QHY294C with 47M Mode

Is it now?
Got APP Pro Owner's Licence months ago and I 'sincerely' hope I can use this expensive (to me) camera!
I already only do sporadic imaging and I really do not need more 'costly' problems added.

Thanks
M

PS I do not have images to try - just asking for now.

We do have some data, so going to check what it does today. I've never used such a mode and apparently the mosaic pattern is very different, if it doesn't work I'll let you know and Mabula as well.

Indeed, it seems it has trouble demosaic-ing this data type. I've let Mabula know.

Hi @wstumpferlgmx-de & @astropixpro,

We will have a good look to understand what is happening.

Mabula

@mabula-admin 
I am slowly trying to have 2-3 gear setups for my retirement and APP working with QHY294c would be cherry on top in saving me loads of time in processing images.

Thanks for looking 
🤞🤞

Posted by: @mabula-admin

Hi @wstumpferlgmx-de & @astropixpro,

We will have a good look to understand what is happening.

Mabula

Hi, have you made any progress on this topic of debayering the 1x1 binned images out of this camera? I have yet to find any software that can do it, and I’m hoping APP can make it work since that’s my processing software of choice!

Hi all @wstumpferlgmx-de @astropixpro & @jimmyg,

The issue was still on our list to investigate, apologies for letting you wait for this particular issue with this camera. I will now start with investigating the issue and will try to solve it for the next release.

We do have some data that I can use for testing, if I need more data I will soon let you know 😉

Mabula

Hi all @wstumpferlgmx-de @astropixpro & @jimmyg,

Okay, so if I look at the data without demosaicing (set demosaic algorithm to no interpolation in 0)RAW/FITS) it becomes clear that the bayer filters are in fact attached to the camera's sensor in bin2x2 mode:

If we perform regular demosaicing with Adaptive Airy Disc we get this:

It does not work clearly because normally, the CFA filters are attached to the pixels in bin1x1 mode.

I will need to think a bit about how to solve this easily without having to write completely new demosaic algorithms only for this special mode of 1 camera.

Mabula

Hi all @wstumpferlgmx-de @astropixpro & @jimmyg & @andersstange,

I did a search to see if any other software packages can debayer images for this camera in 47m mode, and it seems that no package can do this at the moment. Or are you aware of a package that can do it now?

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/740538-initial-batch-of-qhy294m-pros-shipping/page-42

The debayering of a 4x4 grid of GGBBGGBBRRGGRRGG is something new for sure, but I will think about how we can approach this best.

Mabula

Hi Mabula,

thanks for following up. I did some research at the time of my purchase of the camera, and there was no solution in sight, just a message that QHYCCD was working on a solution. In the end I opted to return the camera and got a mono QHY268M instead. However, looking at Baader-planetariums site now, they might have solved it, if I understood the extensive text about it correctly.

https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/cameras/qhyccd-kameras/cooled-cmos-cameras/qhy-294m-c-pro-medium-size-cooled-cmos-camera.html

Anders

Hi Anders,

they write that some capturing software support the unbinned mode (I know that Sharpcap and NINA works fine). They don´t write that there is a stacking software that supports this unbinned bayer matrix.

BR
Werner

@mabula-admin  san.

As Werner san said that  NINA can do debayer for showing image view. 

but can not save debayered image.

Hope APP can debayered 47M mode soon .

Thank you.

Hi Mabula,

is there now a solution for app in sight ? Or is it to exotic ?

Thank you

Werner

At the moment we're working on the stable version of APP 2.0, which focuses on other things. So this will be investigated further but at a later date.

Hi Werner @wstumpferlgmx-de,

I have studied the issue and I have even worked a bit on it. But it is very exotic and it will require a lot ! of work to make this possible, really. Theoretically, the demosaicing of such a CFA pattern GGBBGGBBRRGGRRGG would need it's own special demosaic algorithm(s). There is no shortcut or workaround here to be able to process this like a normal OSC camera. Is there any software out there that supports this at all at the moment that you are aware of?

I would assume that the NINA preview simply bins the data and then normally debayers it which of course is no solution.

Mabula

Hi Mabula, 

This is really a issue. I do not know any stackingsoftware that supports this pattern. So you were my last hope because the hires mode of this camera is a good feature for different setups or seeing conditions. I love this with my 294m Mono camera and I hoped to use this feature also with my OSC. 

CS Werner 

Hi Werner @wstumpferlgmx-de,

The issue issue is still on my list. I hope you can understand that we first need to address other more pressing priorities before we can work on this.

If other camera models would come with these bayer patterns then the priority would change of course.

Mabula

Hi Mabula, 

I understand absolute and I thank you in advance that this is issue on your list. It is more than I can expect.

Best regards 

Werner 

One thing I finally learned, get a Processing Application first, 'then' buy a camera!

Mabula is great in his job, it is the 'camera' the problem - being a one off type.

Having said that, I stopped astronomy in the last year and got back into music making and re-training with my electrical guitar and classical one too.

I can do it when I want - as long as I want with no technical problems coming out every time.

I also have a 'kind of' site problem too, so I put Astro-photography on hold for the next 3 years, when I retire and we will see what changes I can do and will still use the 294c maybe APP will also be happy to work with this camera and if not - never mind, I am not spending any more money on Astronomy, as I do have more than one can use as it is.

SO, Astronomy 'possibly' in 3 years is back, but Music forever until I expire! 😂😂😂

Should have insisted 20 years ago, when I tried to get back into it - life got in the middle and I never bettered myself.

Good luck with you astro-photography everybody.

I am still checking out what others do - astronomy will always be one of my main interests - it has been since I was 9 years old!

🎸🎼😎🎹🎵🚀👩‍🚀🌌☄

@astropixpro, indeed, this camera's sensor is very exotic and if no others like this are produced, it will probaby stay exotic.

Not your fault, you cannot be forced to change and work hard to change it for one camera model only, although there are many around.
I got pulled in like an idiot - rarely happens!

There is a script to batch debayer images from this sensor in PixInsight…but I still prefer APP and hope this technique can be the basis of implementing support in APP for the 47M mode in this camera in the future: https://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?threads/new-script-batch-debayering-demosaicing-quadbayermatrix.20744/

Hi Jimmy @jimmyg and all others in this topic,

I am checking with you if the demosaicing for the 47M mode is still needed. Do you know if there are other camera's out there that also has this feauture and requires this new demosaicing technique? The issue is still on our todo list and can still be addressed after the APP 2.0 release.

Mabula

Hi Mabula, I would love to use this camera with my f/2.8 Newtonian because the 47M pixel scale would be well suited. I’m not aware of other cameras that have the same requirement 

Hi Jimmy @jimmyg,

Okay, thank you very much for your reaction. I will keep this issue open and will try to add at least one demosaic option for this mode in APP going forward.

Mabula

Also using this camera with a fast Newtonian, would be great to get to the limit of the optics by using the 47mp pixel mode.
I wonder though if QHY makes use of the HDR mode the sensor has: IMX294CJK_Flyer.pdf 
will see if I can get more info on that