FocusMax questions

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Finally got around to trying FocusMax and setting up some V curves. I've got 4 V curves done. They take a while. But now I want to image and I can't just hit a focus button. Is there a min no of curves you have to create in your profile before it lets you?

Second question. The telescope option won't let me pick either my EQ6 EQASCOM driver, or MaxPoint that I'm using MaximDL with. The "Chooser" option is grayed out and the only telescope I can select is the EQMod Simulator.

Any ideas?

[troypiggo (Troy)]

I reinstalled FMax and now I can choose all the telescopes.

Still not sure about the no of V curves needed.

[RickS (Rick)]

Troy,

I'm pretty sure it can focus with a single V curve. That's what the First Light wizard does...

Cheers,
Rick.

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Thanks Rick. I'm going through it all again with the new FM install. See how this goes.

[allan gould]

Troy, just use SGPro like you know you should.

Allan

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Aren't you the one that told me to just cough up the money and get MaximDL in the first place?
Should know better than to trust someone with a fox as an avatar...

[allan gould]

I'm only doing what Peter told me to!

[Paul Haese]

Doing the video tutorials help with settings Troy, just double check all your settings via the tutorials. I would suggest doing at least 9 v curves too. That will make a significant difference to the averages.

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Originally Posted by allan gould

I'm only doing what Peter told me to!

Haha.

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Doing the video tutorials help with settings Troy, just double check all your settings via the tutorials. I would suggest doing at least 9 v curves too. That will make a significant difference to the averages.

Thanks. I got the V curves and now running fine. Very happy chappy.

[pvelez (Pete)]

troy

this is worth a close read

http://www.flemingastrophotography.com/focusmax.html

Pete

[DavidTrap (David)]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Doing the video tutorials help with settings Troy, just double check all your settings via the tutorials. I would suggest doing at least 9 v curves too. That will make a significant difference to the averages.

Paul - have you got a link to those tutorials?

ta

DT

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Originally Posted by pvelez

troy

this is worth a close read

http://www.flemingastrophotography.com/focusmax.html

Pete

Thanks mate. I was using that tutorial as it's one of the first few hits you get when you google "focusmax tutorial".

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

Paul - have you got a link to those tutorials?

ta

DT

Assume he was talking about the ones on the FocusMax website? http://www.focusmax.org/videos.html

[DavidTrap (David)]

Originally Posted by troypiggo

Assume he was talking about the ones on the FocusMax website? http://www.focusmax.org/videos.html

Thanks Troy

DT

[Paul Haese]

Yes those are the ones.

[OneCosmos (Chris)]

Hi,

Which capture software can I use with FocusMax? I used it years ago with CCDSoft, but there is simply no driver for the QHY12 and CCDSOFT.

I have Nebulosity 3 but don't know if FocusMax can use that. The FocusMax help implies only MaximDL or the Sky - is that really true?

Chris

[troypiggo (Troy)]

In the camera selection window the only 2 options it gives are MaximDL and CCDSoft. And in the help docs it says system requirements are either one of those 2.

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Sequence Generator Pro might be an option for you? It has autofocus routines in it. Not free, but very affordable and I know a few IIS users that can't stop blubbering about how awesome it is. (Yes, I'm talking about you Allan and Peter )

[OneCosmos (Chris)]

Originally Posted by troypiggo

Sequence Generator Pro might be an option for you? It has autofocus routines in it. Not free, but very affordable and I know a few IIS users that can't stop blubbering about how awesome it is. (Yes, I'm talking about you Allan and Peter )

Yes, I remember now people at Astrofest last year talking about it a lot. I will take a look.

On a related note - can someone please tell me the purpose of using something as complex as MaximDL for capture? I always think that at 01:00, when I'm cold and tired all I want to do is program the camera to open and close the shutter in a sequence - why do I need more?

Chris

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Image capture and guiding in Maxim is as easy as Nebulosity. What's so hard?