67 replies to this topic

[vineyard]

Is it possible to dither on the Dwarf 3?  I'm v impressed by it (although I find stacking in APP gives a better outcome than taking the on-board stacked fits file).  But on thing I notice a bit is that if you zoom in heavily you can see what I suspect is walking noise?

 

[vineyard]

Has anyone experienced the following glitch?  I set up a job in Schedule using coordinates (the object was not in the D3 on-board atlas).  It must have started to do something as the sub-directory was set up, but it is completely empty.  The job before that in the schedule was completed without any problems, and there was a 10 minute delay in the next scheduled job starting.

[Tsb1948]

I noticed that the temperature of the scope during solar viewing was 127F.
How high can it go?

[Dymchurch]

As far as I know when looking at my fits files, the dwarf 3 does dither automatically every 5-6 subs. if you blink them you will see the changes.

[Dr. Megabyte]

New Question: Where can I purchase a replacement solar filter for the D3?  Am about to buy a used dwarf 3 and the solar filter does not come with it. 

[Tsb1948]

Dwarflab direct or try B&H Photo.

[Dr. Megabyte]

Dwarflab direct or try B&H Photo.

Dwarf labs wants $60 for a replacement solar filter, but that does include shipping to the USA.  Neither B&H nor High Point have the solar filter as a part.

 

$60 seems a bit steep, but buying direct from Dwarf Labs seem the only game in town, at least for now.

Edited by Dr. Megabyte, 09 June 2025 - 10:15 AM.

[Dr. Megabyte]

Next question: What are the best 3rd party upgrades and / or accessories to get for the Dwarf 3?  

[Dr. Megabyte]

And another question: My user D3 shows up today.  Do I need to "factory reset" the D3?  I looked in the manual and didn't see an entry for a "reset" function ... 

Edited by Dr. Megabyte, 11 June 2025 - 07:01 PM.

[bradhaak]

Next question: What are the best 3rd party upgrades and / or accessories to get for the Dwarf 3?  

I'm working on a set of accessories for the Dwarf 3. I've spent the last couple of weeks printing (and repeatedly reprinting) to refine my idea. It uses the magnets to attach it to the Dwarf 3, along with a couple of small tabs, to also hold the various attachments. The dew shield is done along with the attachment system, so the rest should be relatively easy to finish over the next week or two. I'm also going to do a Bahtinov mask, a cover for whichever lens isn't in use, wide-angle dew shield for the other lens, and a surprise device I haven't started working on yet. The dew shield also has baffles to reflect stray light back out instead of onto the sensor.

 

Here's the base with the dew shield so you can see what I'm doing. Yeah, I doubled the magnets on the bottom for better accessory attachment.

 

Edited by bradhaak, 11 June 2025 - 04:03 PM.

[Uwe Pilz]

Dear dwarf users,

yesterday I shot my very first nebula picture with my Dwarf-3. I had problems with the dark frames, so ohere may be a reason for my strange result.

 

I tried photographing M101. All worked fine (except dark framing), shooting and stacking started. I used 15s, Gain 130 in Alt-Az-Mode.After around half an hour and around 150 single shots I stopped the session. The scope needs another 3 minutes for noise reduction the scopes stopped with this strange result. I give you a single frame too. None of theses frames has an artifact at this place, only one had a satellite trail.

 

May someone help me?

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[Tsb1948]

Gain is a little high. 60 might be better. The green is prbably stray light that gets stacked just like the stars.

[MrNeil]

Next question: What are the best 3rd party upgrades and / or accessories to get for the Dwarf 3?  

Hi DrMegabyte

 

Im still waiting for my D3 but ordered an accessory kit on ebay, that arrived today and looks ok

 

https://www.ebay.co....tm/277064635395

[Dr. Megabyte]

Hi DrMegabyte

 

Im still waiting for my D3 but ordered an accessory kit on ebay, that arrived today and looks ok

 

https://www.ebay.co....tm/277064635395

Thanks!  Before I buy from a UK vendor, I'm waiting to see what @bradhaak will offer from his US based store

[Uwe Pilz]

Gain is a little high. 60 might be better. The green is prbably stray light that gets stacked just like the stars.

Thank you. I used mega2stack to Stack again, and this works. I know, this feature uses a different algorithm.

[former lurker]

BTW.... My D3 hates that style of light shield. During calibration it crashes the shield into the body of the camera. It turns the altitude motor into a whiny stalled problem. Result... Calibration failure.

I guess you could remove the shield before calibration and put it back on after calibration. But, that might compromise the calibration.

Your mileage may vary. I can't use my shield of that style.

Good luck.

[bradhaak]

I never calibrate with the shield on. I wait until after the D3 is ready to shoot and drop the light shield and base on. Most of them are magnetic so they grab on without a struggle and shouldn't affect calibration, focus, or alignment.

[vineyard]

Q - what happens with these shields and the additional filters when a schedule job finishes?  IIRC the lens barrel rotates downward right, so wouldn't those interfere?  Thanks!