6 replies to this topic

[swmddo]

This is probably a simple answer, but I am trying to just manually focus my camera using N.I.N.A.  I am not sure which option I take  from the left side choices in NINA.  All I want to do is just ‘snap’ a few images to establish a starting point so I can focus manually. 
 

steve

[DanMiller]

Open NINA, and see where the round icon on the left is highlighted.  Click that, that will bring up your image window

Once the image window comes up, if you look to the right you will see a small window marked imaging.  Set an expoosure length there and click on the red bar.  That will take a snap shot.

After the image is taken, the large window in the middle will contain the image you just took.  To the very right of that you will see statistics.  For DSO, the lower the HFR number the better the focus.

 

Hope this helps.  Actually, I hope I didn't make thing worse.  Or mess up the screen shots.

 

Dan

 

 

 

 

[Eye stein]

I usually go to the imaging tab and take 2-3 sec exposures of a bright star . then I reduce the exposure times  on the star by taking additional pics, focusing back and forth. I use an  electronic focuser but you can use your manual focuser,  if you have a steady hand.

look for the tab which has  target name "snapshot"...try that to focus.  Also, you might want to change the name to the star you are looking at.

best

JL

[swmddo]

Thanks!  I have an electronic focuser, but it has gotten so far off focus that I wanted to get it close to begin.  I can use the focus in/out arrows to narrow it.  I need to look at some of the YouTube’s to set up the backlash and the step sizes.  I had just gotten to the point about 5 years ago, to really understand, and then for a variety of reasons, I stopped my astroimaging.

[PIEJr]

Depending on what focuser you have, you might find adjusting initially easier with its program.

 

For example, I have an ASI camera, and a Pegasus focuser.

So I open the ASI Studio, and get my camera running on a continuous loop.

Then open the Pegasus app and move the focuser while watching the image. in one to three images you can tell if the star's are shrinking or growing.

Once you get close with your stars (small), NINA can autofocus from there.

I find it easier to do that way, than in NINA itself. For initial focusing when it is way out.

 

My focus is in the neighborhood of 3,000 steps.

 

But that's how I doot it.

My AT 130 EDT has a helical rack and pinion focuser, so the focuser does not slip like my ed80T Crayford did.

[DanMiller]

What I did with my EAF was once I had it in focus, I recorded the step it was at.  It is the rough in focus, but I have it in a text file so that I can go directly back to it.  Now, that is without filters.  But you get my point.  I wasn't going to go through finding that focus spot again.  Just enter the step number and move to.

 

Dan

[Forward Scatter]

Thanks!  I have an electronic focuser, but it has gotten so far off focus that I wanted to get it close to begin.  I can use the focus in/out arrows to narrow it.  I need to look at some of the YouTube’s to set up the backlash and the step sizes.  I had just gotten to the point about 5 years ago, to really understand, and then for a variety of reasons, I stopped my astroimaging.

Hi Steve

Suggest optimizing focusing on distant objects in daylight first, then mark the focus tube with a sharpie to facilitate getting decent focus in the dark, and as you have an EAF, enter that decent focus step position in the NINA>Imaging>Focuser>Target position or on the NINA>Equipment>Focuser>Target position.