1 Imaging with a Meade LX and the Canon Digital Rebel Using DSLRFocus 3.xx By: Jerry Hilburn – San Diego Astronomy Association – Astro Imaging Chair –

2 Gather the Parts Camera Battery or Power Supply Canon USB/SIPP Cable & Connector Parallel DB-25/SIPP Connector – Bulb Mode Control Canon Digital Rebel Meade or Celestron 6.3 Focal Reducer T-Ring Canon EOS 35 MM SLR Camera Meade or Televue Basic Camera Adapter – 1.25 or 2 in. Laptop – XP running DSLRFocus 3.xx

3 Prepare the Telescope 1. Set Tube and Forks to North / 90 2.Using the Auto Star Hand Controller 3. Perform One Star Alignment 4. Perform Polar Align & GPS Detect 5. Site Polaris – Adjust Wedge 6. Find Alignment star 7. Align Guide Scopes to Eye Piece Center 8. Perform Drift Alignment – Adjust Wedge 9. Perform PEC Update/Alignment 10. Set Micro Focuser to Center Position

4 Prepare the Camera 1.Insure Camera is OFF 2.Insure Laptop is OFF 3.Connect T-Ring to Camera 4.Connect Eyepiece Adapter 5.Connect Battery / PS 6.Connect Bulb Cable 7. To Camera 8. To PC Parallel 9.Connect USB Adapter 10. To Camera 11. To PC USB 12.Connect Camera to Scope

5 Focus Setup Detail Unlock Mirror Attach Eyepiece and Set Gross Focus on Target Focus Star Remove Eyepiece Attach Camera and Set Micro focuser to Center Point

6 Power On the Laptop - Start DSLR Focus Turn on Camera – Set to Manual Mode Cancel EOS Kiss Rebel 300D Device Connected Dialog

7 1.Find Ports – LPT 2.Enable Parallel 3.Test Port 4.Close Dialog Port Setup

8 Setup DSLRFocus Connection Select Application – Connect to Camera Acknowledge Camera Model Selection Dialog Box

9 Start Focus Mode 8 Second Cycle 800 ISO 2 Second Exposure Frame Image at 30% to Start

10 Center the Image

11 1.Manually Gross Focus 2.Lock The Mirror

12 Electronic Focus Analysis Mode HFWHM (Horizontal Full Width Half Maximum) VFWHM (Vertical Full Width Half Maximum) A measure of the size of the image, it is defined as the width of the Gaussian fit at half the maximum value. Ideally both should be the same. If different it indicates a problem in collimation, or bad seeing conditions. RSV (Radial Sum Value) Radial sum value is a relative measure of star width. As the star gets smaller this number gets bigger. Peak (Peak Value) Peak Value is the measure of the brightest pixels in an image. A perfectly focused image will have a higher peak value than an out of focus image. Your goal is to obtain the highest peak value possible.

13 See DSLRFocus Help File System For Detail Info on Focus Analysis Mode When using this Mode be sure to only use the micro focuser to adjust focus NEEDS FOCUS! H&V=10.00 RSV=4.00 Peak=248

14 BEST FOCUS! H&V=6.00 RSV=3.16 Peak=254.5

15 Mask Focus Technique Add Mask - Continue Gross Focus When you have a dot then Lock the Mirror Zoom to 100% - Focus Till 3 Dots = 1 Dot Change ISO 200 Time to 1 Second Zoom in to 200% Focus until Dot is Best Circle Use Micro Focuser to Adjust To Best Circular Dimension

16 View After You Add the Mask

17 Focus past best focus and the dots reverse.

18 Getting Closer – Change Micro Focuser Speed To Slow

19 Once you have a dot at 100%... Zoom to 200% Set ISO to 200 Exposure to 1 Second Focus till at best focus

20 Setup Long Exposure ISO 800 Large Fine or Raw Bulb Mode 30 Seconds 5 Second Lead in Voice Countdown 3 Seconds Between Exposures

21 Setup File Naming Set Directory Set Object Name

22 Take the Shot!

23 M104 – 5 Stacked 800 ISO – 90 Seconds 6.3 Focal Reducer & Photo Shop & Neat Image

24 M17 – 5 Stacked 800 ISO – 90 Seconds 6.3 Focal Reducer & Photo Shop & Neat Image

25 M57 – 5 Stacked 800 ISO – 60 Seconds 6.3 Focal Reducer & Photo Shop & Neat Image

26 Comet Temple 9b – 5 Stacked 800 ISO – 60 Seconds Prime Focus & Photo Shop & Neat Image

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