SharpCap Forums

I have a problem with the dithering in sharpcap
my exposure is 120sec
the dithering setting is:
Automaticaly dither - on
Diyher interval - 120
Max dither step - 20 px
Settle thereshold - 2 px
Min. settle time - 5 sec
Max settle time - 60 sec
When I start with dithering, after the second exposure phd2 loses the guide star

Hi,

Robin explained an option to me that might help. the dithering interval is a tad confusing, and APT for comparison does not use a interval time to start dithering, it just allows it after an number of sub-exposures, which is easier to think about.
In sharpcap, for a 240s exposure, I set the dithering interval to 230 s. That seems to allow the software to call a dither at 230s, but it waits until the 240s exposure is finished before starting the dither. When I leave the dither internal at 240s, i.e. assuming that a dither will start after the 240s exposure as would be a logical expectation IMO, the next exposure starts at the same time, mixing the operations. This could be a little clearer I think in sharpcap.
So, set your dither internal to 10s less than the frame length for example and see what happens. It worked for me, dither between frames, but avoiding a dither and a new frame coinciding.

I will try it, Thanks!!!
Is It a good idea use reduce exposure while dithering?

Hi,

yes, really everyone should always have the 'reduce exposure' setting on... In fact I should take the setting away and make it default to on with no setting

With the reduce exposure setting on, SharpCap drops the camera down to 1s exposures while dithering and then puts back the correct exposure when the dither is complete - much less disruption.

Robin

Yes, as Robin said. Apologies, I answered without checking your query was for live stacking. In that case, the check box to reduce to 1s is really very helpful. Sounds like a good idea to make it a default necessary option for livestacking.

If you were using the sharpcap 4 sequencer, for separate exposures, then the method I summarised might be useful.

I use Live stack, but I process later with DSS