Better exposure control in preview mode

Eriktim82

As heading states.

Would like be to be able to enter exposure time instead just have the default. For instance. 240s exposure in preview. Etc

Tech@ZWO

Eriktim82
Do you mean in the ASIAIR APP?
Could you tell us why you want a customized time option?

johnpd

Eriktim82

Not sure why you would want that long of a time in Preview. You could use Live Stack to do that. What we do need is the ability to enter shorter times for bright objects such as the Sun, Moon, and bright planets to determine what exposure to use for them.

JohnD

enaiman

johnpd Live stack sucks as it is right now. Unless it was fixed in the Beta 2.0 there is absolutely no chance to use it instead of a properly exposed image. There are already plenty of short time values there.

johnpd

enaiman

In Live Stack you can specify the exposure you want. Plus you can apply calibration frames. What problems have you been having with it?

Preview mode has a very limited number of short exposures for solar system objects. Depending on the telescope's diameter and focal length, the camera's sensitivity, and any filters you may be using, can vary the exposure quite a bit.

JohnD

enaiman

johnpd I am surprised to see you are not aware of what the Live Stacking process is NOT doing.
It is not removing the stuck pixels and that becomes a big issue when you are dithering. Every frame stacked will leave behind stuck RGB pixels - zoom in the stacked image and you will see small groups of RGB pixels arranged in whatever pattern the dithering process moved. And NO, those are not removed by using calibration frames.

Unless they have fixed this in 2.0 Live Stacking for me is useless.

johnpd

enaiman

Yes I have seen those RGB pixel issues in Live Stacking. The only time I use Live Stack is for public outreach. If I want good images, I use Autorun.

Eriktim82

No problem. Yes Autorun is the only option now for what you want to do. If ZWO gave us an option to enter a specific exposure number in Preview mode, that would allow you to narrow down your settings. This has been asked for several times, but ZWO has not done it yet. But realize you will be stacking (externally) multiple sub-images which will enhance the final image. Usually I use "unity gain" and a 3min exposure for my camera. I have used a dual narrowband filter at those settings with good results. More exposures can give you a better end result.

JohnD

Tech@ZWO

enaiman Got it, our ASIAIR team will consider this in the future.

Eriktim82

Sorry. Yes for asiair. Any duration. Live stack isn't what I'm looking for as I'm not doing eaa. When using narrowband and being able to test a exposure length and gain. Right now I have to do it in auto mode.

Sorry if it's been asked before

Tech@ZWO

Eriktim82 Thanks, i forwarded to our ASIAIR team.