Bahtinov Mask for 5 Euro

Calibos wrote:

astrojargon.net/MaskGen.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Thats the one I used alright. Thanks.

Note it produces .svg files. You may need something like inkscape to print these out.:
www.inkscape.org/download/

Would you not consider the Hartman mask idea? They seem to be a much simpler design with a lot less chance of cutting those digits. If you can't find anything in Woodies maybe a strip of camping mat foam could be used round the edge?

Its worth the cut fingers apparently James. The Bahtinov is significantly more accurate. ie. Its guaranteed to give you 99% accurate perfect focus and to be able to get it in seconds. Now I have used neither but have read quite a lot about both and apparently once the 3 images of a hartmann merge its hard to know whether you are just close to perfect focus or bang on perfect and one spends ages tweaking the focus because of this uncertainty. With the Bahtinov you know you have perfect focus within seconds......going on what I have read..

Look at the animation here:

www.spike-a.com/

You can see by the prices these gougers want utilising someone elses public domain idea, why its worth the cut fingers for a DIY Bahtinov mask.

What opens a SVG file (the format generated by the link you put up), photoshop maybe ?

Dave,

SVG can be tackled by the free software Inkscape as I mentioned above.

Note it produces .svg files. You may need something like inkscape to print these out.:
www.inkscape.org/download/

Thanks for the heads up Keith, I'll be making one myself when I get a chance.
John - Looking forward to your first light report.