Unlike autofocus and star measuring software tools, this old school method. Focusing using bahtinov mask main sequence software. With the tri bahtinov mask, i have added the ability to check whether the sct is also well collimated. In 2008 an amateur telescope maker and astronomer published an ingenious new way to easily focus your dslr, webcam or.
The sharpstar2 works with the lee, cokin, formatthitech and other similar filter holders that come in 85mm. I do not have the luxury of computer controlled auto focus yet. It is common practice to focus your camera dslr or astroccd on a bright star as this star and the object you want to image will both be at infinity so. Oct 04, 20 a bahtinov mask creates diffraction spikes visible to the viewer, with each direction of slots in the mask corresponding to a spike. Below are my instructions for generating any arbitrary sized tri bahtinov mask and for using it for collimation.
Im running the 32bit version on a netbook, canon 300d camera and dslrfocus software for image capture. I find myself launching byeos for an initial slew to a bright star, grab focus. Farpoint astro bahtinov focus mask for meade 10 sct fp4. This product does not have any way to clamp it to the front of the scope, but that was nothing a little. Farpoint fp400 bahtinov focus mask for telescopes with dew shield or front end diameter from 2.
In 2008 an amateur telescope maker and astronomer published an ingenious new way to easily focus your dslr, webcam or ccd camera for taking astrophotos. Kendrick bahtnov focus masks this innovative focus mask concept was invented by a russian amatuer astronomer, paul bahtinov, and kendrick is producing these masks with his permission. By using the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Flymesh bahtinov mask diy astronomer stargazers lounge. Deep sky imaging made easy amateur astrophotography.
The bahtinov mask the sky at night in digital images. One thing ive seen with all these focusing methods is the need to get fairly close to focus before they work. You can easily identify the optimal focus position. The bahtinov mask makes it easy to focus your dslr camera, ccd camera, or webcam when imaging the night sky. Im using this in conjunction with the bahtinov feature built in to the backyard eos software. Creation of a bahtinov mask is very similar to that of the hartmann mask. Ive been using the frame focus live view function in bye, trying to get the fwhm value as low as possible. They require that you target is a point of light, such as a star or distant planet, therefore are no good for daytoday use. For astrophotography, a digital image can be analyzed by software to locate the alignment of the spikes to subpixel resolution. Jun 09, 2018 the result is what i call a tri bahtinov mask. Bahtinov mask created by 3d printing astronomy notebook. Although not very expensive to buy, it can be made by hand using.
Its an elaboration on the idea of a hartmann mask something you stick over the front end of your scope to induce a diffraction pattern that makes focusing easier. Provides best possible focus for both visual and astrophotography. Also, a hartmann mask doesnt provide the precision of the spikea. Farpoint bahtinov focus mask for meade 10 sct bahtinov focus masks are the brainchild of pavel bahtinov, a russian amateur telescope maker and astronomer. At times when visually the focus looks correct the one of the overlayed lines shown in the software is way off and can jump between two places. Farpoint cokin z camera filter bahtinov focus mask farpoint astro. With the camera mounted to the telescope, i point the telescope to a bright star. As focus is neared, the diffraction spikes will cross at the. Although masks have long been used as focusing aids, the distinctive. The sharpstar2 works with the lee, cokin, formatthitech and other similar filter holders that come in. Unlike autofocus and star measuring software tools, this old school method can be done without the use of an external computer, and only takes a minute. Farpoint fp410 bahtinov focus mask celestron 8in sct. Select the farpoint fp410h version not this item for all new celestron scopes.
It is common practice to focus your camera dslr or astroccd. Two of them form an x shape, and another spike crosses it, forming a shape. Thus, my idea of a tribahtinov mask that has three bahtinov masks. Bahtinov mask 3d printing video thanks to the benny fab lab at benny library the bahtinov mask is one of the best tools for focusing your cameratelescope setup for imaging. See and buy bahtinov focusing masks at our hertfordshire uk based showroom or buy online. Focusing tool for serious astrophotographers and those who care about their time and quality of astrophotos. The bahtinov mask allows digital astrophotographers and visual observers to get razor sharp focus in seconds. However, the bahtinov grabber software has no such problems, and can locate the spikes with subpixel accuracy. The central spike moves left or right relative to the diagonal x spikes according to focus position. To focus your telescope or camera, first center a bright, solitary star in the view, then place the mask over the end. Whether youre doing planetary visual observing, planetary imaging, or deep sky imaging, the bahtinov mask is a great accessory to get the best focus for your telescope quickly and easily. Heres a simulation of the bahtinov mask diffraction pattern by.
