1. Application Interface Introduction

1.1 Home

1.1.1 Device

1.1.2 Help Center

1.1.3 Battery

1.1.4 Remaining Storage

1.1.5 Host/Node

• You can open the “Host Lock” function and maintain control if your device suddenly closes the application or it goes into the background. This will prevent a Node to seize the control authority and become the “new Host”.
• If you don't want to lose control of your DWARF 3, always keep the “Host Lock” on. Instead, if you want to change the controlling device, you must first turn off the “Host Lock” on the current “Host” device and then disconnect.  Wait for about 30s, then connect the telescope with the new device. After connecting with another device, this device will become the new host. (If the new device has already connected as Node, a re-connect is needed to make it the new Host.) Restarting the telescope can also reset the current host memory.
• There may be a short delay in transferring Control to a new Host.

1.1.6 Connection Status Indicator

1.1.7 Connect

1.1.7.1 App Connection

Notes:

• When connected, your iOS devices still support using cellular data and getting internet access (need to enable mobile data).

• On Android devices: When connecting on the home page, the network may be lost, and the only available feature is the in-app log upload & contact support function. You can maintain network connectivity by using the STA connection. For more details, please refer to Section 1.4.3 STA Mode of this tutorial.

3. Tap the prompt to open the DWARFLAB App. DWARF 3 will connect to your phone automatically.

Notes:

• The NFC module on the iPhone is located at the topside of the device. To initiate the connection, align the top of your phone vertically with the side of the DWARF and hold it in close for approximately 2 seconds to trigger the connection prompt. If necessary, remove your phone case before attempting NFC connection.
• You can check if your phone supports NFC (Near Field Communication) by searching for "NFC" in the phone system settings.

1.1.8 Schedule Shooting

1.1.9 Light Setting

1.2 Sky Atlas

• If it is your first time viewing Sky Atlas, open the Atlas feature (while connected to a cellular/internet connection) and download the catalog data if prompted.
• To ensure a smooth experience on your phone/tablet, you will not be able to download the Atlas database package if your device has less than 2GB of available memory. Please clear some space and try again if you receive an error. When downloading the database, Airplane Mode and VPN should be turned off.
• You can adjust the time of Atlas by clicking the “time” indicator at the lower right corner. This will show locations of different objects at different viewing times. Helpful for planning in your Scheduling feature.

1.2.1 Exit

1.2.2 Search Your Target & Shoot

1.2.3 Preview Frame (Astro Mosaic)

In addition to the shooting targets mentioned above, you can now freely compose your astronomical images within the preview frame of the DWARF 3! For detailed information on Astro Mosaic, please refer to Section 3.7.9 "Astro Mosaic."

Note: The number of targets in Atlas is limited. To allow users more freedom in composing their shots, we have removed the requirement to select a target from Atlas before capturing. During the actual capture, the coordinates at the center of the GOTO preview frame will be used. If these coordinates do not correspond to a target in the Atlas, it will display as "Unknown."

1.2.4 Compass

1.2.5 Sky Atlas Menu & More

1.2.6 Time

Display the current local time. Clicking on the time allows you to adjust it, and the Atlas will display the celestial objects based on the updated time.

1.3 Album

1.3.1 Infinity Lab

In the topmost part of the album, you can find the Infinity Lab. This feature includes Mega Stack, Stellar Studio, and Pano Weave — three powerful tools that let you process your captured images in amazing ways. It’s like magic for your photos! For detailed instructions, refer to: Section 3.7.6.4 Stellar Studio, Section 3.7.6.5 Mega Stack, and 3.5.5 Pano Weave.

1.3.2 Categorization

• Bursts & Panoramas: The Album will only display the first image and the number of shots taken (for burst), but these cannot be downloaded to your phone.
• Astro Photos: For astronomical targets, in addition to the date and time, the name of the target is also displayed. 
• Note: Astro sessions generate many individual sub-frames saved inside the telescope, so storage usage can grow quickly(couple gigabytes).
  1. If you notice any issues in the stacked result, you can manage individual frames — delete unwanted ones and re-stack using Mega Stack.

  

  2. Tap the Edit button to start post-processing your astronomy image.

  

  3. In the details page of an astronomy photo, you can now view target information, image parameters, file location, and manage single frames directly from the album. (The stacked image generated by MegaStack does not retain individual frames, so single-frame management is not available.)
• Videos include content you create in Video Mode and Time Lapse.
• Use two fingers to zoom in on the photo to see more details.
• In the details page of an astronomy photo, you can view target information, image parameters, and file location.

