Start settings

Discussion of features and issues relating to Altair Astro Cameras
Post Reply
Re Pete
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 3:14 am

Start settings

#1

Post by Re Pete »

Hi I have taken the plunge and moved from DSLR to an entry dedicated Astro camera. I am using an Altair Astro 183C V2 Hypercam with SharpCap Pro. I have achieved an image as such, not very good, and Deep Sky Stacker and Photoshop CC (2018) cannot open the files stored as .FITS. The camera is not the problem my guess at setting is. Can anybody give me a starting point or base settings, should be similar to a 174 or 178 camera.
Local help in Australia non existent at present- no dealer. I had to import this camera.

Cheers
Re Pete
User avatar
turfpit
Posts: 1779
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:13 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Start settings

#2

Post by turfpit »

Pete

Deep Sky Stacker can deal with 16-bit FITS files but not 8-bit. So as a starter please post a camera settings file from one of your captures.

The usual route is to debayer and stack images, creating a TIFF output file. Photoshop can then open the TIFF.

If your capture files are 8-bit then have a look at viewtopic.php?f=35&t=254

Dave
User avatar
turfpit
Posts: 1779
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:13 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Start settings

#3

Post by turfpit »

Pete

The Altair Astro forum is at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/altair-astro.

Have a look at the left hand panel at http://cameras.altairastro.com/ for useful information.

Dave
Re Pete
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 3:14 am

Re: Start settings

#4

Post by Re Pete »

Thanks Dave. I am waiting to have membership approved with the Altair Google group. The operating Instructions for Altair capture have been downloaded and have operated the camera under Capture. The SharpCap setting and controls are more complex and are calibrated on a different scale. My start point estimates have not been good guesses with trial and error being more error than any thing else. There is a good chance I have missed some important point. I am trying to compare notes with someonewho has their 183C up and running with SharpCap pro

Cheers
Pete
User avatar
turfpit
Posts: 1779
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:13 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Start settings

#5

Post by turfpit »

Pete

When you get access to the Altair Forum have a look at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic ... B0-1qYUI1o. It is one of mine - M42 with a 183C - so you might get some ideas from this. The 183C works well at a lower gain than any other camera I have used.

Regardless of the capture software used, its a matter of adjusting the settings to get a good histogram for the type of object in question. You might find this useful https://docs.sharpcap.co.uk/2.9/#The%20Histogram.

When you get any SharpCap images, post the camera settings files together with the image.

Dave
Re Pete
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2018 3:14 am

Re: Start settings

#6

Post by Re Pete »

Thamks for your assistance Dave, I have had a few daylight sessions and been able to sort some setting out. I can get an image focus it, save and retrieve it. Just need a cloud free night to test the system. At Present I am looking at another week before the clouds part for a night.

Cheers
Re Pete
Post Reply