Using ASIAir to FOCUS Your Guide Scope

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks for watching, everyone! What guide scope and guide camera do you use for your astrophotography rig?

[@carolsantulis1990]

I got the WO 32mm scope with the ZWO120mm mini for my RedCat51.

[@ld3519]

I'm using the WO UniGuide 50mm Guide Scope with a ZWO ASI290MM camera. This on a WO FLT 132 Fluoro Star.

[@tonygabriele8530]

Always enjoy your channel. Using a ZWO120mini with ZWO's mini guide scope but have yet to get it close to focus. I haven't found any tutorials specific to this combination. Would you know of one?

[@malanstecker]

I am a beginner who is trying to use a SVbony 70 mm f/4 guide scope like the one in your video atop a Celestron EdgeHD 9.25-inch SCT. The SVbony 70 has horrible chromatic aberration, so have not yet achieved focus. For the guide camera I use a ZWO ASI662MC and the Asiair Plus controller. Your tutorial is very helpful but am not sure how one starts the guiding process after the focus and settings on the guide scope and camera are made. How does on initiate guiding?

[@DLMVegas]

Well I thought that following your video would work. I have the ZWO 30mm f/4 miniscope and ASI 120 mini camera. Out last night and a total fail. Took exposures from 1 sec to 1 minute and never saw any stars to dial in my focus at all. So far I'm out over $3400.00 in ZWO equipment and can't do any shooting whatsoever over 1 minute.

[@ld3519]

Hardly enough for a cup of coffee, but wanted to show my appreciation for your advice. Very helpful, and useful!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

🙏🙏🙏 Thank you so much! Silly me; I just saw this and wish I had seen it sooner to thank you in real time!

[@ld3519]

Just started with Astrophotography about 7 months ago and have ALWAYS had issues with focus on my guide scope. I never thought of swapping the cameras (within the ASIAir) and applying the method you've displayed. Brilliant! I just moved up from the ASI120MM to the ASI290MM two days ago and will be applying this method over the weekend. What a simple, but very useful approach. Thank you!!

[@DLMVegas]

Well after lengthy searches on focusing the Guide Scope, your video was the best of all of them. Thanks so much for this.

[@joemanaben]

Thanks!

[@KalashKat]

Great video! I own the asiair plus, but i've never even seen this fine focus/ detail screen with graph, etc. Amazing!

[@robb7342]

Finaly - Great video for the guide scope. I also totally missed that you can use the + zoom feature with readout in the AAP. Will definately be giving this a go tonight. THANKS!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Glad to hear it was helpful! 😎

[@josephluciani5531]

Simple yet brilliant! Thanks for this very valuable tip.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

You are quite welcome 😎

[@RussellsAstrophotography]

Great tips Nick. I wish you made this video a year ago...I spent ages trying to focus my guide cam for the first time 😂 Great video as always

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks Russell! And yeah I hear ya about those first imaging sessions fumbling around with new stuff 😆

[@therealremo]

Great tips! Thank you for showing the logistical tips that others don't show! I'm new to the ASIair + so I keep coming BACK to your videos to pick up more info! (I've used my various scopes for decades in Ohio and the cold winters absolutely are deterrent. So I feel your pain! Even in other seasons - hats and/or hoods are essential :) Thanks again for good info!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Glad it was helpful!

[@antoniomariomagalhaes2521]

Thanks for the nice trick. I'm still waiting for my ASIAir Pro to arrive in ~2 wks but that was helpful. I've got the same guide camera (w/ an old Orion 50mm guider) and getting close to focus during daytime w/ something a couple of miles away. Not having the ASIAir Pro on my hands yet, I kinda missed the connections @~1:50 in your video. You've connected the 120mm mini straight to a (USB 3.0?) ASIAir Pro port; then you mention something about connecting to your main camera but I couldn't quite understand the audio. If you could please clarify, that'd be great. Thank you.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

I think I may have had notifications turned off for this video or something because I am just seeing this! So sorry! The guide camera cable actually goes into the main camera (2.0) and then the 3.0 cable runs from the main camera to the ASIAir. You can also run both into the ASIAir independently, but by daisy-chaining the guide camera into the main camera I open up a USB port on the ASIAir. Does that makes sense? Were you able to get your ASIAir up and running?