1.3.3 Select / Edit Album

Notes:

• In case of poor network conditions, loading photos might take a few seconds, and videos may also require some time to be refreshed.
• When you delete your photos in the Album, files in your Dwarf's storage are also wiped.
• Deleting a certain Astro/Panorama/Burst photo will result in deleting the whole package under it. As saying, all the single frames of the stacked Astro photo or all panorama puzzles.

1.4 Settings

1.4.1 Log In/Account

Tap "Log In" to create your account. Many upcoming interesting features will require your account. You can register and log in using your phone number or email. Feel free to update your profile picture, nickname, and other personal information. 

1.4.1.1 Password Requirements / Reset Password

Passwords must be between 8–64 characters. They can include letters and numbers, but no spaces or special characters.

To reset your login password, at the Login screen, enter your email or phone number assigned to the account, on the next screen, select “Reset Password” located under the password entry block. Follow the prompts to reset your password.

 

To reset your login password, at the Login screen, enter your email or phone number assigned to the account (⚠️If you have logged already logged on, you need to log out first), on the next screen, select “Reset Password” located under the password entry block. Follow the prompts to reset your password.

Note: Please note that the account systems for the beta and official versions of the app are not connected. You will need to register a new account when joining the test program and using the beta version.

If you are having difficulty signing in or resetting your account password, please contact DWARFLAB for assistance.

1.4.2 My Device

The system is equipped with 128GB eMMC storage.

Please note: the system inside DWARF 3 will utilize a portion of this memory, resulting in slightly less available storage for use. You can connect your DWARF 3 to your computer directly to get the images from it using a cable.

Note：Everytime you change the name of your DWARF, an update with the NFC information is required, you need to tell the NFC connector what name it should submit when pairing with your phone.

Activation Time: Date of activation

Warranty Status: If you are in the warranty period, it'll take a few seconds for the status to show up after entering this page.

Official Warranty Period: The expiration date of your warranty time.

Note: If you are having problems upgrading the firmware, kindly contact our team via support@dwarflab.com

1.4.3 Connection Settings

Note: This feature must be set while connecting to DWARF and requires a restart to take effect.

Notes:

• In this mode, both DWARF 3 and your phone will connect to your home Wi-Fi, so DWARF 3's Wi-Fi won't activate. For those who frequently use STA mode, it's advisable not to enable Active Wi-Fi at Startup and vice versa. If you feeling messed up with all the signal explanations, just remember this one line.
• For networks that have been previously configured, DWARF 3 will remember the password, so you won't need to re-enter it. Also, remember to turn off STA mode if you take DWARF 3 to a new place.
• Remember to use this mode occasionally, as DWARF 3 will only in this mode get a connection to the Internet. If there are any updates, you'll receive a red dot notification for updates in the 'Firmware Update' and 'About' sections.
• STA mode allows for a longer control distance, approximately 10 meters.
• If you're using a LAN-Node setup over a large spatial range, you can still use DWARF 3.
• First, initiate the STA connection process, and ensure that both DWARF 3 and your mobile device connect to the same SSID that covers DWARF 3's sitting location (if using a mesh network, connect to the same node). Then, when moving to a different SSID's coverage area, manually switch your mobile device's network in the phone settings to another preferred SSID.
• The system will prompt you to switch back to the previous network; simply ignore this prompt.
• Remember, as long as DWARF 3 and your mobile device are connected to the same LAN network, you can use them normally.

Note: 2.4GHz transmission will cause certain lag due to lower transmission speeds and possible interference from other electronic or household devices in your home.

1.4.4 Location

Note: Correct coordinates are crucial for accurate star observation calibration and locating.

1.4.5 General

1.4.6 Support

You can leave this page at any time to take a screenshot/recording, then return. The system will record your input and provide a recovery option.

Note: If you encounter connection issues, you can also upload logs (even if it shows 0MB).

• After clicking "Cancel", fill in the required information as usual. When connected to the DWARF 3, logs from both the telescope and the mobile app will be uploaded. If not connected, only logs from the app will be uploaded.
• Submitting logs does not require disconnecting Dwarf 3 from the phone; but turning on the cellular network switch is needed.
• To help us gather more information, please provide as much detail as possible.
• Or contact our official after-sales support email at support@dwarflab.com for expert advice.

1.4.7 Clear Cache 

Allows you to clear the album cache and half-downloaded firmware (useful for rescuing you from stuck mid-upgrade).

