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Posts Made By: mark brindley

March 16, 2005 12:23 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

RA drive gear ratio

Posted By mark brindley
Is there anyway to tell, other than field testing, if my
CG-4 motor and controller box would drive a different mount at correct tracking speed? I have a Meade 395 small mount and want to motorize it.


mark

March 16, 2005 12:53 PM Forum: Film Astrophotography - Imaging and Processing

Astrophotography by Walmart!

Posted By mark brindley
I use an old pentak k camera and 8" reflector, and wanted to know about the Hi Definition and UC color films by kodak, available at department stores. They are being offered in 12 exposure trial size, perfect for a couple hours of photography. Any worth to them as an inexpensive film?

April 12, 2005 03:11 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Imaging Jupiter

Posted By mark brindley
I've just started imaging and stacking images of Jupiter. I'm using a nikon coolpix 995, and 10" f6 reflector. I've read that using color filters may produce more detail. Any feedback on best way to go about it? Attached is the images I usually get. This one was taken 4/09 in North Carolina. I use registax and photo filtre for some enhancing, but not much.

mark

May 26, 2005 01:50 AM Forum: After Dark

Death of a Coolpix

Posted By mark brindley
It seems that my coolpix 995 may have a fatal system error. The cost to repair exceeds my perception of the camera's value. So I'm looking for another digital camera to take it's place, one that can utilize accessories I have for the 995 like remote cord and 28mm threaded eyepiece. Any feedback on how the Nikon Coolpix 4500 works for astrophotography? Any other make digital camera that may be better?

Thanks,

mark

May 26, 2005 01:42 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

digital camera recommendation

Posted By mark brindley
I've been using a Nikon coolpix 995 for planetary astrophotography which I have been happy with. The camera has developed a fatal system error and is not worth repairing. Any recommendations on a new, 5+ megapixel replacement, non DSLR? I'm looking for white balance control, noise reduction, long 1+ minute exposures, remote control, optical zoom 4+ times. I also want to use it as family camera! Very important, $500 or less. Anyone have any recommendations on camera?


November 27, 2005 01:25 PM Forum: Meade

vague and unfocused networking question

Posted By mark brindley
I've installed Windows ME network between observatory and house. In addition to software to run Meade lxd55 and dsi being on both machines, what else should I do to get camera and mount to work on the computer in house?

February 18, 2006 03:05 AM Forum: Meade

MEADE DS-90 MOUNT PROBLEM

Posted By mark brindley
I have several larger scopes, but a deal came my way for a ds-90 scope and mount. Mount has 494 controller. I get a motor fault error. I believe it's one of the motors that's bad. The motor works on slew speeds less than highest. At highest, I get error. Is it motor or voltage problem in mount? In any event, does anyone have any other input on motor fault errors, and what else it could be?

thanks, mark

March 14, 2006 05:05 PM Forum: Meade

lpi as autoguider

Posted By mark brindley
I'm using dsi pro with lxd55 mount and astrophotography works well. I'd like to add a separate autoguider, and Meade says lpi works well as autoguider. Any suggestions or experience would be appreciated.

March 14, 2006 05:09 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

lpi as autoguider

Posted By mark brindley
I'm using dsi pro and lxd55 for astrophotography, and having a ball at it! Anyway, I'm looking for inexpensive autoguider, and meade says lpi would work. Any experience or suggestions on lpi as autoguider?:

thanks,

mark

April 26, 2006 11:25 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

LRGB IMAGING

Posted By mark brindley
I'm imaging with Meade DSI Pro, using color filters. I take typically 40-50 images for luminance, the time of each exposure varies, based on how well my mount is performing that night, but usually 15 -25 seconds. Then I do the same for the RED, GREEN, AND BLUE images. Red always seems to dominate, and I have to adjust color during processing to get image to look like it should. MY QUESTION, IS THERE A RATIO OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF IMAGES SHOULD GO TO EACH COLOR TO GET A BETTER LOOKING IMAGE? Should they be equal?

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