[@antoniomariomagalhaes2521]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography Thank you for the explanation! I'm just seeing your answer but it was very clear. I now have my ASIAIR+ w/ this same guider you have. I decided to change my rig to a Star Adventurer GTI to be as portable as possible. I decided to go w/ an astromodified Canon 6DMII and my Canon 500mm f/4 lens. I have just been able to mount the EAF to the lens focus ring. It's Summer here (i.e., rainny - but I don't complain) but I'm ready to try everything out when the weather gets drier. Got an Ecoflow back as well. Your video was helpful w/ learning the focusing part of the AA+ software. I feel I still need to learn more of the overall sw routine (PA, taking frames, flats, flat darks, darks) before taking everything outside. I'm gonna double check on KZbin for any additional info you may have posted. Thanks! Best.

[@doubledark2]

Having just started in this hobby, what I find lacking is real step-by-step videos for total beginners of the ASIair explaining how to get from switching on the unit, setting up the wifi, thru to PA, guiding, etc etc There are plenty that quickly move thru the features but its super frustrating that key steps showing EXACTLY how to jump from one function to another are missed out (yes, I'm looking at YOU)....I think your presentation style would suit to make these videos - maybe something you could consider :) cheers from Down Under (and yes; I just subscribed :)

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks! Yes a series like that is definitely on the list for me to do. It has been waaaay too cold out for me to put something like that together but this spring into summer I hope to! Thanks for the sub!

[@mikehardy8247]

I know exactly how difficult and frustrating this is! I critiqued instructional procedures for new products I was introduced to. After the "experts" finished, I'd go through them as a total novice. That's the problem. You need to be a blank slate if you're going to truly teach a newbie. I've had to watch many KZbin videos, and peace together a lot of small details to get the asiair and all, figured out. Still working on it. No manufacturer writes a manual worth wiping with. I guess it's part of the fun as DSO's drift below the horizon until next season. I'm old so time is precious.

[@WRX2001]

Thanks your video really did help me focus my autoguide telescope, I actually used my guide setting to actually find focus by refreshing the screen, actually i did it during the day by focusing on the leaves on trees.

[@RobertKarlBerta]

I use this exact method...now with ASI 290 on AM5 mount...but have done it this way for years on my big mounts and scopes. Here is a tip...when all is done use a magic marker to mark the point of the insertion of the guide camera into the helical focuser so you can repeat that position down the road. If you want an even better setup...get a par focal ring and put on the camera.The ring is a thin piece of 1 1/4" tube with a set screw to hold in place. I move the guider camera to other scopes for other duty such as lunar or planetary. By the way I use both the 70 and 60mm version of the same scopes you have. For years I used a 50mm standard finder scope that I machined to take a Helix focuser. It worked fine for shorter focal lengths and camera lens. I use the 60 now with 80-100 scopes but the 70 with a 6" APO 1200MM and 11" SCTs at f7 and Hyperstar.

[@astralbody]

Great tip! I have been using the ASIAIR Pro since it came out and gosh I didn't even think of using the guide scope as the main...duh...:) Thanks!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Glad it was helpful 😁

[@rmf11699]

My 290 mini and Plus arrive in a couple days. Can't wait to get them setup!

[@millsbobster]

thank you so much for this video! probably just me, but i couldn't find anything on how to use the Focus function; there are of course dozens of videos on Autofocus, but i don't yet have an EAF, so your demo of how to use Focus actually has applicability for my OTA focusing. a question: i've been using a Bahtinov mask -- any guesses as to whether the star sizes are more or less precise than that? PS love your style --- very friendly and welcoming and relaxing!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks very much! Glad it was helpful 😁 Bahtinov will get you close (probably close enough) but the star size readouts will always be more accurate. Whether that difference is noticeable in the final stack is an open question but better safe than sorry I would say. Before I had the EAF I would use Bahtinov to get close and then really zero it in with the focus utility

[@JonnyBravo0311]

