From: "mihalco" <mihalco@yahoo.com>
Date: January 21, 2010 8:24:29 PM MST
To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: New AstroIIDC user
Hi Mark,
I think you're over-analyzing it! ;>)
They're both as parfocal (or not) as the other. This just depends on how well the thickness of the filters is controlled. The current version of either filter is pretty good with the reflections. Another imager I respect, Greg Bradley (also in AU) says the Baaders work pretty well. If the Baaders are significantly less expensive in AU, I'd give them a try.
HTH,
Kurt
--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@...> wrote:
Well I`ve bookmarked the Astrodon link on the page below to the E
series 2 filters to look at later-the Baader link is to Orion which is
no good to me..The questions are; how important is the parfocal factor
(the Baader link I found eleswhere dosen`t mention this factor.) & how
compatible are either of the above with the Scorpion 20SO?
Mark.
On 22/01/2010, at 6:07 AM, Milton Aupperle wrote:
Hi Kurt;
From reading the spec sheet for the Scorpions 1600x1200 CCD, they
are likely summing 2 pixels on the horizontal lines and then
skipping each second line.
So that would explain how they get 2x the brightness and why they
only get about 2x the frame rate.
Also, if anyone is looking at buying a LRGB filter set, check out:
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3560557/Main/3556671
which has some good LRGB curve information for multiple filter
vendors.
TTYL..
On 21-Jan-10, at 11:55 AM, mihalco wrote:
Hi Alan,
Thanks for trying this out! I finally received my FW 800 to 400
adapter, and got the same results. I'm glad this works, as it
makes the camera more interesting for planetary use. I also saw
the 2x increase in senstivity, which is odd, as it should really be
4x if both rows and columns are binned 2x2. I'll see if I can get
a response from Pt. Grey tech support about what is really going on
here. FWIW, I updated the 20SO camera firmware to 1.1.0.22 (latest
on their website), and everything still seems to work ok. If the
storms would finish, I'd sure like to try this out on Mars...
Regards,
Kurt
--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Alan Friedman <alan@> wrote:
Hi all,
Prompted by Kurt's and Milton's posts, I ran a few tests with my
Scorpion 20SO (October 2007 build) using the 800x600 8 bit and 16
bit modes (not format 7). Using a stopwatch to time my captures
for 10 seconds and setting the fps at 30, the actual capture rate
measured approximately 25 fps in both 8bit and 16bit modes. The
field of view at 800x600 is identical to 1600x1200, brightness at
800x600 appears 2x that at 1600x1200, suggesting that pixel
binning is enabled at this setting.
Thanks for the heads up on this, Kurt. Hoping the clouds pass in
time to try this setting on Mars near opposition.
best,
Alan
On Jan 19, 2010, at 12:19 PM, mihalco wrote:
Thanks Milton! I'm still waiting on a FW 800 to 400 cable. FWIW,
the camera I got was packaged in Aug 2007 and has Firmware
1.0.2.1. The latest firmware on Pt. Grey's website for the
Scorpion 20SO is 1.1.0.22, which I'll probably load at some
point. I'll report back as soon as I have it up and running on
the Mac.
Regards,
Kurt
--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Milton Aupperle <milton@> wrote:
Kurt;
Two things about frame rate.
It depends on how old your Scorpion is and possibly what
firmware load
it has.
I have the 2004 and 2008 Scorpion Tech Ref manuals here in front
of me
For Fixed modes the 2004 models only run at 15 fps maximum speed
for 8
bit and 7.5 fps for 16 bit at 800x600.
The 2008 models are listed as 30 fps, but there is a foot note
that
says 25 fps. The 25 fps is technically illegal because it
violates the
fixed size frame rate rules which are always set to as 1/2 rate
multiples (i.e. 240, 120, 60, 30, 15, 7.5 etc.). Also, because
it's
not a binned mode, the camera should be limited to what the CCD
clock
rates indicates it's maximum frame rate is is 14.98 fps.
For Variable modes (Format 7), the 2004 models do not support
any of
the binned modes (Format 7, Mode 1 or Format 7,2) which are only
listed in the 2008 manual.
So your frame rate mileage may vary depending on what date of
creation
and what firmware load the camera has.
On a side note, Astro IIDC will likely not allow you to select
25 fps
as that violates the Fixed Format Spec 1/2 frame rate rules (it
should
be either 30 or 15 fps). However if you check mark the "Adjust
frame
rate for 50Hz light sources to eliminate flicker" item in the
Preferences section (see page 72 of the Astro IIDC help / manual
for
details on what it does) then it may allow 25 fps as a valid
frame rate.
HTH..
Milton Aupperle
On 19-Jan-10, at 8:57 AM, mihalco wrote:
Hi Alan,
Take a look at the "Standard Image Formats" in this document. You
will see in the table that the 20SO supports 800 x 600 Y16 and
Y8 at
30fps (really 25fps per the Scorpion Technical Ref Manual).
This is
not one of the Partial Image formats (mode 7) in the following
table, which I agree max out at 21 fps. I'm using Pt. Grey's
FlyCap2 program from their SDK on a PC which does run the 20SO at
these resolution, bit depth and frame rate. Since I think you
have
this same camera, how about trying it out with AstroIIDC in
Format
1, Mode 6 (800 x 600 Y16), and Format 1, Mode 2 (800 x 600 Y8)
and
see what you get?
Best Regards,
Kurt
--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Alan Friedman <alan@> wrote:
Hi Kurt,
Per PGR's specification sheet for the scorpion, the frame rate
for
the 20SO with ROI selection max's out at 21 fps:
http://www.ptgrey.com/support/downloads/documents/Scorpion%20Getting%20Started%20Manual.pdf
Your capture software might allow a faster setting to be
selected,
but if you try timing a capture and counting the frames, I think
you will find the actual frame rate to be in line with these
specifications.
best,
Alan
<snip>
------------------------------------
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Milton J. Aupperle
President
ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting
Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist
#1106 - 428 Chaparral Ravine View SE.
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milton@
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------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
Milton J. Aupperle
President
ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting
Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist
#1106 - 428 Chaparral Ravine View SE.
Calgary Alberta T2X 0N2
1-(403)-453-1624
milton@...
www.outcastsoft.com