I downloaded the latest update of SIPS acquisition software (by Moravian Instruments) (version 3.32, 64-bit) and realized that the new darks now look much darker, as an example, the old dark histogram shows low 1072-high 3887, the new one -low 880-high 1420. I checked the camera's gain (ASI 1600 MM-Pro) -the same (139). All other settings are also the same. What is it? The problem with the camera or software? Or the new update somehow fixed previous bugs and faults? I had no chance to shot the camera with this new update yet (skies are heavily closed). Any ideas, colleges?
SIPS update
Engaging
Update: I tested the updated software on M27- interesting, the histogram is really short, the old 600 sec. image shows low 17441, high 25008, the new one-low 2340, high 3222. I can have the similar histogram graph only on 13 bits instead 16. What did happen? Why dynamic range is so short? May be I need update ASCOM driver for ASI? No idea…. Damned updates…..
P.S. updated ASCOM drivers, reinstalled ASI drivers, SIPS - the same problem. The program does not save settings (0 gain instead 139), every time the settings drope to zero, the filter wheel does work unpredictably, sometime does, sometimes-not, clearly some serious bugs in the software… I did send email to the Moravian Instruments, let us see…
P.S. updated ASCOM drivers, reinstalled ASI drivers, SIPS - the same problem. The program does not save settings (0 gain instead 139), every time the settings drope to zero, the filter wheel does work unpredictably, sometime does, sometimes-not, clearly some serious bugs in the software… I did send email to the Moravian Instruments, let us see…
I got a reply from the Moravian Instruments, it was really fast: Regarding the gain settings – it is intentionally reset to lowest value upon program launch, as different camera can be attached and gain value can have different meaning. This is similar to selected sub-frame – it is reset to full frame when you run SIPS or connect other camera. However, we understand for users with one camera it could be convenient to remember the gain, so the user needs not to enter it again.We now work on major update SIPS v4, we already mage set binning permanent and will do the same for gain. Unfortunately the changes are very significant and thus this feature will be available only after SIPS v4 is released, which I hope will be till the end of this year.Regarding the filter wheel reliability – we discussed the issue with our engineers and your description rather points to a problem somewhere else but in SIPS? Maybe in the filter wheel itself? We cannot find a reason the software works OK an then does not work well. Either way, we will try to check the ASCOM FW functionality.
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The latest update: having googling several discussions, I think I did find the source of my problem with 0 gain. The latest SIPS update automatically decreased gain to 0 as the Moravian Instruments admitted. By restoring manually gain to 139 (as it was before) I omitted to check other settings in ASCOM camera driver that are available in advanced mode only, i.o. offset and USB settings. You can choose several automated options (lowest noise etc.) BUT the automatic option sometimes is not the best one as I realized. Automatically you get offset 50, USB 80 for ALL gain settings (do not ask me why). But I did find a sacred table with magic settings: Gain 0-offset 10, Gain 75-offset 12, gain 139-offset-21, gain 200-offset 30, gain 300-offset 50. ZWO's site concurs with the table in general.
I bombarded the Moravian Instruments and ZWO, they both replied immediately, I really appreciate their attention. ZWO asked me to use ASI native driver only and their ASIStudio to check the results. I downloaded the old version of SIPS, it works fine, no problem with the gain and EFW, unlike the new version. The only outstanding matter- rainy skies for a week or so…
I bombarded the Moravian Instruments and ZWO, they both replied immediately, I really appreciate their attention. ZWO asked me to use ASI native driver only and their ASIStudio to check the results. I downloaded the old version of SIPS, it works fine, no problem with the gain and EFW, unlike the new version. The only outstanding matter- rainy skies for a week or so…
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0A52B834-1595-4C6D-912A-A7B86B354C74.jpegUpdate: the situation is not resolved, unfortunately. Looks that the latest SIPS updates did corrupt somehow the camera’s settings. I cannot get proper gain neither in ASI native driver, nor ASCOM driver. Seems that the camera think that 139 is 0 gain, very odd situation. ZWO investigates this matter now.
