My name is shigeru and I live in Japan (near Yokohama). I ordered EFW today. It will arrive tomorrow. Ian_san, this video is timely and very easy to understand. I want to play it over and over again to understand it. thank you ian_san
Hi Ian, stunning M63 by the way! I just fitted my EFW and I'm just hoping that its assembled properly, no light leaks, the filters are aligned with the hole, the backfocus is correct, and that I haven't let in too much dust. (all checks can wait for first light). I powered up and the ASIair detects the EFW and lets me name the filter slots after the filters placed in them. The seleted filter is shown in the icon in the cockpit screen. Thanks for showing how Autorun works! So, that greyed out 'filter' option in the autorun setup menu finally becomes available 👍. I'm still scratching my head about manually choosing the filter to use in Preview and Live modes, but I guess that'll become obvious when we get clear sky. Thanks for the video.
I have just started out on this journey. I must say the final reveal is without a doubt a real beauty. Well done. I hope to get somewhere close to this quality one day. Thank you !
Nice work. I too have ASI533MC Pro and keep changing filters. You have given an excellent idea on how to use EFW on MC cameras. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Hi thanks for watching. I’m finding it really easy keeping the filters in the wheel and then moving from a galaxy to a nebula target in one night and changing the filters to suit the target for my OSC ASI294MC pro, seems like a great way to use the filter wheel as you say, kind regards Ian
Looks like you’ve got things sorted with the filter wheel there. I went the 2” way myself also, partly to so called “future proof” any likely move to cameras with a bigger sensor and also because installing the filters is very simple and I hate fiddling around with tiny screws around sensitive filter services so you made a good choice 👍🏼
Thank-you Ian. I am following you with great interest as I am converting my Esprit 120 from visual to Astrophotography. I have a different camera, the ASI2600MC, and may use an OAG but I may also upgrade to a Mono camera with a ZWO filter wheel as you have done. Otherwise our setups are very similar with the auto focuser and the ASIAIR Plus and the Sky-Watcher Field Flattener. I transport my equipment to a Bortle 2 site south of Calgary, Canada and work out of my SUV. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing this video. I just got my ZWO MINI Filter Wheel. I don’t have a mono camera yet. So, I’ll try using my IR/UV cut, L-Pro and L-Extreme with it. It’s always a joy to watch your videos and learn something from them.
Wonderful video Ian! I’m at the exact same spot, i.e., after 2 years of OSC, I’m ready to take the mono leap. One question, what about flats with each filter? Can you make flats for each filter and use them again? Again, thank you fro you videos and instructions…much appreciated! C
Hi Joseph, thanks for watching. Yes the filter really helps with flats and dark flats. If you set your camera rotation and don’t change it for say a few sessions then yes your can do your flats and dark flats and they will work with all the images. I do them for each filter or of course for no filter as well. I now do them after my first night and then use them for the remaining nights at that rotation. I did the whole November and December, without touching my scope set up at zero rotation and have just done Jan and Feb at 90 degree rotation and it makes doing the flats and dark flats so much easier, not having to do them after every session. I’m looking to go mono next year, maybe buying the filters this year and camera next. The filter wheel has really simplified a lot of the process, especially using the ASI Pro and auto focuser. Good luck with it, clear skies, Ian
Thank you for clarifying your flat-process. I must tell you that your patient explanations and instructions s are so easy to follow-absolutely fantastic. Please keep up the great work.
Good video Ian. I also have a 294mc Pro and both the l enhance and the l extreme filters. I've taken a break throughout galaxy season but having just watched this may go and get the zwo ir cut. Do you find the ir cut picks up plenty of hydrogen in the galaxies ?
Hi Paul, thanks for watching. I wouldn’t say it picks up lots of HA, but it certainly is better than with no filter at all. Kind regards and clear skies Ian
Grats on the filter wheel.. and a nice result with M63. I run a filter on my 533mc. I think a filter wheel for a OSC actually makes sense.. as you named of 3 different filters you use. Any thoughts on which Mono you are thinking about? CS!
