Flat Field Panels

Hey Folks,

I wanted to pick your brains if I could. I've an 8" SCT and an SBIG STF-8300C camera. I have recently built a light box for creating flat fields. Testing shows the field is not very uniform and I've been looking at commercial solutions instead. I've found this item and it appears ideal...

Aurora Flatfield Panels

I was a little concerned by the statement that "...If you use a nwton, Cassegrain, RC, ODK or something like this, the Aurora has to be LARGER than the clear diameter of the optic...example:If you use a 8" (204mm) newtonian telescope, the 220 Aurora is sufficient if you have a camera with a quite small sensor (<14mm diagonal). "

My camera diagonal is 22mm, and the manufacturer recommends moving up to the next size light panel at an extra €100. But I can't for the life of me figure out why this would mean I should get a bigger unit...especially when the 220mm unit is bigger than the aperture on my SCT (203mm).

Apart from that, it seems perfect. I was wondering if anyone else has tried this before I buy one myself? Does this disclaimer make sense?


Clear skies


Dave

HI Dave , First the Aurora Flatfield panels won't give you high quality flats you require, as you know poor flats degrade your images'
Going for a larger panel won't help much either.
Ive made a number of light box's they work well
and can be tuned to suit most setups.
The design is simple, based on the use of several defused panels
tuned to suit unique setups.
I got most of the materials in arts and crafts shops,
Good Quality translucent perspex scope end and a fixed light source ( 600mm away )
at the other, and at least 1 damper panel, two is better
perhaps, yours, could. be improved in some way with little or no cost.
Regards
Alan

About 50euro for materials and 4 or 6 hours to make

Hi Al,

Many thanks for your thoughts, I'll try and rejig my light box and see if I can improve matters more, it's cheaper than spending €130 euros on something which may not improving matters further!


Clear skies


Dave

Al costello wrote: HI Dave , First the Aurora Flatfield panels won't give you high quality flats you require, as you know poor flats degrade your images'
Going for a larger panel won't help much either.
Ive made a number of light box's they work well
and can be tuned to suit most setups.
The design is simple, based on the use of several defused panels
tuned to suit unique setups.
I got most of the materials in arts and crafts shops,
Good Quality translucent perspex scope end and a fixed light source ( 600mm away )
at the other, and at least 1 damper panel, two is better
perhaps, yours, could. be improved in some way with little or no cost.
Regards
Alan

About 50euro for materials and 4 or 6 hours to make

Hi Alan,

Can you advise why the Aurora panels wont give high quality flats?. I read a few reviews on them and many are saying they are working very well, even for narrowband.

I was looking at them previously and i am tempted to get 2 of them. If there is something i am missing please advise.

Thanks
Paddy

Al costello wrote: HI Dave , First the Aurora Flatfield panels won't give you high quality flats you require, as you know poor flats degrade your images'
Going for a larger panel won't help much either.
Ive made a number of light box's they work well
and can be tuned to suit most setups.
The design is simple, based on the use of several defused panels
tuned to suit unique setups.
I got most of the materials in arts and crafts shops,
Good Quality translucent perspex scope end and a fixed light source ( 600mm away )
at the other, and at least 1 damper panel, two is better
perhaps, yours, could. be improved in some way with little or no cost.
Regards
Alan

About 50euro for materials and 4 or 6 hours to make

This sounds very interesting Alan, do you have a tutorial to make those?

Al costello wrote: HI Dave , First the Aurora Flatfield panels won't give you high quality flats you require, as you know poor flats degrade your images'

I could not disagree more here, I use the Aurora Panels without issues, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the quality of my flats