Neat trick with the ASIAir. I used SharpCap to set my initial focus with the guide cam/scope. Then, I dial it in with PHD2 by looking at the HFR value. The smaller, the better. I think I've got it pretty dialed in... but a lot of it was just eyeballing watching as stars got smaller 😂

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Haha yeah eyeballing is the best we can do sometimes 😂

[@Space-Stuff]

This was a great tip for focusing the guide scope. I am always wondering if I have my guide scope focused to the best it can be and I'm always left wondering. But now by using your really cool focusing tip I will be more sure of the focus of my guide scope. I will be using this from now on any time I feel I need to refocus my guide scope. Thank you for the awesome video. Sincerely, Rich Williams Astor, Florida 32102 USA!

[@DrJoeSelfCoaching]

Your videos are fantastic and encouraging for all of us in Bortle-challenged locations. Quick question, are the pictures behind you acrylics or simply blown up prints? They really 'pop.'

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks, Dr Joe! Those are some of my images printed on metal, in fact! I made a video about them kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaGlmIimn9GkbKs and I am planning to get more soon.

[@Kailombian1]

A big thank you from Seattle. What a cool trick 👍🔭

[@MrGuitar50]

Excellent video! Are you using the same exposure rate when you focus your main camera using AA Pro? (i.e. 0.01 sec) After 6 months of using AA I'm still having a heck of a time getting precise focus but it may be because I'm using higher exposure rates (1,3,5 sec). The readout values in the focus mode vary all over the place so I end up just eyeballing the focus and/or using a Bahtinov mask.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks very much! For the main camera I use 1 or 2 sec exposures iirc, and that is for the autofocuser to do its magic! When I used bahtinov I used .5 or so

[@indymustang1969]

Thanks Nick! With all the problems I’m having learning this, you’ll have hours of content to make videos! My question here is when you change the main camera setting to the one that is your guide cam, do you need to change the settings, such as the focal length, to match?

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks Ken! You were my topic inspiration for this one 😁 The focal length setting will only matter for plate solving as far as I know, so no need to change

[@dfinchermd]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography But gain adjustments are required?

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

@@dfinchermd How do you mean? On the guide camera? Possibly, if you aren't able to see any stars. But I believe it maintains the selected camera settings whether it is set as the guide camera or imaging camera, so if you can see stars for guiding you should see them when it is selected as the main camera for focusing.

[@dfinchermd]

@Windy City Astrophotography Sorry, yes, for the guide. My main 533MC seems to focus fine, but my 120Mini shows a whiteout screen. Obviously, it's not focused, or I thought maybe a gain issue.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

@@dfinchermd ah, interesting! Yes, maybe try a lower gain or check to see if it is anything above bin 1, if that's an option.

[@harynjk]

Do you think it is possible to use the guide camera for polar alignment and platesolving just as the main camera? I removed the main camera and replaced it whit an eyepiece. (My mom wants to see Saturn). I would still prefer to have the convenience of Goto function.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

I believe that should work! Set it as the main camera and give it a try 😎

[@harynjk]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography I did try it, one thing i learned from it, that my guide scope is not exactly looking to the same direction as my main telescope, it is slightly off. So the guide scope and camera worked as main scope and camera, polar alignment and plate solving worked. When i used goto to look Saturn, it was on the camera but i could not see it through the eyepiece of the telescope. After some struggle try to find it, i used the green laser pointer what is also attached to my telescope, to get Saturn into the field of view of my telescope.

[@sassofonorossoblu]

Very helpful, very nice video! thanks!

[@RetiredFE]

Excellent video...I have a question though. When I make the guide camera ASI120 the main camera, I cannot get a view of anything. The lens cover is off, but there is nothing appearing from the camera. I'm trying to get it adjusted. I have it connect to the ASI533MC camera. Can't figure out what is going on. I am brand new, so it could very well be my mistake. But everything is powered and the ASIAIR Plus is connected. Any idea as to what I may be doing wrong? Thanks.

