Ive found it quite challenging to set the ADC correctly, it sometimes takes me up to 30 minutes to do so, are there any good reliable methods for setting it precisely without taking so long?
Ive tried using the FireCapture’s ADC assist tool but that usually takes very long, the worst part being the window of dispersion analysis doesnt update, so i have to repeat the cycle of adjusting the ADC, slewing, reopening the FireCapture’s ADC tuning window, over and over until its good enough
If you turn the brightness and saturation way up in the main preview window you will see a live view of the planet with a bright red crescent on one side of the planet and a bright blue one on the other side (assuming your ADC is not perfectly aligned already). You can then watch as you adjust the ADC until the appearance around the whole circumference of the planetary disk is as uniform as possible. Then turn the brightness and saturation back to normal. If you image long enough that the altitude of the planet changes significantly it’s easy to repeat the process as often as needed.
I’ve found this method to be a lot easier than the ADC tools in either FireCapture or SharpCap.
Arnie
Try adjusting it visually with an eyepiece first, it’s much easier than trying to do it whilst imaging. Once set with the EP you can use the same setting with the camera.
Do you have the ADC sited in the focuser properly with the arms on the correct side and null point aligned with the horizon? Early ZWO models could be right or left ‘handed’ depending on who assembled the prisms at the factory.
Once you have used it a few times with your scope you will get a feel for where the levers need to be for a given planet altitude and won’t have to faff with setting it too much.