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Changing focus when changing filter
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2021 1:55 pm
by windytops
Please, for the avoidance of doubt;
Am I wasting my time trying to find a way to change focus by a designated amount each time I issue a change filter instruction ?
I have Sharpcap PRO, Moonlite CS focuser, ZWO EFW Filter wheel, ZWO ASI224MC.
Re: Changing focus when changing filter
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2021 2:38 pm
by admin
Hi,
yes, this is supported in SharpCap 4, providing your ASCOM filter wheel driver allows you to setup a 'focus offset' value for each filter in its setup window. See
https://docs.sharpcap.co.uk/4.0/#Focus% ... %20Changes.
SharpCap will adjust the filter by the difference between the offsets for the 'moving from' and 'moving too' filters when you rotate the filter wheel. Note that this will only happen if the filter wheel movement is triggered from within SharpCap.
cheers,
Robin
Re: Changing focus when changing filter
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2021 11:06 pm
by windytops
Excellent news thanks. I was confused, because on the one hand I had read statements that the EFW did not need an ASCOM driver, yet on the other it did [to do what I wanted] I will go to the link and hopefully be unconfused. Thanks.
Re: Changing focus when changing filter
Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2021 9:53 pm
by windytops
Thanks Robin- seems to work well. When I built my first [lousey] telescope back in 1956, I could never have imagined the level of functionality we amateurs have these days. I am very grateful and don't take it for granted.
Re: Changing focus when changing filter
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2021 2:37 pm
by admin
Hi,
no problem, glad it is working well. It is amazing how things have advanced - I have a copy of Patrick Moore's 'Guide to the Planets' on my bookshelf - first published ~1951. The photographs of the moon/planets shown in the book that come from professional observatories could be bettered now by someone with a 3 inch refractor and a half decent camera!
cheers,
Robin