Better Focus with ASIAIR PLUS

SFn8CieR

Is there a way to achieve better focus than what the ASIAIR Plus can achieve? Can it be refined to be more specific?
When I zoom into my pics, some stars and details appear to be a little out of focus and sometimes a bit fuzzy. Maybe a future firmware update would be cool.
thanks
Nick

Corsair

SFn8CieR
Are you referring to the Focus Mode on the ASIAIR Plus and manually focusing your telescope (with your telescopes focus knob) by watching the numbers for Star Size and Peak?

If so - you're much better off getting a bahtinov mask and using that to manually focus in focus mode (ignoring the numbers for star size and peak of course).

It's what I do to manually focus my C8 SCT. Just have to make sure the last turn of the focus knob, however small, is counter-clockwise.

SFn8CieR

Corsair
No I dont manually focus at all. I use ASIAIR to do it all.
Will a Bahtinov mask achieve better focus than the ASIAIR + do you think?
thanks..

Corsair

SFn8CieR
Could you please clarify - when you say you don't manually focus at all and use the ASIAIR to do it all - does that mean you have an EAF?

Could you please list your equipment:

Telescope/OTA:
Mount:
Main Camera:
If using one - Guide Scope:
If using one - Guide Camera:
Other equipment (EAF, EFW, Dew Heaters, etc):

SFn8CieR

Corsair
Yes I have an EAF, sorry did not mention that,
SW 72ED Scope No Focal reducer
Ioptron CEM70 EC2 Mount
ASI533 MC Pro Camera
30mm Guide scope 125 FL
ASI120 mini guide camera
Dew heaters on both
ASIAIR Plus

thanks
Nick

Tayfun

I also have this problem, especially with narrow band filters. I tried HO with c11 hyperstar last night, the results were disastrous.

SFn8CieR

Tayfun
What filter/s did you use? Did you focus using ASIAIR or manually?
I had similar results with an IDAS GNB filter, the stars were bloated and no colour.

Tayfun

SFn8CieR
Zwo narrow band filters. I installed a hyperstara mini filterwhell. Asi Air did the focusing completely. When I woke up in the morning, I did not like the results. Normally, it needs to refocus when the temperature changes.

Sonixx

The telescope seems in a need of serious collimation. What do you think?

SFn8CieR

Tayfun
Did you have automatic refocus for temperature change set in the ASIAIR? What about a heated dew shield?
Maybe it frosted over?

Tayfun

SFn8CieR Thank you,I will try this.

Kevin_A

I always check my focus initially with a Bahtenov Mask. Then I have a baseline number for the night. As the temperature gets colder the focus will shift a bit so I then let the EAF A/F take care of that with my fine focus set at 10 steps.

Tayfun

Kevin_A Thank You very much.How do you do this?

Kevin_A

Tayfun easy peasy… while my scope is pointed at Polaris for PA, I just throw on a mask, expose for 2s and pinch the screen to zoom in on the pole star. You can see if the scope is foccused properly. Use the on screen focus control for the eaf and adjust on slow to get the spike centered. Once it is good, un pinch the screen to zoom back out and you are done. Remove mask. In the eaf page you can set the slow and fast steps… 10, 100 and add a backlash of about 30.

Tayfun

Kevin_A Thank You very much.I will try.