Newbie guide for ASI120MC

wnowicki

Hello,

I have been using Meades LPI and DSi a few years now. Always had issues with laptop cables and mainly Meades software. Sold all starting fresh and the ASI120 MC was suggested as a beginners camera. Really? Seems like you need to be a rocket scientist to figure this stuff out.

I have written ZWO several times and will not reply for help. I'm just looking for a complete dummy guide for this camera. There are several softwares on supplied cd, but which ones are needed? OPT says use this, other people say use that.

What are the best ones to use? SharpCap? Firecapture? Registax or ASistak? etc

Are there any step by step procedures? There seems to be no default settings for specific objects and or uses. Example: how to use the wide angle lense? Settings for allsky? Also Lense seems to hit glass cover when screwing on???

All of this seems very confusing and looking for basic help. I hate to return camera because I can't figure out. Any help would be appreciated.

Bill

riklaunim

FireCapture is for AVI capture. Registax or Castrator and Autostakker are for AVI processing.

The lens provided with the set can be used for in-doors testing with FireCapture. Screw it to the black ring and that's all. For planetary/lunary imaging screw in the nosepiece and connect to the telescope.

As for capture settings - you pick gain and exposure. The exposure time must be in general as high as needed to get a bright image of the planet/moon (but in general short enough to get 30 or more FPS). For bright objects like Moon very low gain can be used with short exposures.

And there is a lot of online resources, like my articles: http://www.rkblog.rk.edu.pl/w/p/astrophotography-and-observations/

wnowicki

Thank you for the tips. I think I just gotta figure out which programs to use first, and stick with them.

I get how to attatch wide lense but I get rough image with lots of red, green and or blue dots while doing night shot for meteors etc. Any suggestions for this? I tried playing with settings and nothing. Probably something simple I'm sure.

Thanks again for the help.