1.4.8 About

Note: When a new version is available, a red spot will show up here. iOS app update is hidden and appears only when an update is needed, that iOS coder has a weird fascination with easter eggs. Find more if you can, no prize is waiting. In the case of a network connection, a red dot update notification will be displayed.

2. DWARF 3 Shooting Interface Introduction

2.1 Exit

Click to exit the shooting interface and return to the homepage.

2.2 Dual Lenses Switch

The dual-lens system helps in quickly locating targets. Please read the following tutorial with devotion.

Open/Close Dual View: Click to open/close the dual views.

Switch View: Click the small rectangle to switch between views. Double-clicking on the telephoto view enables auto-focus.

View Indication: The telephoto view shows the content within the green frame in the wide-angle view. Double-clicking on the telephoto view enables auto-focus. Focus is not applicable in the wide angle view. 

Note: Wide-angle is a fixed focal length. The Auto-Focus function does not apply, nor can you manually focus on the optic.

Dual Lenses Locating: Switch to and double-click the wide-angle view moves the green frame indicator (telephoto view). This feature allows you to locate and quickly focus on objects in the wide-angle lens, like birds in the backyard, pedestrians on the street, or celestial bodies in deep space. 

The dual-lens system may occasionally be out of sync when switching targets at different distances. Performing auto-focus restores it.

Notes:

• The dual-lens system may occasionally be out of sync when switching targets at different distances. Performing auto-focus restores it.
• You cannot use double-click to auto-focus in Astro mode, as we want to avoid accidently disrupting the perfect focus you've carefully achieved.

2.3 Guide

Helps you quickly understand the shooting process. We have prepared corresponding tutorials for different modes. Any time you forget what to do next, click here to get some hints. And what's even better, we update it from time to time!

• Astronomy: There are Deep Sky Objects, Sun and Moon, The Milky Way, Darks and Preview. Each category includes descriptions and illustrations of the shooting process, ensuring comprehensive understanding.

• Daytime: Panorama Shooting, Burst Shooting, Time-Lapse Shooting, Dual Lenses Locating, Sun and Moon Track, Object Track, Double-tap to Focus.

• Auto-Capture: Bird, UFO. In UFO mode, there are UFO Auto Capture and Fixed Spot & Auto Scan. When DWARF 3 detects movement in wide-angle lens, it will rotate towards the target and switch to telephoto for closer detection. Once a moving object is identified, a tailed tracking template is created, and the DWARF 3 begins tracking that object based on that template.

 

2.4 Joystick & Speed Control

1. Move the joystick to navigate your lenses, and use the speed wheel to adjust its movement speed.

2. Click to switch to the arrow panel for more precise control.

Tips: You can quickly and precisely locate your target by combining the following three methods:

• Manually rotate the lenses to roughly align with the target.
• Use dual-lenses locating to align the target.
• Adjust the lens position finely with the joystick/arrow panel.

2.5 Temperature

Display the temperature of the sensor. This data assists in assessing whether the temperature of your existing dark frames matches the current conditions. If there's a significant discrepancy (>8℃), retaking dark frames may improve your results.

2.6 Battery & Storage

It's important to maintain sufficient battery power. Firmware updates cannot be performed below 20% battery, and astronomical shooting automatically stops below 8%.

• DWARF 3 can be used while charging and is compatible with power banks.
• Charge in an environment between 0-45°C.

Storage: Indicates the remaining memory space of DWARF 3.

2.7 Host/Node

The first device connected to DWARF 3 is the Host, and the second is the Node. The Host can observe and control DWARF 3, while the Node can only observe. DWARF 3 can simultaneously connect to one host and two nodes.

2.8 Connection Status

Helps you tell whether you have control and are in good connection with DWARF 3.

2.9 Album

The photos in the album are categorized and displayed in chronological order, with the date and time of the photo indicated. For photos taken in different modes, different icons are displayed in the corners.

Click "All" to access photo libraries in different modes, including: Photos, Videos, Bursts, Panoramas and Astro photos.

Notes:

• Bursts & Panoramas: The Album will only display the first image and the number of shots taken (for burst), but these cannot be downloaded to your phone.
• Astro Photos: For astronomical targets, in addition to the date and time, the name of the target is also displayed.
• Videos include content you create in Video Mode and Time Lapse.
• Use two fingers to zoom in on the photo to see more details.

2.10 Select Mode

Click here to choose different shooting modes. Tutorials for each mode are in this guide.

2.11 Shoot

The shooting button, tap to start shooting.

2.12 Focus

Tap 'Focus-AF' for auto-focus, or use the +/- to manually focus.