Interesting indeed Adel! As I wrote before, I had the same problem with APT, I could not convince APT to get to 139 (btw. I used usually with the 1600 gain of 200 and offset 30, looked to me best). I can only recommend to use a different software to see if this is still happening with it. Take a trial version and see what will happen. I can see that programs cannot handle all these different setups, hence the ASCOM drivers are usually the best for that. If it runs with a native drive rit is usually better, but it has sometimes trouble with those native drivers. I just updated The SkyX due to problems with the 6200 driver, the new one works well. Hard for the programmers to keep up I guess!
Wish you all the luck, try a new program!!
Uwe
Wish you all the luck, try a new program!!
Uwe
Thanks, Uwe, for your reply. I did tried APT -no success, cannot hadle NINA (my bad), but I suspect that the main problem in ASI ASCOM drivers for camera and EFW, at least many users blame ZWO. Hope they reply something reasonable but not reccomend to buy subscription $239 a year for SGP Pro4 🤓
Nope-no success. I installed NINA, but the same problem with Ascom driver- gain 139 looks like 0, despite change gain to 139 and offset to 21….. waiting for ZWO reply-it is not imaging software problem, I think
With ZWO ASIStudio -the same issue-gain cannot be corrected even by native driver
Nope again-SG Light gives the same histogram-the gain is 0 instead 139, clearly this is fault of ASI Ascom driver, some users suggest tobuse old version 6.5.1.5-but ZWO removed it from their web-site.
Adel Kildeev:
With ZWO ASIStudio -the same issue-gain cannot be corrected even by native driver
This is CRAZY!! So my last advice would be to try this on a new computer, if you have one available of course! Maybe somehow the installed drivers got screwed up! I am as stunned about your problem as I am with mine!
Crazy-this is the right word! ZWO asks me make video how I make gain change in ASIStudio (0 gain and 139 gain) and send them ffits files as well. I think they do not trust me
Neither do I
Neither do I Well, they have to take those things into account. And good that they are working on this, I am actually impressed!
Having sent fits and darks with different gain, I got reply from ZWO: “You can compare these two images without stretch, you can obviously see the difference, and also can check the value of the avg and std.The camera is normal.”
I am puzzled: if the camera is normal, how to explain the loss of sensibility, the low dynamic range? Histogram for new 300 gain look almost like old 139 gain.
I am puzzled: if the camera is normal, how to explain the loss of sensibility, the low dynamic range? Histogram for new 300 gain look almost like old 139 gain.
Hmmmm … that is of course the easy answer from ZWO. Do you have some posts of the original somewhere? Maybe I can see something that would convince them to reconsider their view.
Uwe, you can see my images BEFORE September 16- gain 139 and compare with the new one. I would appreciate your help
Ok, will check!!
Uwe Deutermann:
Ok, will check!!
*** Uwe, do you know any available software to check sensibility of the camera’s sensor? I did not mean anything complicated nd specialised software. ***
No I really do not. Have checked your images before and after and this is really hard to judge. I think some raw images are needed, same exposure and weather conditions.
There are three lights, the thirst-old 139 gain, the second -new 139 gain, the third-new 300 gain.
No doubts that the gain scale is messed up, new 139 looks too dark, new 300 looks as old 139. All lights -600 sec. each, clear skies, -17-18 C matrix.
No doubts that the gain scale is messed up, new 139 looks too dark, new 300 looks as old 139. All lights -600 sec. each, clear skies, -17-18 C matrix.
Trying to prove it to ZWO-they do not want to hear me.
Yeah, the second one is showing a clear difference. Offset was the same for these 3 images?
Yes, offset for 139 is 21. The resent ZWO’reply: “There are many factors that affect it, such as seeing, filter ”. Very usefull info 😄
The latest ZWO reply:”Your camera is fine, don't worry about this. The histogram of these two images is not similar, you can compare the avg value and std value.”
I have no comments…
I have no comments…