Joey44]

The AZ-GTI has wifi, but I used a self-made EQMOD cable which simply consists of a USB serial adapter with 3.3 volts to RJ11.

You don't need a hand controller for the AZ-GTI.

 

The pinout can be found in this link under "AZ-GTi".

 

http://eq-mod.source...t/eqdirect2.htm

You can also buy a ready made EQMOD cable.

The Indi AZ-GTI Alt-AZ driver can handle it.

Can the az-gti connect with this cable and then allow use through it in alt/az mode?

[halsmaulwurf]

Can the az-gti connect with this cable and then allow use through it in alt/az mode?

Yes if you use the Alt-AZ Firmware and the AZ-GTI_ALT-AZ Indi driver.

I am not sure if the EQ-AZ firmware also goes into ALT-AZ mode automatically with the driver.