Despite of the advantages like longer cable and broader bandwidth, GigE astronomy cameras‘ setup is a little more complicated than those of the FireWire or USB cameras, which are basically nothing but driver installation. This post will illustrate how to configure the PC’s IP options after you install the driver of GigE camera.

Note that GigE astro cameras work on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. The following steps only apply to the scenario in which the camera is directly connected to the PC’s network card. If the camera and your computer are connected via a router, ignore this post, because the IP stuffs will be set up in the router.

1. Go to “Control Panel” and double click “Network Connections”.

2. Right click your LAN and select its “Properties”.

3. Select “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)” in the items list box and click “Properties” button.

4. Deactivate the DHCP by setting up the IP options as in the image below.

The camera’s CCD captures photons that encounter the CCD and output them in form of electrons after each exposure. Micro processor behind the CCD reads these electrons, calculates the gray-level of each pixel and therefore re-constructs  the image. But the CCD cannot tell the color, since it does not read the difference of wavelength in the spectrum. Then how do we get color images with our digital cameras? Well, that is how the Bayer-Debayer story begins.

The Imaging Source provides detailed technical white papers to illustrate the fundamental principles of CCD, including Bayer and Debayer mechanisms. They are all available at http://www.theimagingsource.com/en_US/publications/whitepapers/.

But on our forum, you can also find useful info on this subject from the users. Gerrit M. Viola just wrote a post there to introduce his article about how to debayer raw images with Maxim DL. You will the article’s link in the post for download.

Thank you Gerrit!

Many inquires hit my desk regarding the magnification using a specific telescope with The Imaging Source astronomy cameras. I generally rephrase these questions for the client, but instead, answer with the angular fields of view corresponding to The Imaging Source cameras.

Unfortunately, this is not such an easy question to answer even when all of the scope parts are included in the system.

As a good reference article, below is a “conversation” between me and Tommy Hartline, a long time user of The Imaging Source cameras, regarding his DMK 31AF03.AS.

Tommy:

Hi John, took a good shot of Jupiter last friday showing the GRS and a oval below it! maybe it can be added to the blog. I used the DBK 31AF03.AS, thanks in advance.

Me:

Send me the pic or the link…I’d like to take a look!

Tommy:

This is one I took Friday night John [see above]. I can send you the full tiff image if you like this one. Thanks, if this one doesn’t open for you (I’m at work) I’ll send you one from home.

Me:

Not necessary. This is good. I have another customer that just inquired about the field of view vs telescope. Could you supply me with the parts [including the DBK 31AF03.AS] you used to get the images and the processing for the finished product [...]

Tommy:

Sure John, here ya go:
Scope: celestron CPC800 XLT / GPS
Camera: The Imaging Source DBK 31AF03.AS High res color
Barlow : 2x barlow / IR Filter
2200 frames @ 15 fps
Processed : Registax 4 / Photoshop CS2
Burleson Texas U.S.A. / 23:00 Hrs – 08/01/2008
Seeing conditions where just above average.

Thanks Again John!!

It’s always good to give credit where credit is do! Great job Tommy!

profjohn

Jean-Luc Dauvergne is a scientific journalist, who has a special interest in astronomy. He works for the French magazine Ciel & Espace. On May 07, 2008 he published a book, entitled Photographier le ciel (Capture The Night Sky).

The author examines a number of approaches to astro-photography, explaining each one in detail. His text is aimed at beginners in the field.

Most interestingly, from our point of view, is that Jean-Luc has included an entire chapter on The Imaging source astronomy cameras. The chapter Acquisition avec une DMK (Capturing Images With A DMK) offers a number of photos and illustrations of The Imaging Source cameras, in addition to screenshots of the camera control software IC Capture.AS. Furthermore, the author has included several sample images, captured with the DMK series of astronomy cameras.

This book is ideally suited to those who i) can read French (!) and ii) are looking for a way to quickly and intelligently get started with astro-photography.

A great thanks goes out to Jean-Luc for taking the time to write and publish this highly instructive guide.

To order the book, please click here: Photographier le ciel

My colleagues in the Support Department asked me to write about how to capture colored RAW image data to an uncompressed Y800 AVI file with IC Capture.AS and then import it to RegiStax 4. They tell me they have at least two customers every day who need assistance on figuring out how to do this.

For the purpose of this mini-tutorial, a DFK 21AF04.AS camera will be used to generate the AVI file. The resulting file will be imported into RegiStax 4, in which the color calculation will take place.

Step #1: Setup the DFK 21AF04.AS in IC Capture

Start IC Capture.AS and open the camera, as described in the documentation. Set the video format to Y800, as illustrated in the following screenshot:

Step #2: Get Ready For AVI Capture

First of all, a filename and the AVI format must be specified. The AVI file format must be uncompressed Y800. This can be set up by opening the Record Video File dialog, which is activated by clicking on the button marked in the following screenshot:

The following dialog box should open. Proceed by clicking on the indicated button:

The following dialog should appear:

Check the radio button next to Uncompressed and select Y800 from the selection list. You can also specify further properties, such as the filename and number of frames to be captured.

To proceed, click the OK button. The dialog box will close.

Step #3: Capture The AVI File

The Record Video File dialog box should now look as follows:

You can start AVI capture by clicking on the red record button The black pause and stop buttons pause and stop AVI capture respectively.

Once you have finished capturing, you can close IC Capture.AS.

Step #4: Import Into RegiStax

Now start RegiStax and import the AVI file, which you have just captured. Then, click on Additional Options, as shown in the following screenshot:

Proceed, by clicking on Use Debayer and select GB from the radio buttons:

And that is all there is to it – the image is now colored.

If you need any help with this mini-tutorial, please do not hesitate to contact our Support Department. Please do not forget, when you purchase an astronomy cameras, manufactured by The Imaging Source, you are not only getting the hardware, but an all-encompassing support package as well. All customers can contact the Support Department by telephone, e-mail and fax.