• The AF button turns green during focusing and reverts to white once focus is achieved.
• Long press or tap +/- to adjust the focus. The focus scale value helps you better confirm the appropriate focal point. A useful piece of knowledge for astrophotography is that the focal point for deep-sky objects is usually fixed. You can gradually find the most suitable focal point during use and remember it for quick adjustments later.
• Focusing on targets at a distance of 5 meters or more. Focusing on targets less than this may result in autofocus failure.

Note: The Auto button turns green during focusing and reverts to white once focus is achieved.

2.13 Function

Includes Parameter Settings and features for every mode.

2.13.1 Parameter Settings

You can adjust the shooting parameters for telephoto and wide-angle lens.

 

Filter: DWARF 3 has 3 built-in filters.

• The VIS filter is designed to block ultraviolet and infrared light while allowing visible light to pass through. It is particularly effective within the visible light range of approximately 430-650nm, enabling the capture of most visible light while reducing the impact of ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. This makes it suitable for general photography applications.
• The Astro filter, on the other hand, is designed to allow infrared light to pass while blocking ultraviolet light and a portion of visible light. It is effective within the combined visible and infrared range of about 430-690nm, making it ideal for infrared photography as it enables the capture of infrared light above 650nm while minimizing the effects of ultraviolet and shorter visible wavelengths.
• The Duo-Band filter is specifically designed to pass two particular wavelengths of light: Hα (656.3nm) and OIII (500.7nm), which are highly beneficial for observing emission nebulae. The bandwidth (FWHM) for Hα is approximately 15±3nm, and for OIII, it is around 30±3nm. This filter enhances the visibility of emission nebulae by selectively transmitting Hα and OIII light while blocking other wavelengths.

Exposure/Shutter: Adjust shutter time. Automatic shutter setting is always recommended for daytime. More to be introduced for astrophotography exposure in the next section tutorial.

Gain: Adjust the gain setting. Keep between 0-30 for daytime normally. More to be introduced for astrophotography gain in the next section tutorial.

White Balance: Usually set to Auto. Adjust to warmer temp. when you feel like getting a yellow or orange sun/moon.

Other Settings: Feel free to experiment with different parameter adjustments.

How to Adjust Parameters in Astrophotography

1. Auto-Parameter Mode

For first-time users, we have prepared auto-configuration. The system will automatically set the filter, shutter, gain, and number of shots for you. 

2. Manual

In this mode, you can adjust the shooting parameters more flexibly, enabling longer exposures to capture finer details of celestial objects. If long exposures make the image too bright, try lowering the gain value.

Auto mode sets Expo to ≤15s. Use 'Manual' for longer shutter settings. For a quick way to adjust parameters: click on the parameter combinations in 'Preset'.

Preset

Support quick apply of preset parameter sets, allowing you to apply commonly used settings (exposure, gain, resolution) in one tap. Current constraints:

• Due to the need for dark frames with the same parameters in taking astrophotography, the current preset feature only includes parameter sets for which dark frames have already been captured.
• The preset feature for telephoto can only be accessed when tracking a target in astro mode. The wide-angle preset parameters, however, are not restricted and can be accessed freely.
• We will continue optimizing the parameter adjustment workflow to provide a more user-friendly interface.

Very Important Notes About Parameter (stop being mad at brightness changes and learn about the rules):

• In Astro Mode, when you click 'auto-focus', 'calibration', or 'End Current Session' after a shooting session, or you have just performed the angle calculation in EQ mode, the parameters will automatically change to Expo 0.5s (auto focus and infinity will just to 1s), Gain 120, Astro Filter (for firmware above 1.2.6) to obtain a proper brightness for DWARF’s star calculation, also known as 'Plate Solving'.
• The scope automatically detects the sun/moon and adjusts the appropriate shutter and gains value on hitting auto-focus.
• Due to those auto acts above, it's advised to adjust settings right before pressing the shooting button to avoid having to re-adjust after automatic changes.
• To prevent your DWARF from appearing unresponsive to any settings (like switching modes), exposures longer than 2 seconds will not be displayed in the preview. Don't worry, your settings are effective; they just won't show in the preview. When it starts shooting, the long exposure will be applied immediately.
• Long exposures can present challenges when tracking celestial objects. Factors such as tripod stability, light breezes, and other conditions can affect tracking, leading to elongated stars due to minor vibrations.

2.13.2 Feature

Each shooting mode offers unique features. In Photo mode, there are object tracking, sun tracking, and moon tracking. In Astro mode, you can see Darks, EQ Mode, and Atlas. Explanations on how to use these features will be provided in DWARF 3 User Manual Part 2.