›

Horizontal banding on images taken with an ASI533MC-Pro camera

Bonnie Ryder
in PixInsight

I am having a problem with horizontal banding on my DSO images that as been getting worse and I can’t seem to find a reason or a cure for.  


My equipment: 

ZWO ASI533MC-Pro w/ L-eXtreme filter 

Williams Optics ZS 81 w/ Hotech field flattener

iOptron CEM40 EQ mount

Guide: ZWO ASI120-s / 30F4 mini scope

Focus Cube 2

Pegasus Astro Power Box - sits on the scope for cable control including 2 dew heaters. 

Computer control: Minix computer running Windows 10 Pro that sits on a stand under the tripod.  I use Microsoft Remote Desktop on my MacMini w/ Satechi hub to view NINA as well as do all processing & editing on the Mac.

Data collection software: NINA

Processing software: PixInsight & Capture 1. 


The banding is present on all master & single calibration frames.  I have looked at darks taken at multiple exposure times as well as the most recently taken and older (2022) ones.  I have looked at light frames from older DSO’s to most recent, before and after WBPP.   I have also gone back and checked lights to when I first got my ASI533 and while still present it is much worse now than when the camera was new (bought 03.23.2022).  It also is much worse on Nebula images than on Galaxy and SNR images.   In all fairness I am now imaging more difficult and fainter targets that do require more stretching which may account for my newer nebula images having worse banding, but the fact that it is on almost all my images is disconcerting.  I have tried the CanonBandingReducer script and it slightly fades them or moves them around but does not get rid of them.    


From everything I have tried it seems like it may be a camera problem.  I have heard some the ASI533’s are known for banding problems but my mentor has both the MC-Pro and MM and has no issues.  


Have you heard of this with ZWO cameras?  Do you have any suggestions as to what may be the cause or anything I can do to mitigate the banding either in data collection or processing? 


I've included a processed image with the banding. 

Comments

  • BlockHeadBlockHead
    Yes, I agree- this is usually a camera issue (as long as you using the automatic pedestal...or a correct pedestal for the NB data). 

    There is a chance it is electrical... what does the output voltage read in your Pegasus GUI? Is is lower than 12V?

    Banding can also be adjusted with ZWO cameras by adjusting the read speed... there is a setting for that I believe... for some cameras.

    -the Blockhead
  • Bonnie Ryder
    Thanks Adam for getting back to me so quickly.  I do use automatic pedestal.  I will check the Pegasus voltage readings. I added up the amperages of what I have plugged into the Powerbox it's pretty close to the amperage limit that the power supply is rated at.  If while my system is running, voltage proves to be the case I will use another power supply that is rated 10 amps to see if that corrects the problem.   I'll also check for a camera read speed setting in case the voltage is ok & I need to play with adjusting that.  I'll let you know how things turn out. Thanks again. 
  • BlockHeadBlockHead
    I am using a Mean Well 12V (10amp) power supply on my system.
    There is a adjustment to increase the voltage (a little potentiometer) on the power supply.


    But first...just open your Unity software and see what it reports.

    -the Blockhead 

  • Bonnie Ryder
    I believe my banding problem is solved.  The voltage & current output looked pretty good.  Only time V dropped to 11.7 and current was 1.1A was during the meridian flip and after that it went back up to V11.9 - 12 with current 0.6-0.7.  When looking thru NINA at the camera settings I found that the gain was set to 0.  Not sure how that happened other than I missed it when setting NINA up.  I upped it to 100 and the banding went away as did some of the noise. 
    Just an FYI for anyone with this problem-I did have pretty good results with the images I took when searching for a cure for the banding by using the CanonBandingReducer in PI's Script>Utilities>CBR.  So far the cure is working better though ;) 
    Thanks for your advice Adam! 
       Bonnie
Sign In or Register to comment.