Sigh.. my small sheet arrived today, And due to my own error, it is not quite as wide as my main imaging scope (the Megrez 102) Although the dimensions on the elec2go site say its big enough, due to the tabs at the edges where the wires connect, it actually falls about 5mm shy of completely covering the objective... Looks like I'll have to design a box, use this to illuminate a diffuser (white translucent perspex) I Can only hope this will work... (Feel free to make your assumptions, inferences etc)
Else, Does anyone want one of these smaller cuttable sheets, never used? never out of its plastic slip? I may have to go straight to the bigger sheet for use with my C11 and the M102... Cheers.
Sorted out my flat fielding problems at last. It is not the EL sheet at fault.
A bit of research and I found out flat frames don't work very effectively with a QHY8 without using Bias files as well. I tried another exposure run using some slightly less aggressive settings for both the lights and flats and went on to shoot and calibrate with Flats and Bias shots and it worked, and it worked realy well. The final result was way better than I had expected.
I have been pleasantly surprised at the way this inexpensive and simple sheet works to improve my images.
Sigh.. my small sheet arrived today, And due to my own error, it is not quite as wide as my main imaging scope (the Megrez 102) Although the dimensions on the elec2go site say its big enough, due to the tabs at the edges where the wires connect, it actually falls about 5mm shy of completely covering the objective... Looks like I'll have to design a box, use this to illuminate a diffuser (white translucent perspex) I Can only hope this will work... (Feel free to make your assumptions, inferences etc)
Alex.
Yes that will work, it will illuminate the diffuser screen completely as long as you set the distance right.
A few inches will do.
I used a diffuser screen in my box and got a beautiful evenly lit screen.
Ok, here's some pics of the lightbox I made using the A3 EL Panel mounted in a box made with balsa wood and foam-core.
LOL a bit crude but works brilliantly (pardon the pun).
I simply used hot glue and pins to assemble the box.
Also, I inserted 6 'diffuser screens' made from Drafting Film and A3 translucent cover binders.
These help diffuse the light and give an even glow right to the edge.
I then attached a tripod adapter to the box so I can mount the lightbox on a tripod and swing the scope into the box to take my flats.
The only thing left to do now is to attach a white shroud on the end of the box to enable any of my scopes and lenses to be put in place to take the flats.
I think this is an easier/simpler way than having individual diameter foam cutouts for each one.
I've also attached a master flat of 7 raw flats, taken with the 5D and the 24-70mm at 70mm f/2.8, ISO 100.
As I said, it's crude in it's construction, I didn't spend much time designing it so it's not exactly symmetrical, but it works perfectly.
1. On the tripod.
2. How it looks when lit (I used a custom White Balance).
3. Tripod adaptor under the box.
4. Master Flat (7 raw frames)
Think I'll hold off until more people have used them and mad rush dries up.
suit yourself - demand may drive up prices - -remember these are probably imported and the existing stock was bought at older prices. BTW they are fantastic and you have absolutely no idea how good they really are until you have tried one. i have been looking for years for a good light box, i bought one when the US dollar was at 96 cents and it was a bargain - i had that custom made for the 127ED and could use it with cameras and standard lenses, but the stupid thing was I should have got the adapters at the time for the C8 and the meade 10" and the vixen R200SS but i didn't. to get that is a small fortune, but this is a gift of light, for next to nothing in comparative costs. a source of even constant light that you can choose to use at a moments notice- priceless. you add together the cost of all your gear, and the observatory you want to build and all the imaging gear you have then go and take astrophotos only to find everything goes pear shaped because you skimped out on getting a decent light box - get real! on a comparative basis this is chook feed (sorry RB), and it is the basic requirement for decent image processing. if your happy doing a few rough shots then processing them to reveal hideous vignetting or terrible crop circle of your final image then you hold off.... besides the government wants us to go out and spend, spend, spend and spend some more to keep the economy flowing----- so go on, make a move and spend a dollar and post some images, processed with a light box in tow I have been keeping the economy going for years
That is wonderful! Beautiful flat frame all the way across.
I'm glad to see there's no dust bunnies on the 70-200.
Regards,
Humayun
Quote:
Originally Posted by RB
Ok, here's some pics of the lightbox I made using the A3 EL Panel mounted in a box made with balsa wood and foam-core.
LOL a bit crude but works brilliantly (pardon the pun).
I simply used hot glue and pins to assemble the box.
Also, I inserted 6 'diffuser screens' made from Drafting Film and A3 translucent cover binders.
These help diffuse the light and give an even glow right to the edge.
I then attached a tripod adapter to the box so I can mount the lightbox on a tripod and swing the scope into the box to take my flats.
The only thing left to do now is to attach a white shroud on the end of the box to enable any of my scopes and lenses to be put in place to take the flats.
I think this is an easier/simpler way than having individual diameter foam cutouts for each one.
I've also attached a master flat of 7 raw flats, taken with the 5D and the 24-70mm at 70mm f/2.8, ISO 100.
As I said, it's crude in it's construction, I didn't spend much time designing it so it's not exactly symmetrical, but it works perfectly.
