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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2014 13:17:59 GMT
Sup guys....
This is something me and Karl were discussing on NSN the other night and none of us really knew the right answer (if there is one)
Long integration times and using a low gain setting.....Or...Short integration times and high gain setting? Or just kinda middle of the road for both?
Whats the thoughts on this? Whats the better combination of settings to use here? Im guessing loads of things need to be factored in like...conditions, LP, scope etc...
But if you base it on average conditions, average LP and say a small frac or a SCT (seem to be the most popular choices of scope). What we talking here?
I would love to test it out extensively but i just HATE the damn 3 min timer every time you change the gain lol.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2014 13:21:25 GMT
So far ive only really be able to work out that i defo cant use really high gain and long integration as my views just get far too bright even with brightness set as low as possible.
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Post by Dragon Man on Mar 3, 2014 14:15:14 GMT
Gain can work against you but can also be your friend. If you turn gain off, or set it to 1, you get a whole lot less noise and less hot pixels But then you need to increase integration to collect enough data to see the object which increases noise anyway You can set the Gain High to shorten the Integration time but then get drowned out by hot pixels The best level for gain seems to be about 1/3rd the way up it's graduated scale. On a scale that goes to 8 (like Mallincam Software and Milosick) you will find around 3 to be best. But then, on a hot night that theory goes out the window Hot nights require lower Gain but not too much or you get noise and hot pixels from the longer integration needed because of the lower gain. It's a balancing act. There is no standard. On a pitch black cold night I can get away with using 8 on my Gain and short integration. But a short Focal length and the use of a Focal Reducer giving a wide FOV has a lot to do with it too.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2014 14:59:36 GMT
So far ive only really be able to work out that i defo cant use really high gain and long integration as my views just get far too bright even with brightness set as low as possible.
Yeah this is a game of tweaking to suit and for me I do like tweaking! The 3 minute timer is a pain but I just mess with the other cams or Stellarium or something! This image was taken at 60 seconds in Alt AZ on AGC 8. Try that on M42 and I'd have no chance but it seemed to work great on M51! The only problem I have Chris (as you know) is that I do not normally remember what settings work best for each object/conditions. I think I'll start making a more conscious effort from now on. My CR6 settings are shot to bits!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2014 16:27:13 GMT
kinda figured that would be the chat lol. Was hoping for the 'magic settings' Karl its a good point you make about how it depends on the object. But heres what seriously confused me the other night... Watching you with acg 8 and 60 secs...you still had LOADS of controller over the brightness! i.e. i seen you lower the brightness waaaay down and up again just before you took that pic. For me thats not possible. This was with agc set to 4 and 55 secs. And was set to lowest possible brightness i could. I cant quite remember what the conditions where like tho to be honest. But any higher agc made the screen go basically full white lol.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2014 17:12:51 GMT
kinda figured that would be the chat lol. Was hoping for the 'magic settings' Karl its a good point you make about how it depends on the object. But heres what seriously confused me the other night... Watching you with acg 8 and 60 secs...you still had LOADS of controller over the brightness! i.e. i seen you lower the brightness waaaay down and up again just before you took that pic. For me thats not possible. This was with agc set to 4 and 55 secs. And was set to lowest possible brightness i could. I cant quite remember what the conditions where like tho to be honest. But any higher agc made the screen go basically full white lol. Okay we need to experiment with this one, will try and get on later
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2014 17:42:05 GMT
Indeed! One thing i was thinking about was the cooling. Ive used it once i think for 10 mins. That needs playing about with too. Yeh i hope to be on tonight for a bit too. Its been clear all day here!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2014 12:00:18 GMT
Karl - I think i worked out how you had so much control over the brightness... You were using both mallincam control software AND miloslick yeh? That would give you an extra level of brightness adjustment
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2014 8:47:55 GMT
Karl - I think i worked out how you had so much control over the brightness... You were using both mallincam control software AND miloslick yeh? That would give you an extra level of brightness adjustment Hi Chris,
Yes I do use both as I still cannot connect Miloslick to the camera! I need to get onto Bill as it does not make sense! I can control the camera using the same connections with the Mallincam software but not Miloslick! Looks like some nice weather coming up so hopefully I'll get lots of opportunity to experiment.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2014 11:55:32 GMT
Thats interesting. Any time I have tried to use both progs at the same time, I get a lock up and have to shut all progs down and start again with just one. I didn't think you could use both as they conflict with each other.
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