Sixty seconds frames and FWC on S30

altazastro

Since IMX662's full well capacity is about 38K but only at very low gain, whereas at gain = 200 it is just about 4K, I would like to know if the S30 does reduce gain when exposure time is increased, particularly with the 60 seconds frames.
I do know that fit files show a gain of 200 also for 60 seconds exposures, but that could be a preset information not necessarily representing the real gain of the sensor.

altazastro

Pushing it up hoping someone at ZWO will see it.

Support@Seestar

The gain value shown in the FITS header is 200, which means the actual gain used is indeed 200 — even during 60s exposures.
We do not provide gain adjustment at this time, and the gain has not been changed dynamically.
As is generally known, higher gain typically results in lower full well capacity.
That said, we may consider supporting gain adjustment as a feature in the future based on user needs.

altazastro

Thanks for the reply, I really hope you may implement the option for a variable gain in the future. Surely it would allow to prevent the saturation of brighter stars in longer exposures.

Support@Seestar

altazastro
In Solar System mode, the gain can be adjusted. However, in Stargazing mode, we currently do not offer variable gain—it's a long-term plan for future implementation.