I agree now I’ve got the filter wheel it is making doing multiple targets much easier with my OSC. Currently, when clouds permit, I’m able to do a galaxy, say M101, in the early part of our short nights and then move into a Nebula, M16, once it rises, which I’m gathering multiple nights data on, with a change of filter, I’m impressed how easy this is. As for a mono I’m thinking the ASI2600MM as I think it will work well with the Sky-Watcher 120ED, hopefully they will have sorted the oil leaks issue by the time I buy in 6 months or so. I intend to start buying the filters gradually over the autumn and winter to spread the cost. Kind regards and clear skies, Ian
Ian, greetings from New Zealand. As always a great video, very informative. Regarding back-focus, given that the thickness of the EFW is 20mm, was the installation of the EFW a simple swap-out with the 20mm spacer? Thanks. Keep up the great work, your contributions are greatly appriciated.
Charles thanks for watching, fond memories of a visit to New Zealand a few years ago, what a wonderful place. As always it’s never a simple swap out, as the connectors are different sizes, but with a few 42mm and 48mm spacers, some female to male converters, all in my box of ‘bits’ it took about 20 minutes to get it sorted and attached. Clear skies Ian
Hi, could I ask how you store the scope once you fitted EFA? I have the same scope and was going to fit the EFA the other day, then realised once I do it won’t fit in original hard case Cheers
Hi Mike, thanks for watching. Yeah it’s an issue. I now store my full scope with the filter wheel attached in a large low level cabinet, so never have to take the filter wheel off unless to clean filters etc. It makes set up easier, but you have to be careful not to hit the scope etc. when taking it out of the cabinet. Clear skies, kind regards Ian
My name is shigeru and I live in Japan (near Yokohama).
I ordered EFW today. It will arrive tomorrow.
Ian_san, this video is timely and very easy to understand.
I want to play it over and over again to understand it.
thank you ian_san
Good idea Ian to have a practice in this way and get used to everything.
Hi Ian, stunning M63 by the way! I just fitted my EFW and I'm just hoping that its assembled properly, no light leaks, the filters are aligned with the hole, the backfocus is correct, and that I haven't let in too much dust. (all checks can wait for first light). I powered up and the ASIair detects the EFW and lets me name the filter slots after the filters placed in them. The seleted filter is shown in the icon in the cockpit screen. Thanks for showing how Autorun works! So, that greyed out 'filter' option in the autorun setup menu finally becomes available 👍. I'm still scratching my head about manually choosing the filter to use in Preview and Live modes, but I guess that'll become obvious when we get clear sky. Thanks for the video.
Thanks so much for this. My Astro journey is going to include a filter wheel and mono camera also so this video is invaluable
Cheers Si
Exactly the topic i was looking for. I still have mc, looking at these same filters, and how to get started.
Hi Ian;) from Tokyo! Great video! Thank you for sharing!
Great run through Ian on how it operates, just ordered mine today!
I have just started out on this journey. I must say the final reveal is without a doubt a real beauty. Well done. I hope to get somewhere close to this quality one day. Thank you !
Nice work. I too have ASI533MC Pro and keep changing filters. You have given an excellent idea on how to use EFW on MC cameras. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Hi thanks for watching. I’m finding it really easy keeping the filters in the wheel and then moving from a galaxy to a nebula target in one night and changing the filters to suit the target for my OSC ASI294MC pro, seems like a great way to use the filter wheel as you say, kind regards Ian
congrats on the EFW! that was my first purchase when I went mono as well. sunflower looks excellent. clear skies Ian.
Many thanks, now just have to save up to afford all the kit for a mono! Kind regards Ian
Looks like you’ve got things sorted with the filter wheel there. I went the 2” way myself also, partly to so called “future proof” any likely move to cameras with a bigger sensor and also because installing the filters is very simple and I hate fiddling around with tiny screws around sensitive filter services so you made a good choice 👍🏼
Thank-you Ian. I am following you with great interest as I am converting my Esprit 120 from visual to Astrophotography. I have a different camera, the ASI2600MC, and may use an OAG but I may also upgrade to a Mono camera with a ZWO filter wheel as you have done. Otherwise our setups are very similar with the auto focuser and the ASIAIR Plus and the Sky-Watcher Field Flattener. I transport my equipment to a Bortle 2 site south of Calgary, Canada and work out of my SUV. Cheers!
