Am I really in Focus

[smithn00]

Started using EOS again after a long hiatus.

I focused on a nearby mag 3 star. The HFHM? number was moving but was as low as I could make it. I moved to M13 and took a 9 sec exposure at 1600. At 16% all the stars looked sharp. At 100% they looked bad, like a pile of gum balls.

Was I really in focus to start with?

[admin]

Hard to say without seeing the actual images.

 

You should really look into a Bahtinov mask for focusing.  It's the best thing since sliced bread

 

Regards,

[s3igell]

Hard to say without seeing the actual images.

 

You would also need to post details about the Optics and Camera that you were using, and the atmospheric conditions under which you were Imaging.

 

Pixel-Peeping at 100% isn't really "Fair" to an Image, especially if you are expecting all the photons from one Star way out in Space to have landed on only One Pixel.  Remember that there is Optical Diffraction and Mechanical Tracking and Vibration, as well as Atmospheric Distortion, acting on those photons as they make their way to and through your Scope and Camera Sensor.