First tests with DFK 21AU618

[Sebbie (Sebastian)]

Hi everyone,

I thought I share these even though they are my first tries with this camera. Taken last weekend through high level cloud (the weather's been really murky lately) in monochrome mode.. this is before I got myself familiar with basic IC Capture settings and debayering. The Moon pic is a composite of ten avis, I think at the time I was using YUY2 format with UYVY codec - whatever the default setting was. Jupiter f10 1000 frame stack is a bit noisy even though it was shot at 30 fps.

I am interested to hear what settings are optimal for planetary imaging with this CCD, I was thinking about debayering in PIPP or Registax post capture. Read on another forum that YUY2 with RGB24 produces less noisy results but does not allow max frame rate of 60 fps.

Thanks,
Seb

[Sebbie (Sebastian)]

..forgot to add this small mosaic of Northern latitudes

[h0ughy (David)]

looks like your having fun

[lepton3 (Ivan)]

Hi Seb,

I have the DBK21AU618. Is the DFK21AU618 the same except firewire interface?

So far have got best results using Y800 + Y800 at 60fps, debayer in Autostakkert or PIPP.

-Ivan

[Sebbie (Sebastian)]

Originally Posted by lepton3

Is the DFK21AU618 the same except firewire interface?

Hi Ivan, from what I know both use USB interface and the same colour sensor. DFK series cameras come with an integrated IR cut filter.

Originally Posted by h0ughy

looks like your having fun

Yes I am, wish had more free time though.. Looking forward to Christmas break and more clear weather. Here's few pics of last weekend's setup.

Originally Posted by lepton3

So far have got best results using Y800 + Y800 at 60fps, debayer in Autostakkert or PIPP

I will try these settings next time round. I am struggling to get decent images at f20 using my current Meade barlows - post wavelet processing cloud layers look blurry and lacking finer detail. May have to save up for Powermate after all.. How many frames do you usually stack when imaging at 60 fps in reasonable seeing conditions?

- Seb

[asimov (John)]

Yes. Both DBK & DFK are exactly the same apart from the built in IR filter of said unknown quality - Plenty just take it out & use a dedicated (Baader usually) IR/UV cut.

Y800 + Y800 @ 60FPS + debayering in Autostakkert usually gives the best result in average seeing although I must say YUY2 + unspecified @ 30FPS will give superior results in good seeing.

[Sebbie (Sebastian)]

Originally Posted by asimov

Y800 + Y800 @ 60FPS + debayering in Autostakkert usually gives the best result in average seeing

Thanks Asimov. I haven't used AS!2 yet, can anyone point me at some good tutorials, especially ones covering the debayering step? All I could find so far only deals with stacking.

Thanks,
- Seb

[asimov (John)]

I'm afraid FULL Autostakkert tutorials are rare (non existent actually) & as you have found Seb, mostly written by mono guys anyway that don't need to debayer.

Autostakkert is very easy though, all you have to do is choose 'auto detect' under the colour tab & the program should do the rest. Most times that debayer won't work in Autostakkert? it'll be bacause it was shot in a format that Autostakkert can't detect such as Y800 + Y800 but forgetting to uncheck the debayering tab in IC capture..

[Sebbie (Sebastian)]

Thanks asimov, I will give it a go

[Jay-91 (Jayden)]

Wow that is some high tech gear there! Looks great!

[MGTechDVP (Mariusz)]

That setup is 1 2 NV... how long does it take you to setup before you can start imaging?

[Sebbie (Sebastian)]

Originally Posted by MGTechDVP

how long does it take you to setup before you can start imaging?

Hi Mariusz or shall I say 'dzien dobry' I got it down to 25 minutes last time although I tend to leave the scope outside for at least an hour to adjust to ambient temperature. It is a bit of an effort really so I have only taken the kit out on clear weekends so far.

I have finally finished processing all the clips from two weeks ago, here are the best two Jupiter shots from that lot, one taken at f10 and one at f20 using Meade 2x barlow. Pity they are in monochrome though, as mentioned earlier I think I was using wrong codec at the time. Europa is the moon on the right and GRS region should be in view..

Cheers,
- Seb