Got a loaner for a while and had a play this evening - took some pics in APT and they came out greyscale.
Can't find a switch to make the camera image in colour.
Do I have to use sharpcap or is it possible to use APT which I like and am fairly proficient with?
I had a look at it last night, part of the learning curve - so I shall use it next time I have a go.
I just thought I'd be able to use APT as it is partnered with CCD and recognised the hardware.
It showed up in the live view as colour but it wasn't til later that I realised it was greyscale.
At least it is recognising it as being a colour camera, not sure why it would be saving it greyscale though, never used APT. Perhaps it is in a setting somewhere
With it being ~12mb it doesn't sound like there is any colour data. When FITS images are saved it treats every colour channel as being an image of its own. When I save my Nikon .NEF files as 16 bit FITS they are 73 mb.
12MB sounds about right for a 16-bit RGB fits file.
In the CCD settings in DSS, check the dropdown menu for the camera model or select one of th Bayer patterns. If nothing else, you should be able to get it by trial and error, there are only 4 different combinations My hunch would be to try RGGB first.
What you are doing is correct and your file sizes are also correct.
The captured FITS files will look monochrome.
You will only see the colour after you have put your files through DSS which will debayer, align and stack them.
Make sure you have entered the correct bayer matrix pattern in DSS.
Do not use the drop down selection for QHY8. This refers to the older model.
For your QHY8L, use GENERIC GBRG.