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Guidance on Lens Module?

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 6:16 pm
by wedgef5
I've done a couple of searches of this forum for information on the Lens Module, but I haven't come up with much. I have some data that exhibits some very noticeable coma. I have tried to correct it with the Lens Module with varying degrees of success, but I always feel like I'm just guessing. Well...I don't just feel like it, I am just guessing!

Does anyone have any tips for using the Lens Module to correct coma?

Thanks!

Matt

Re: Guidance on Lens Module?

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 12:37 am
by admin
Hi Matt,

Guessing is unfortunately the best practical recommendation I can give for operating the Lens module.

Lens distortion can be an incredibly hard thing to model and reverse, especially when dealing with different orientations, circumstances, flexure and configurations across different nights.

When dealing with just a single, well built lens that always sits flush with the imaging plane and dealing with a CCD that doesn't change orientation, it is possible to model the (typically modest) distortion once and re-use it. This is what applications such as LensFun and Adobe Camera RAW do. Note that it is then necessary to apply the correction to very sub frame before stacking (given that the field will likely rotate between frames).

However for prime-focus astrophotography (as most of us practice it) it is very hard to model a distortion that is always true/valid given the many factors that may change the distortion from night-to-night in modest equipment.

The Lens module in StarTools employs Brown's distortion model to correct for "simple" radial distortion, which can alleviate some of the worst effects of coma. It is however a sub-optimal solution - the best solution, as with all things, is to address the issue during acquisition by using a coma corrector.

The one tip I can give however, is to apply the Lens module early on, before cropping any significant portions of the image (except stacking artefacts).

Hope this helps!

Re: Guidance on Lens Module?

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 12:38 am
by wedgef5
Thanks, Ivo, for that explanation. That helps a lot, especially about when to apply the Lens Module. I had been doing it late in the processing. I'll try again using it "up front". Would you suggest doing it after binning the image?

Matt

Re: Guidance on Lens Module?

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 1:58 am
by admin
wedgef5 wrote:Thanks, Ivo, for that explanation. That helps a lot, especially about when to apply the Lens Module. I had been doing it late in the processing. I'll try again using it "up front". Would you suggest doing it after binning the image?

Matt
Good to hear Matt! Yes, straight after binning is a good time to do it (assuming binning is one of the first things you do).

Clear skies!