Understanding Auto-Focus in N.I.N.A.!

Thanks for that explanation it confirmed what was going on with my auto focus run .I worked hard to eliminate my backlash and now getting a MUCH better curve. BTW im using trends with hyperbolic and NINA calculates 23 steps of backlash now instead 100+ before. Great Job More Videos Please

I was just looking for something like this, I tried nina AF the other night ( never used autofocusing before) but knew about the V curve. I was surprised as my graph went all over the place in a zigzag fashion, i let it run knowing my original HFR was around 4.4 and it finished on 3.0. so im guessing it stayed on 3.0 when done? but still dont understand why i dont get a curve. thx for the tutorial

super explanation :)

I have been fighting a lack of quality automated focus for some time with both NINA, SGP, and APT. All three of these apps use a similar approach, and none were working well for me. After watching your explanation of how NINA auto focus works, I understand the details of the process and how each configuration value is used. NOW I can update my settings (which were way off) and give it a go tonight. Keep these videos coming ... you do excellent work!

Well done video Cuiv - I learned a great deal. One question, when I run the autofocus after it gets done with the routine it says it goes back to the original focuser setting. Shouldn't it go to the optimal setting or am I missing something? Your about 12 hrs ahead in Japan so you are most likely setting up so happy imaging. - Cheers

Don't know if I have to go to a different site for questions?
I have a DC motor Focuser which is recognised in Ascom and operates in APT.
However NINA will not accept it or recognise it?
Is there a way I can use Ascom or change anything.
I,m trying to get the Focus V graph.

My Pegasus autofocuser has 200 steps of back lash (in) and i have to use 125 steps x 4 to get a curve that works.
time for a new one lol

Superb!

Great post! I have been making my way through all of your past posts.

Thank you Cuiv! I am understand little More. I Will go threw your other vídeos about autofocuse 😀

Outstanding explanation. Thanks for making this video. And thanks for helping me feel better about the ridiculous price I paid for my FeatherTouch autofocuser!

Cuiv, these are excellent videos! What's the deal with "max increment"? Is this a calculated value? Mine says 999999. Is this a problem?

Very informative. Thank you.
As an aside, your English is way better than my French (non-existent!). There's a phrase that you use in a lot of your videos: "this is how it looks like". The correct way to saw this is, "this is what it looks like" or "this is how it looks". Either one of those works.
Please don't be offended, I really do love your videos and your enthusiasm for the hobby! :)

And each color will have its own curve. A perfect apochromat would have all the color curves matched.

How did you determine a precise backlash measurement of 93?

Thank you Cuiv , many greetings from Greece

Just tried N.I.N.A for the first time mainly because of autofocus. Your video is EXTREMLY helpful! Autofocus worked perfectly the first try! Also, your video on the N.I.N.A. Advanced Sequencer cleared my way through the smoke and it makes perfect sense now. Thanks for the great help!

I am just considering getting an autofocuser and found this very useful and clear. Thanks Cuiv I hope you're doing ok 👍

Thanks for this video. Very helpful

Have you tried the 'Overshoot' backlash compensation method ??
I believe it is fairly new in N.I.N.A. I've been using it with a ZWO EAF and it seems to be working fine.
thanks for all your great videos !
Monty

One question: Im waiting for motorized for my two telescopes. For one one these telescopes I have a reducer. That means I have 3 options for focal view with these telescopes. Is it possible to calibrate this "backlash" for each setup and save this in NINA?

To speed up the autofocus, it would be handy if NINA had a "smart" feature. Basically while imaging THAT night, whichever night that may be. The curve it learns from, so it only moves out enough to get the out of focus, and moves into focus. Once it moves enough to where the HFR changes enough say by 1 or 1.5 it goes to the best number vs it continuing. I realize this would be dependent on your setup, but some focusers don't suffer from backlash (like the starlight I use on my tak). I do my autofocus in 125 steps for each point, it nails it every time at the best point (bottom of the curve). I do 125 because I found it gives enough movement to see a difference. I manually focused once in sharpcap, using their tool. Then I went to NINA ran an autofocus, found it landed pretty much where I was in sharpcap (step number). So its pretty darn accurate in NINA, just wish there was a smart feature to speed up focusing.

great!!!!!!! thanks as usual .....

you did a fantastic Job with these videos .... please cuiv .. come back ... :)

Cuiv, you are the best!

Cuiv, I am starting with a DSLR canon. Is there an option to auto focus my telephoto lens within Nina? Thanks!

Could you possibly explain how to setting up NINA with a OAG during imaging when you need to autofocus after filter or temp change? Do you just stop guiding first???

I have and use EAF by ZWO and honestly I have never experienced anythink like you describing :)

I thought you were only supposed to set backlash IN OR OUT not both because, they are fighting each other. I saw this in another video. Is that right ?

It looks like that in NINA the focusing temperature compensation only works with focusers that have an inbedded temperature probe (like the ZWO EAF). I am not using the EAF but another DIY ASCOM focuser (inspired from Julien Lecomte). Does anyone know of a possibility to plug a sort of independant 'ASCOM' temperature sensor that I could use for the same compensation purpose? I am using NINA and happy with refocusing in function of HFR changes, though, so it is more a curiosity question...

I was having a problem with my moonlite focuser that wasnt like anything you described.....
Turns out that i have ZERO backlash.
But the compensation was turned on with values entered in both in and out.
The person who helped me set it up assumed i would have some and told me to enter 10 in and 10 out as a starting point.
Zerod them both out and everything is PERFECT now.