Aspikeaexample of the nowclassic bahtinov mask is shown in image1. Telescope focus for beginners the bahtinov mask youtube. Achieving focus has been a tough challenge since i began with astrophotography, so i decided to do something serious about it, preferably something that does not cost a lot of money. I use it to get a rough focus before putting on a bahtinov mask i would not choose a faint star to focus with normally though as i tend to focus on a bright star then move to my chosen. Bahtinov focusing mask for 8 f10 telescope a4 printout, generated by tool. The below center and right photos show sirius through the bahtinov mask. The bahtinov mask forms a long cross, composed of two diffraction spikes, centered on the bright object. This is the method i use to focus on stars with my telescope and dslr. Later i gave a try to the hartmann mask with three triangle shaped holes, but it did not performed better for me. Also when the problem occurs the mask angle is also shown incorrectly. Unlike a hartmann mask which provides no visual cues on the direction of travel needed for focusing, the spikea mask is a bahtinov mask which clearly shows the direction of travel needed to achieve focus. The hartmann mask and scheiner disk are simple devices for making focusing a lens easier. Precise focusing of telescopes and astrographs is critical to performing astrophotography. Dec 22, 20 the bahtinov mask is the simplest, cheapest telescope focusing aide out there.
Optimum focus is achieved when the middle spike is centered on the star and symmetrically positioned between the other two spikes. Dec 02, 2017 to 3d print the bahtinov mask as shown in the images above, i used opencad a free software and a readymade tweakable template or model called bahtinov mask generator modded which i found on. Finally i chose bahtinov, and ever since then i always know when i managed to set the focus within the tolerance range. As the focus is adjusted, the center diffraction spike appears to move. This farpoint bahtinov mask fits telescopes with outside diameters of between 5. My pictures created since then are also looks sharper, there are more details on them, and the stars look.
This indispensable astrophotography tool is constructed from nearly indestructible abs plastic. There are many methods, software and devices on the market but the bahtinov mask is the least expensive and is a very. Therefore, the most obvious way to me is to have three bahtinov masks designed into the mask. When precize focus is achieved the pattern becomes symmetrical. Sharpstar helps astrophotographers achieve perfect focus on the stars, every time. Farpoint bahtinov telescope focusing mask for celestron 8 sct telescopes dropin focusing mask for 8 scts schmidt cassegrain telescopes. Designing a mask using drawing, design, or cad software can be challenging, as the. What i see in the image when im a long way away from focus is a collection of circles or doughnuts.
Mar 10, 2012 i use it to get a rough focus before putting on a bahtinov mask i would not choose a faint star to focus with normally though as i tend to focus on a bright star then move to my chosen target for imaging. There are many methods, software and devices on the market but the bahtinov mask is the least expensive and is a very effective tool. I made a simple program that detects the three lines of the bahtinov pattern and tells you how far the central line is from the crossing of the. From beginner telescopes to professional observatories, opt has it all. Farpoint bahtinov mask for refractors or newtonians with 5. Aug 20, 2017 the hartmann mask and scheiner disk are simple devices for making focusing a lens easier.
In 2008 an amateur telescope maker and astronomer ppublished an ingenious new way to easily focus your dslr, webcam or ccd camera for taking astrophotos. Click here to create a focus parent portal account lee countys. For an sct, the secondary mirror has three adjustment screws. This model generator allowed for the size of the mask to be adjusted according to the measurements of my own telescope. The bahtinov mask is a device used to focus small astronomical telescopes accurately. This symmetry should produce a diffraction pattern that is also. Lee countys focus parent portal provides parentsguardians a realtime view of their childs assignment grades, attendance information, current averages in all. The bahtinov mask was invented by pavel bahtinov from russia. It requires the capability to acquire 640x480 images. Whether youre doing planetary visual observing, planetary imaging, or deep sky imaging, the bahtinov mask is a great accessory to get the best focus for your telescope quickly. Small deviations from optimal focus are easily visible. Thus, my idea of a tri bahtinov mask that has three bahtinov masks arranged in a 3fold symmetric fashion. Im using apt as my controlling software, which has a specific bahtinov mask focusing aid, but even without that the mask would definitely help to get sharp focus.
The bahtinov mask is just a clever device that amplifies the effect a lot. The batinov mask consists of three separate grids that produce three angled diffraction spikes when the telescope is pointed at a bright star. The bahtinov mask, invented in 2005 by a russian amateur astronomer, pavel bahtinov in 2005, is a device used to focus using a bright star. Farpoint fp410 bahtinov focus mask celestron 8in sct fp410. After reading many discussions and articles in web.
The method is simple, very intuitive and the device has universally been named after the inventor. Im looking for a bahtinov mask to use with these lenses. B multiple parallel edges dont make multiple spikes, but just one spike, thick and bright. The method is simple, very intuitive and the device has universally been named after the. Unlike autofocus and star measuring software tools, this. Comparison of focusing masks gabor toth astrophotography. No matter which type of camera you use, a bahtinov mask can help you achieve a higher level of accuracy when focusing your telescope or a camera lens. Here, ill show a video of me using both the current version of the fine focus tool and augmenting this with the use of a bahtinov mask. Jun 23, 2017 once focus is achieved, the mask is removed and the photographer can shoot with confidence, knowing their images are tack sharp. The bahtinov mask achieves perfect focus in seconds. Ive tried this the last few nights, when its been blessedly clear. The bahtinov mask is a very elegant solution to one of the biggest problems that besets the deep sky astrophotographer focus. Farpoint bahtinov focusing mask for celestron 8 sct. The bahtinov mask allows digital astrophotographers and visual.