1. On the tripod.
2. How it looks when lit (I used a custom White Balance).
3. Tripod adaptor under the box.
4. Master Flat (7 raw frames)
suit yourself - demand may drive up prices - -remember these are probably imported and the existing stock was bought at older prices. BTW they are fantastic and you have absolutely no idea how good they really are until you have tried one. i have been looking for years for a good light box, i bought one when the US dollar was at 96 cents and it was a bargain - i had that custom made for the 127ED and could use it with cameras and standard lenses, but the stupid thing was I should have got the adapters at the time for the C8 and the meade 10" and the vixen R200SS but i didn't. to get that is a small fortune, but this is a gift of light, for next to nothing in comparative costs. a source of even constant light that you can choose to use at a moments notice- priceless. you add together the cost of all your gear, and the observatory you want to build and all the imaging gear you have then go and take astrophotos only to find everything goes pear shaped because you skimped out on getting a decent light box - get real! on a comparative basis this is chook feed (sorry RB), and it is the basic requirement for decent image processing. if your happy doing a few rough shots then processing them to reveal hideous vignetting or terrible crop circle of your final image then you hold off.... besides the government wants us to go out and spend, spend, spend and spend some more to keep the economy flowing----- so go on, make a move and spend a dollar and post some images, processed with a light box in tow I have been keeping the economy going for years
Bugger the economy , it's never done me any favours .... like all new stuff ... they'll drop in price once the novalty wears off.
Got higher priorities - ie getting my roll-off observing shed done and then I'll think about getting a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS and doing something about restarting my astroimaging ... bit of luck the AUD will recover a bit by then - I'm in no hurry.
Good luck in buying your lens at the price you want to.
You better buy it now, whilst it's hovering at $2,460, before it goes up. Prices are set to rise in January and won't come down until at /least/ the end of next year.
How do I know? I've been keeping in touch with the manager of a retailer (in the process of ordering a Canon EOS-5D Mark II) who is also an avid photographer.
You can procrastinate and make all the excuses in the world for not buying this magnificent piece of kit for a very reasonable price (all up, building my own light box has come to very nearly $100 with all the tools and materials purchased), however, it will make /all/ the difference in the world for when it comes to processing your images. I have shot and processed all my images with flat frames since day dot, and, whilst I'm not in the league of Mike, Eddie, Peter, Greg, or Martin, I think my images can speak for themselves.
Regards,
Humayun
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Robinson
Bugger the economy , it's never done me any favours .... like all new stuff ... they'll drop in price once the novalty wears off.
Got higher priorities - ie getting my roll-off observing shed done and then I'll think about getting a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS and doing something about restarting my astroimaging ... bit of luck the AUD will recover a bit by then - I'm in no hurry.
Good luck in buying your lens at the price you want to.
You better buy it now, whilst it's hovering at $2,460, before it goes up. Prices are set to rise in January and won't come down until at /least/ the end of next year.
How do I know? I've been keeping in touch with the manager of a retailer (in the process of ordering a Canon EOS-5D Mark II) who is also an avid photographer.
You can procrastinate and make all the excuses in the world for not buying this magnificent piece of kit for a very reasonable price (all up, building my own light box has come to very nearly $100 with all the tools and materials purchased), however, it will make /all/ the difference in the world for when it comes to processing your images. I have shot and processed all my images with flat frames since day dot, and, whilst I'm not in the league of Mike, Eddie, Peter, Greg, or Martin, I think my images can speak for themselves.
Regards,
Humayun
The likes of Harvey Norman "Discounts" , and their ilk and the camera shops want you to buy now , in panic to beat the "price rises" ....
I'm in no rush , and am prepared to wait as long as it takes .... and the money is not going anywhere and is nice and safe where it is. I reckon there may be some good bargains after Xmas and the AUD may just sneek back up a bit in the NY after Obama takes the reigns, and the stores find themselves stuck with a stack of stock they couldn't shift at "inflated prices" in the run up to Xmas. Yes - I'm a buyer who is on strike , and bugger the economy.
Just ordered 100" long roll of self adhesive flocking material - once that turns up I'll ready to rebuild the 10" newt OTA , then I'll do my permanent concrete pier , and my deck or slab in readiness to build the SORO.
In the meantime no major expendatures are on the agenda.
Last edited by Ian Robinson; 25-11-2008 at 01:42 AM.
I'm not dealing with Harvey Norman, even though, I have bought from them in the past, and they have price-matched Internet prices for me.
So, if you were not going to buy a big ticket item from a retailer such as Harvey Norman, who are you going to buy from?
Retailers have purchasing contracts with big vendors which usually are of a six month duration. The price of consumer electronics is set to rise as the current batch of goods that is being sold is being sold on the basis of having been purchased by the retailers prior to the economic crisis.
This same retailer has price matched the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM, and even dropped a further $200 off the cost, as compared to a popular grey importer.
So, yes, I'm sure he has his own vested interests in this sale and isn't looking out for me, as you've suggested.
Regards,
Humayun
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Robinson
The likes of Harvey Norman "Discounts" , and their ilk and the camera shops want you to buy now , in panic to beat the "price rises" ....
interesting use of the photo frame. any other images of the actual light box ?
nope. That's it. Light enough to stick on the scope and still keep on trackin'. My better half still hasn't noticed the wedding picture is missing a frame Just kidding...
I picked up a cuttable sheet but unfortunately there appears to be a manufacturing defect within the laminate which shows up as a small dark area so probably no good for flats on its own. Might experiment with a diffuser.
I have been keeping the economy going for years
nope. That's it. Light enough to stick on the scope and still keep on trackin'. My better half still hasn't noticed the wedding picture is missing a frame 
