This is my 3rd night at attempting to get the DSI to work!
I have tried different objects in different programs and it's still not playing the game!!!!!!!!
I think they are horrible. In fact, I KNOW they are horrible!
The programs still will not 'stack in camera'!
To get these 3 final images I had to save them all as individual images, convert them to BMP's (even though I told the programs to capture them as BMP's it didn't), reduce their sizes, stack them in Registax on the lappy coz it wouldn't let me save them anywhere else, then save the stacked images into the portable HD, then load into PC then process in Photoshop.
What a complicated nightmare!
It has been a very looooong frustrating night in -2.1c temp.
1. NGC253 Silver Coin Captured in Envisage (complete with Amp Glow!)
2. Trifid nebula Captured in Envisage (with major Hot Pixels!)
3. Orion Nebula Captured in MaximDL (with lovely cross-hatch pattern!)
It's a real shame you aren't enjoying success with your DSLR. I know what it's like, have only just started getting back to somewhat successful imaging myself. All I can suggest is to start at the basics of basics and move up from there. After 8 months of no CCD imaging I jumped in to where I was back in January before my scope died, and didn't have any fun. Now having started back at a more basic level of expectations and method I have started enjoying it again and started getting some average results again.
Having said that, your images aren't so bad if you consider what they might have been 5 years ago. Take this shot from 2003 for example. I had one (can't find it now) of NGC 253 which looked about the same or worse from the same time. Don't be too hard on yourself.
Sorry to hear you are having some serious hassles with the DSI.
All of a sudden you will hit the nail on the head and churn out some beauties . The Orion one looks very promising with good focus and tracking!
Keep at it Ken!
cheers
Hi Ken. Although I’m not happy with sensitivity of DSI Pro, I must say that it works OK. Here are the settings that “stack in camera” BMP and Fits in Envisage on my setup.
Image Process Combo Box – Take Darks
Cntrl Button – Defaults, but you have to decide if you check High Gain box or not. If you take Darks with one setting of gain and then take images with other setting you will get lot more of Amplifier Glow.
Save Process Button – File Type - BMP, Save Options - Normal Operation
Single Shot and Web Mode Buttons unchecked.
Settings Menu – Image directory and Dark Frame directory box – Change to where you want your files to be. I left it at default.
Temperature Box – Fill in temperature (your uncooled DSI will be about 6deg C above ambient temperature after about 20 minutes)
First Exp – 1 Last Exp – 30 (Change to whatever is longest exposure you are going to use)
All other settings are left at default.
Take darks
To take images
Only setting I change is: Image Process – Deep Sky Dark Sub - Check Combine Box – Check
Note
If you select “Live” exposure shorter then your shortest Dark frame, silly program will not subtract Darks.
I don’t know if this is going to work on your setup, but it works on my with Fits and BMP’s. My notebook got 2.2Ghz Celeron CPU and 512MB memory.
I personally think that DSI works better as guider then imaginer. I’m going to use it to guide EQ mount modified with Autostar motors (if I ever get GO - To to work with reasonable accuracy).
I'm about to get back to using my DSI after a hiatus.... the software supplied is awful, but it does work - I found the best way was to get it to save all uncombined images, and sift out the bad ones later in envisage - worked OK, although I must say I haven't used it very much.
My trials and tribulations should start appearing soon!
Your images are improving though
Ken, the Silver coin image doesn't look bad at all (apart for the amp glow).
Your regime to get image from go to woe sounds too complicated to be fun!
I thought the Meade ads stated ease of use and decent images first night out!?
That said, I know you'll master the DSI and push it to the max like your webcam stuff.
All the best - sorry I can't give advise, never used the DSI or its software.
Doug
Ken Keep at it mate, yep i was a cold one last night and i too spent most of it standing in the frost, did two images which i'm about to process now, will see how it all turned out, Post them later if they are worth it.
Ken don't give up, keep going.
The results can be good with this camera.
Made a pic last night with darkframe substraction done with envisage and then processed in paintshop.
No autoguiding 70mm refractor, 30sec * 15 images.
Not so good but learning.
Hi Ken, your images are getting there and are not that bad at all. My early stuff was way worse than that.
I usually use fits or fits3p images in Envisage and process them as the same format in MaximDL.
Is it possible to post a screen print of your Envisage screen as you would use/image with, one of the members might pick up something that's not quite right.
Hi Ken,
I bought a DSI PRO monochrome 1.5 year ago in the hope to do good images, based in all of the ad I had seen about the camera.
I tried hard to work with this camera and I must confess that all I got were poor images...
I did everything, I read all the tutorials that there exist on the net and in the end of each trying just frustration.
I have a LX-200 Classic from Meade and several other accessories also from them and I enjoy each one and more and more my scope, but this camera...no way.
My advice is for you not to waste your time using the DSI as your main camera. You can use it as a guiding camera and even so in some fields it won't work due to its low sensitivity and high noise.
I am sorry Ken, I know how you should be feeling, I also experimented this same bad feeling.
Dont let it beat you Ken..we are all looking to you to see what the little suckers can do... you are lucky what with it being so cool there ..the bright side is you dont have to worry about a cooler yet.
Think of it this way ..not so long ago one would have to been with NASA to play with similar devices and now just because they are common place we think they should work like a TV..turn it on and it works stuff...well it may need a little tweaking so hang in there...maybe it sences you are unhappy with it and is being standoffish so give it some love ..it will respond I am sure.
I think you are doing very well.
My two are on the way ..maybe here next week so I will be looking for expert advice..so get out there and make it work.
alex
I don't believe it's the Cameras fault. It's me trying to sort out the programs to run it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karls48
Hi Ken. Although I’m not happy with sensitivity of DSI Pro, I must say that it works OK. Here are the settings that “stack in camera” BMP and Fits in Envisage on my setup.
Image Process Combo Box – Take Darks
Cntrl Button – Defaults, but you have to decide if you check High Gain box or not. If you take Darks with one setting of gain and then take images with other setting you will get lot more of Amplifier Glow.
Save Process Button – File Type - BMP, Save Options - Normal Operation
Single Shot and Web Mode Buttons unchecked.
Settings Menu – Image directory and Dark Frame directory box – Change to where you want your files to be. I left it at default.
Temperature Box – Fill in temperature (your uncooled DSI will be about 6deg C above ambient temperature after about 20 minutes)
First Exp – 1 Last Exp – 30 (Change to whatever is longest exposure you are going to use)
All other settings are left at default.
Take darks
To take images
Only setting I change is: Image Process – Deep Sky Dark Sub - Check Combine Box – Check
Note
If you select “Live” exposure shorter then your shortest Dark frame, silly program will not subtract Darks.
I don’t know if this is going to work on your setup, but it works on my with Fits and BMP’s. My notebook got 2.2Ghz Celeron CPU and 512MB memory.
I personally think that DSI works better as guider then imaginer. I’m going to use it to guide EQ mount modified with Autostar motors (if I ever get GO - To to work with reasonable accuracy).
Thanks Karl.
They are the settings I used. I think I may have left 'single image' ticked though
I'll just have to keep at it and at it. I'll go through the whole procedure again with your settings and see if anything improves
I am probably being too hard on myself, as I had really good success with the Modded Toucam. It's like I expect to go 'click' and get the same results.
Ken, you've lost nothing with these batch of images. Every image progresses you forth with experience. As the others have said, don't let it get to you. Yes, imaging can be frustrating and quite technically challenging, but that is what makes it so rewarding. I feel certain you're on the right track, its just that its a bumpy one.
They are getting better.
Just keep at it, you will get there.