I chose this rating, because the product does exactly what it is supposed to do, help you acquire a focused image for astrophotography. Once focus is achieved, the mask is removed and the photographer can shoot with confidence, knowing their images are tack sharp. I dont need them for my system, wont that cause conflict issues with other software. Although masks have long been used as focusing aids, the distinctive pattern was invented by russian amateur astrophotographer pavel bahtinov russian. The bahtinov mask is the simplest, cheapest telescope focusing aide out there. A tribahtinov mask for aiding collimation and focusing of schmidt cassegrain, ritcheychretien, and newtonian telescopes cytan299tribahtinov. I came across a video on youtube of a flymesh bahtinov, not focal length dependant has anyone ever tried this method before.
How to make bahtinov mask, pdf templates deepsky watch. A bahtinov mask can help you achieve a sharp focus for your. Farpoint cokin z camera filter bahtinov focus mask is an ingenious new way to easily focus your dslr camera, webcam or ccd camera for. A bahtinov mask is a musthave for every astrophotographer. Welcome to the school district of lee county focus parent portal registration screen. Im running the 32bit version on a netbook, canon 300d camera and. Bahtinov grabber goes 64 bit and 32 bit update niels. Telescope focus aids telescope focus masks high point. It consists of a disk made of opaque material fitted over the telescope objective with slots cut out in a specific. Bahtinov mask to focus on a star focusing tips youtube. Bahtinov focus mask for older classic celestron 8 sct without fastar or hyperstar. After having a lot of focusing challenges while doing some piggyback photography of comet c2014 q2 lovejoy on 3 january 2015, i finally decided to order a gerd neumann bahtinov mask for camera lens from opt.
A scheiner disk is a mask with two holes, whereas a hartman mask has many holes typically three. The bahtinov mask has become the preferred method of focusing a telescope, either visually or. Farpoint bahtinov focus mask for astrophotography manufacturer part number fp410. Does anyone have a vendor or manufacturer lead they can offer for buying one. It consists of a disk made of opaque material fitted over the telescope objective with slots cut out in a specific pattern devised by amateur astrophotographer pavel bahtinov. Bahtinov mask other focusing methods astronomy notebook. I am using a sony nex 7 connected to a 5 sony monitor to increase the size of the live view image, regardless, the bahtinov mask works as advertised. This mask attaches to the front of the scopes objective lens to show the astronomer how to precisely focus their telescope. I find it difficult to perform my initial focus in sgp using a dslr with a bahtinov mask.
Sharpstar2 precision focusing tool for astrophotography by lonely speck. To focus your telescope or camera, first center a bright, solitary star in the view, then place the mask over the end of the telescope or camera lens. Im using apt as my controlling software, which has a specific bahtinov mask focusing aid, but even without. This portal provides parentsguardians a realtime view of their childs. A bahtinov mask is a focusing aid for astronomy in general, and astrophotography in particular. Most if not all newer celestrons have fastar or they are fastar ready. With 85 degree angles, mathematics predicts that the displacement between the central spike and the x intersection should be 6. Will give a full report on the results but others on the forum have said it works well for them and it sure beats cutting out a bahtinov mask. Dec 06, 2014 one thing ive seen with all these focusing methods is the need to get fairly close to focus before they work. Relativetothehartmannmask,the diffraction pattern created by the bahtinov mask allows for much more precise focus. This bahtinov mask permits very precise focusing on your selected star. Straight sides ensure the focus mask will not roll away when stored on the shelf, mattblack surface. Fine focus and bahtinov masks ask craig stark labs.
A bahtinov mask creates diffraction spikes visible to the viewer, with each direction of slots in the mask corresponding to a spike. Improve your astrophotography focus with a bahtinov mask. You are in focus when you make a symmetrical shape. Sharpstar2 precision focusing tool by lonely speck lonely speck. Continuing the discussion from focusing using bahtinov mask.
How to make and use a hartmann mask for quick and easy. Measure your diameter from the end of the tube or dew shield. Generating the tri bahtinov mask using satoru takagis webapp. Farpoint bahtinov focus mask for celestron 8 classic sct. Im using apt as my controlling software, which has a specific bahtinov mask focusing aid, but even. We have not yet decided if we are going to do this.
629 1476 1330 1295 606 71 1302 1273 1276 429 166 1363 1494 990 300 597 1575 1446 1481 1098 394 1076 615 139 600 153 1406 1343 789 187 774 521 541 1422