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Hello All, I'm in the process of looking for a new FFG/FP and was hoping to get some suggestions and recommendations from some of you based on your experiences, good and bad, with the available products on the market today. I'd primarily be using it on apertures ranging from 66mm to 203mm with dedicated astrocams and various light pollution filters. Any thoughts and suggestions on the matter would be greatly appreciated!!. Thanks Tony |
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Hi Tony, I'm using a Geoptik flat field device for my EdgeHD scope with an aperture 280mm. The results are very good. Geoptik have smaller panels too: here. Best regards, Vitali |
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I purchase panels from companies like ellumiglow.com and make my own. I have made them from from 20"X24" down to 2" diameter for smaller astrographs. I have an 8" panel on the 6" Melior Astrograph with a remote controlled very low profile open-close-Flat mechanism, that I fielded a few months ago. Arduino Nana sketch and c++ control software for remote controll I wrote... This is a 5" panel... ![IMG_2897[1].JPG](https://cdn.astrobin.com/ckeditor-files/14617/2021/0100015c-e0e8-4b4a-bc21-72af3246b8e1.JPG) ![IMG_2796[1].JPG](https://cdn.astrobin.com/ckeditor-files/14617/2021/0b5b42ad-d155-4715-928c-407dcbd0f83c.JPG) Above is the mechanics for the low profile cover on the telescope baffle... Hope this helps Stay safe and healthy, Dave |
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Hey Tony, I followed a recommendation for astrophotography DIY as well. Currently i'm using this simple Lightbox für only 16,99€: It isn't available right know but i'm sure that you could use any similar lightbox. https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07R3WMTKC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 You can cut the cardboard for your customised apertures like this: Lightbox 1 Lightbox 2 It is a simple, cheap solution and does the trick. You can use some sheets of paper on top of the lightbox for your desired brightness. My flats are fine and i have no problems calibrating the images. CS, honeycakehorse  |
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I use the same solution as Honeycakehorse even using the identical LED panel he sent the link for. I don't even bother to cut the right aperture, but simply point my scope at the sky and place the panel on top of it. Like Honeycake, I put sheets of paper to reduce the brightness and get to a required exposure time for my flats (4 seconds). This has worked very well and allowed me to calibrate my images without issue. Since the scope is focused at infinity, small imperfections in the paper etc. are completely out of focus and don't affect your flats. So far, seeing no reason to spend 100s of dollars on more expensive solutions. |
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Thanks All for the replies and great suggestions!! After looking at all of your amazing captures, it obvious each and every one of you know your stuff... @Honeycakehorse and @Arun H. SMART... thinking out of the proverbial 'light' box Tony |
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| When I first started I used a white t-shirt and sheets as diffusers for flat pannels, with twilight and illuminated walls and opal glass, they work! But if you are in this long term set things up to support the long term process view, it is worth a little extra effort. Uniformity and temporal consistancy are important. Dave |
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I've been using a Unifi LED panel, which is 24x24", for the past year with my 10" Newt and other large scopes with success. These panels are internet addressable, and are powered via POE. I wrote an API to access the lower illumination levels as it only goes down to 10% with the mobile app. With the API, direct mqtt messages can get it down to 1%. I made a writeup of it here. Gabe |
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I've been using this one from Aetesky for quite some time. It is usb controlled making for easy flats capture with the same exposure time. This makes using flat darks easier since you can use the same darks for all filters. https://optcorp.com/products/artesky-flat-field-usb-250 It is available in different sizes as well. Best. Tim |
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I made a diffuser out of doubled-up t-shirt material from JoAnn Fabrics stretched over a wooden frame (canvas frame with the canvas removed) and then did sky flats. since that time is limited to the dusk/twilight hours, I decided to try using my Lume Cube Mini panel on the secondary mirror, it worked well, better than I expected. Clearly this would not work if you was looking at something for refractors, but maybe it will help others, who knows. Here is my video describing how I am using it and the results in ASICap: https://youtu.be/7wdxKCYb--o |
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I use one of those tracing panels as a light source. It seems to work surprisingly well. Similar to @dranzaz , I use a doubled up T-shirt, but instead of stretching it across a wooden frame, I use embroidery hoops. That way, when the T-shirt gets dirty, I can easily remove it and toss it in the laundry. Ron |