Thanks, a Bortle 2 sounds great, hope you’re getting some clear skies as the 120 is such a great scope for astrophotography, kind regards Ian
Thanks for sharing this video. I just got my ZWO MINI Filter Wheel. I don’t have a mono camera yet. So, I’ll try using my IR/UV cut, L-Pro and L-Extreme with it.
It’s always a joy to watch your videos and learn something from them.
Wonderful video Ian! I’m at the exact same spot, i.e., after 2 years of OSC, I’m ready to take the mono leap. One question, what about flats with each filter? Can you make flats for each filter and use them again? Again, thank you fro you videos and instructions…much appreciated!
C
Hi Joseph, thanks for watching. Yes the filter really helps with flats and dark flats. If you set your camera rotation and don’t change it for say a few sessions then yes your can do your flats and dark flats and they will work with all the images. I do them for each filter or of course for no filter as well. I now do them after my first night and then use them for the remaining nights at that rotation. I did the whole November and December, without touching my scope set up at zero rotation and have just done Jan and Feb at 90 degree rotation and it makes doing the flats and dark flats so much easier, not having to do them after every session. I’m looking to go mono next year, maybe buying the filters this year and camera next. The filter wheel has really simplified a lot of the process, especially using the ASI Pro and auto focuser. Good luck with it, clear skies, Ian
Thank you for clarifying your flat-process. I must tell you that your patient explanations and instructions s are so easy to follow-absolutely fantastic. Please keep up the great work.
Good video Ian. I also have a 294mc Pro and both the l enhance and the l extreme filters. I've taken a break throughout galaxy season but having just watched this may go and get the zwo ir cut. Do you find the ir cut picks up plenty of hydrogen in the galaxies ?
Hi Paul, thanks for watching. I wouldn’t say it picks up lots of HA, but it certainly is better than with no filter at all. Kind regards and clear skies Ian
Grats on the filter wheel.. and a nice result with M63. I run a filter on my 533mc. I think a filter wheel for a OSC actually makes sense.. as you named of 3 different filters you use.
Any thoughts on which Mono you are thinking about?
CS!
I agree now I’ve got the filter wheel it is making doing multiple targets much easier with my OSC. Currently, when clouds permit, I’m able to do a galaxy, say M101, in the early part of our short nights and then move into a Nebula, M16, once it rises, which I’m gathering multiple nights data on, with a change of filter, I’m impressed how easy this is. As for a mono I’m thinking the ASI2600MM as I think it will work well with the Sky-Watcher 120ED, hopefully they will have sorted the oil leaks issue by the time I buy in 6 months or so. I intend to start buying the filters gradually over the autumn and winter to spread the cost. Kind regards and clear skies, Ian
Ian, greetings from New Zealand. As always a great video, very informative. Regarding back-focus, given that the thickness of the EFW is 20mm, was the installation of the EFW a simple swap-out with the 20mm spacer? Thanks. Keep up the great work, your contributions are greatly appriciated.
Charles thanks for watching, fond memories of a visit to New Zealand a few years ago, what a wonderful place. As always it’s never a simple swap out, as the connectors are different sizes, but with a few 42mm and 48mm spacers, some female to male converters, all in my box of ‘bits’ it took about 20 minutes to get it sorted and attached. Clear skies Ian
I read somewhere that one guy said to increase Gain to 140- 160 when using narrow band filters any comments on this tks
Hi, could I ask how you store the scope once you fitted EFA? I have the same scope and was going to fit the EFA the other day, then realised once I do it won’t fit in original hard case
Cheers
Hi Mike, thanks for watching. Yeah it’s an issue. I now store my full scope with the filter wheel attached in a large low level cabinet, so never have to take the filter wheel off unless to clean filters etc. It makes set up easier, but you have to be careful not to hit the scope etc. when taking it out of the cabinet. Clear skies, kind regards Ian