Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

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Radon86
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Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by Radon86 »

Hi everyone!

I have been using both Firecapture and Sharpcap recently. I use Firecapture if trying to capture images for a full solar disk panorama, as any problems in the panes can be noticed more easily. I usually apply a flat to the image so there is no need for additional flats. Where there is the passage of time or going from the limb to the central disc regions, the flats may have to be updated I think.
Recently, when testing the ASI 174mm, I captured a limb shot using Sharpcap but the limb region became slightly overexposed. Anyhow I will take more care. I decided to take more care with the processing, and not use ImPPG for a change (following Brierley Hill Blogspot tutorials by Mark Townley - thanks Mark !!)

Here are some images from my processing, used a ZWO T2 tilter to remove Newton rings.
Image 1) and 2) From 9th September 2021 : Sunspots AR2866 and AR2868 in the South of the disc. Some proms are also in the shot. Taken with Sharpcap and calibrated with flats. Taken with my 70mm refractor and no aperture stop : I forgot to use the aperture stop !!

Image 3) taken from 22nd September 2021 using Firecapture and flat calibrated. Used an aperture stop of 43mm for my 70mm refractor and Quark chromosphere.

I think there was better seeing on the 9th September, but maybe the lack of aperture stop gave more detail in the image.

1) https://www.dropbox.com/s/1v4qioa48sk60 ... r.tif?dl=0
2) https://www.dropbox.com/s/606a1m4jlr4iq ... s.tif?dl=0

3) https://www.dropbox.com/s/ga54x8golyllz ... M.tif?dl=0

Thanks for looking. Any advice on the images or flat frame taking would be appreciated. I use a cereal plastic, loosing applied to the front of the telescope dew shield. I don't defocus the image.

Thanks.

Magnus


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by Montana »

Magnus, these images are absolutely beautiful :bow :hamster: as regards the question, I think which ever works best for you. There was another topic discussing this very question, but for the life of me I can't find the search forum box, where has that gone?

Alexandra


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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by Radon86 »

Hi Alexandra,

Thank you for your kind praise. I also found I could not use the SEARCH. I am now lost in this forum !

Hope we get the SEARCH back.

Magnus.


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
Accessory: SW Auto-focuser
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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by Montana »

I've found the topic by using Google search viewtopic.php?t=31030

I've found out that the forum search has been removed to save space. It was almost as large as the forum itself so Stephen removed it so we could have more space to post with. I tested the google search and it brought this topic up as number one, so he is correct in the fact we can use this search instead and it works just as well, and we save forum space.

I hope this clears the mystery :)
Alexandra


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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by Radon86 »

Thank you Alexandra.
Now I will use Google search in the future.

Magnus


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
Accessory: SW Auto-focuser
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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by marktownley »

Great images Magnus, and glad you found the tutorials useful.

For me the thread question would be 'which do you prefer?' I think both are equally capable, it's down to personal preference, mine being Firecapture.


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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Hi Magnus, I still haven't had the opportunity to get to grips with FC, but certainly using the various replies to my original question back in March'21, this is still an ongoing subject.

As Mark suggests about the preference between the two, yes I can understand that once being accustomed to either of these programs, then ideally the other program also needs to be used sufficiently - for a correct comparison for that preference.

On my first attempts trying FC., I found that it was more complicated than I would have liked, compared to SC., so In due course, I would like to do a good comparison whenever the time allows...

Terry


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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by eroel »

Magnus:
Beautiful images.
Best regards.
Eric.


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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by MAURITS »

Nice images Magnus, I use both and I have the full version of SharpCap.
In my case Sharpcap is more stable than Firecapture, but SharpCap has not the possibility to add an instant flat field in real time.
Last edited by MAURITS on Fri Sep 24, 2021 8:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by pedro »

I prefer Firecapture. I use version 2.5


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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by Merlin66 »

I use FireCapture V2.7 beta for all my Cmos cameras ASI 174, ASI 178 and ASI 1600 for all my solar imaging Ha, WL and CaK.
I also use it for the Spectroheliograph to record 16 bit SER video.


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Re: Firecapture vs Sharpcap - which is better ?

Post by Radon86 »

Thanks Merlin,Pedro for your advice.
I will take a closer examination of Firecapture 2.5 and 2.7 beta....

Magnus


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
Accessory: SW Auto-focuser
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