[@davidsanders1379]

With the guide camera as the Main camera would it be better to change the focal length to that of the Guide Camera is ASIAir pro ? Rather than leave the original Main camera focal length or should the ASIAir recognise the focal length change ? As newcomer with a Goto mount and ASIAir I found this video cleared up several questions - many thanks.

[@gregorypudman4729]

Thanks for your video,would a bahtinov mask help in the focusing process ?

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Yes that would be an option for sure! I don't have one sized correctly for my guide scope but it would be a good solution. You wouldn't be able to use the star size measurement part of the focus utility in that case but yeah the bahtinov diffraction is very useful!

[@gregorypudman4729]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography thanks.actually I was struggling with my guidescope focus yesterday and your video is very helpful.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

@@gregorypudman4729 awesome glad to hear it 😎

[@phcalama]

Hi. Can this process be conducted in daylight using a far away terrestrial target (perhaps using an ND filter to reduce the light hitting the sensor)?

[@fabrizioveneziano9003]

Very nice video!💪

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thank you! 😎

[@dmb2951]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

You are very welcome!

[@juliepomerleau9387]

Do you do a dark library in your guiding after ?

[@randallpatrickc]

Do you ever plate solve and scope align with the guide scope (I have a pointy C9.25 that has trouble finding enough stars sometimes)

[@rickspeedygonzales]

Great vid. I do the same process, works every time..... Question - the Losmandy clamps on the top rail, what's the part number?

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Here is the link from OPT: optcorp.com/products/losmandy-dovetail-adapter-d-v-series?variant=44895978442

[@rickspeedygonzales]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography thank you!

[@malanstecker]

After you focus and adjust gain and exposure for the guide scope, how do you start the guiding process?

[@janetwillson3502]

Very helpful!

[@abumaryam5124]

I have bought an asi224mc for SV Bony 60mm, I can't get no way near the focusing region (I have tried 1.25" adapter and direct threaded in to the scope) do I need an extension as I see 290mm sensor is quite far from end of the scope, kindly guide :)

[@TwitchFlys]

I actually find my tracking is better when I defocus the guide scope just every so slightly. It minimizes the effects of atmosphere distortion. I’m getting 0.5arcsec total error using a 290mini on a CEM45

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Nice! Yes, focus is worth playing around with for sure. I've been diving into aggression settings more recently as well and am consistently under .4 on the CEM40.

[@alexandrarosa264]

If I have a focuser do I just switch my guide to main and use EAF for it?

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Is the EAF attached to your guide scope? If so, yes, though I don't know how the ASIAir would handle two EAFs.

[@alexandrarosa264]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography I have one focuser. My guide is connected to my mount and to my camera powered through ASIAIR

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

@@alexandrarosa264 Got it. In that case you'll still need to manually focus the guide scope

[@AstroPhotoFacts]

Thanks, i use a guide scope of 240mm evoguide 50ed , and add a william optics binoviewer Barlow 1,6x and never give me the focal 384mm ( 240x1.6= 384) if i add more spaces between the camera and the Barlow the focal length increase but never to the 384 < i do this calculation of the focal length changing the guide scope as main scope/main camera in Asiair pro and make a plate-solving, and never get more them 331mm ( i use 3 spacers of guide cameras between the camera and the barlow ) , maybe its a good topic for a video :) , because more focal length is better for better guide results for big scopes like a C8 1400mm or more

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Ohh interesting! Yes that is a cool idea for a video measuring focal length by plate-solving. Gotta admit I am a bit spoiled with the RASA at 400mm because super-accurate guiding isn't necessary.

[@AstroPhotoFacts]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography Yep ! i use the Hyperstar v4 on my C8HD 390mm its amazing , but for galaxy season a F/7 its the best choice :)

[@ricford39]

So, just where do the wires go

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

The guide camera cable goes into the main camera, and then the main camera USB and power cable go into the ASIAir.

[@ALIPHD5]

Thank you a lot

[@eugene8241]

я тоже хотел так схетрить, но потом забыл и наводил резкость на глаз)

[@greglisk9408]

That's a lot of talking to say not very much. You could edit this down to about 1 minute of actual useful info.

[@MrSummitville]

Your video skills are terrible. I can't watch this without getting sick!