Corrections and Updates to the First Edition

Known misprints in the first printing (corrected in later printings):

The pictures on pages 176, 179, 186, and 189 were printed with insufficient contrast. Page 186 is the worst afflicted. To see these pictures properly on your computer screen, view the sample pages for the first edition.

[p. 212]

Change:		DSLR Focus 95, 95
To:		DSLR Focus, 95

Other clarifications for the second printing:

[p. 6, footnote]

Canon took this web site down in early 2008, apparently feeling that it was no longer up to date.

[p. 50]

In fact, the change came in response to a lawsuit. For now, the illustration at the top of p. 50 is not being changed because these telescopes are already in users' hands and were bought as a type of Ritchey-Chrétien. Meade's optical system is a good one; it just isn't a Ritchey-Chrétien.

[p. 78, caption]

If the lens is attached with a T-ring (as some older lenses are), misalignment (non-perpendicularity to the sensor plane) can arise there. To fix a misaligned T-ring, loosen and retighten the screws that hold the inner part of the T-ring in place relative to the outer part.

[p. 95]

Updates to DSLR Focus seem to have stopped in 2006, but I have seen no actual announcement of discontinuation. Other focusing software is being updated regularly to support newer cameras.

[p. 171]

in order to more closely match the preceding formula. The text is correct, but the original example caused some confusion.

[p. 179, figure caption]

[p. 187]

The illustration on p. 187 does not make clear why the boxcar filter is used. Here's a revised version with a better explanation:

Click here to download EPS version

More importantly, regarding flat-fielding, see the correction below.

Other notes

Important correction: The book gives a procedure for flat-fielding that does not include flat darks or bias frames. That is wrong. Contrary to what I thought at the time, DSLRs have appreciable bias (that is, their pixel values do not start out at 0). Accordingly, flat fields should be accompanied by matching dark frames ("flat darks") for the sake of bias correction even though the exposures of flat fields are so short that dark frames are not needed for the sake of noise.

Be sure to use many calibration frames — numerous darks and flats — for the same reason that you take numerous exposures of the celestial object: to keep down the grain. It makes no sense to take 10 exposures of a celestial object (to avoid grain) and then do the calibration with just one dark or flat frame (thereby reintroducing a lot of grain).