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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2014 21:26:27 GMT
I've been using the iPhone for astro viewing of brighter objects the last few weeks. I'll link here to the threads I made on CN. (I'm guessing I can because there are already other links to CN elsewhere) The first link goes over the equipment in more detail. www.cloudynights.com/topic/477871-12-lunar-first-light-iphone-at8in-on-cgemwww.cloudynights.com/topic/478079-second-light-with-iphoneholderat8incgemwww.cloudynights.com/topic/478384-m-42-with-iphone-at8incgemThe reason I started doing this is because I'm evaluating making an app for using the phone for live viewing. So far the camera is performing as well as can be expected for a 1.5 micron pixel, 8 megapixel camera. I will be posting a report on the lunar eclipse later on. The post will include what I was able to do with M13. So far, in my opinion, anyone with a recent iPhone can do the same activity with the right holder. There is no need IMO to buy a dedicated lunar/planetary/brighter DSO camera. I have not yet tested solar, I don't have a solar scope to do this with, but it's something that I think will be worth a shot as well. Regardless of a dedicated astro-viewing/picture app, the phone already does just fine on the Moon with the native app. I suspect that the planets will work out just fine as well.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2014 22:31:29 GMT
Well I'll be damned. I would not have even thought it possible to get pics of that quality with a phone. When I think of how many folks are looking for decent astro apps for their phones, it makes me think this would be an awesome addition. I don't have an iPhone, but it certainly makes upgrading more appealing. Well done.
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Post by johnno on Oct 9, 2014 23:55:38 GMT
Truly amazing from a phone when you think the electronics' of the camera cant be any thicker or bigger than a small coin. That snapzoom adapter makes a big difference with it holding the phone steady and being able for you to take sharp images. I would of never in my wildest dreams thought of using a phone this way, that's what you call 'thinking out of the box'
good going Curtis, hope to catch you on NSN and have a look at it in action
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 0:02:12 GMT
Thanks guys, that's encouraging to hear. I was loosing steam over at CN lol.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 0:52:25 GMT
Here is M13 from the early the night of the eclipse, I had set up to test and make sure I'd be ready for the eclipse. Notice the settings. These are using the NightCap Pro app in iOS 7. 1/2 second is the longest exposure, and the maximum ISO setting is 2500. With NightCap Pro the exposures are stacked in a sort of 'bulb mode' until the shutter is pressed again, which cleans up the noise and brings out fainter stars/features. Note that the second pic is zoomed in digitally, but since it's an 8 megapixel camera it's still not pixellated.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 1:44:29 GMT
I've cropped the screenshots I took of the eclipse. First is a capture of the moon earlier that evening (when I did m13) to show what the moon looks like with the native camera app. Next, is an attempt to use the native camera app on the eclipsed Moon. As you can see the native camera app is not able to bring out the eclipse like we want. This next capture is the NightCap Pro app, live view with no stacking. The settings are at 1/2 second exposure and 1250 ISO, notice how much noise there is, also notice the shutter button is white. I set the shutter to go off after 1 second from being pressed. This app has a 'bulb mode' that will continue to stack until the shutter button is pressed again. Lastly, here is an exposure with lower Iso, its the best view I had of eclipse IMO.
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Post by Dragon Man on Oct 10, 2014 6:23:12 GMT
Congratulations Curtis. Absolutely mind-blowing to think a Phone can be used as a good quality Astronomical Lunar/Planetary camera, and then you go that step further and get DSO's as well!
I have tried using a mobile phone Afocally a couple of times but because I was hand-holding the phone I gave up in frustration. I have also seen other peoples attempts from time to time, but nowhere near as good as these. They did it as a novelty, but you are turning it into a serious Lunar/Planetray camera.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 10, 2014 15:10:56 GMT
Very nice Curtis!!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 17:12:28 GMT
So, one thing I want to point out to be fair to the iPhone, is when I use the binoviewers about half the light becomes unavialble. I'm wondering if the Baader click-stop zoom might be the way to go, since it's wider like a 2" eyepiece and will let me optically zoom.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 21:17:06 GMT
So are these photo's of the iPhone screen, or screen grabs from the computer. If so, it would be really interesting to see a snapshot from the iPhone itself if that's possible. Then I could download it and take a real good look at it in all its glory.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 1:51:13 GMT
Actually, they are screenshots of my Macbook screen, so as to demonstrate the live view capability of the phone camera. So yes, I can upload some of the pictures, and those that are not zoomed up to, or past, the pixel density, demonstrate higher resolution.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 18:15:41 GMT
Last night I did a quick broadcast to test my 2" 2x barlow with my new 8-24mm zoom eyepiece. It did come to focus, and for the most part I stayed at the highest power. I did have an issue focusing because of the position of the eyepiece & focuser, I had to use a step stool for safety. (need to get some wilcox rings) Also, I did not spend a lot of time trying to get the projection exactly flush since I was mainly interested in if I could get the barlow to work since I wanted to decide if I should keep the eyepiece. First picture is only halfway zoomed in (or not at all, not sure): The next two pictures are about 1/4 of the way to full digital zoom: The last one is a shot with the best focus I could get at the highest digital zoom of the camera:
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 19:01:15 GMT
Not bad for pushing the envelope Curtis The max zoom could be just a step too far, but the others show a lot of promise. I took the liberty of tweaking one of the pics in photoshop to see if it would stand a light process. This only took 30secs. Levels, highpass sharpen then unsharp mask.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 19:25:52 GMT
So, guess what? I was putting away the barlow when I noticed rattling, it turns out the lock ring was loose. This probably caused some of the focus issues. By the way, which part of this forum is appropriate for the iPhone pictures? If its this one maybe I should make a seperate thread just for those.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 21:29:41 GMT
Here is the best shot I did on Friday with just the 8-24mm zoom eyepiece. For sure it's a keeper IMO. I'm excited to try on Jupiter and the brighter DSOs!
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Post by johnno on Oct 12, 2014 21:54:35 GMT
Curtis its fine on here no need to move it.
Curtis have you tried to use the phone's video to capture? and then run it through a stacking software
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 22:34:08 GMT
That's definitely a keeper. If that's what you're getting with just the eyepiece, why bother with the barlow.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 7:14:59 GMT
Fortunately, I was able to broadcast again tonight. This time I didn't get out early enough for M13 before it got covered in clouds, but I did get to look at M31, then the Moon, but clouds came after clearing up for a short while. Ken was able to see live how the optical zoom of the eyepiece and then the digital zoom of the iPhone combine to good effect. Here is a stacked close up of M31: Here is the Moon with the zoom eyepiece set to 8mm and no digital zoom:
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Post by Dragon Man on Oct 13, 2014 9:15:50 GMT
Yep, it was certainly a good broadcast. Thanks Curtis. The phone camera does a remarkably good job. And being a wireless connection to the computer makes it user friendly. The Zoom eyepiece worked well
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 17:05:34 GMT
Thanks Ken, I'll be looking to do M13 soon during an early evening and then m42 & Jupiter early the next morning.
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