The RBFocus eXcalibur is a robotic flat panel used for astrophotography. It costs about $360 and attaches to the front of a telescope to open and close automatically. It includes a built-in light for capturing flat frames, which help clean up image data.
The product is made by RBFocus, a small company based in Spain. They design and build telescope accessories, including this panel and other control devices. The eXcalibur is not made by a large brand like ZWO, and it does not work with ASIAIR. It only works on Windows computers using software that supports ASCOM drivers, such as NINA or Voyager.
To use the eXcalibur, the panel is attached to the telescope using adhesive mounts. The size of the panel is chosen based on the diameter of the telescope. A USB cable connects the panel to a computer, and a 12V power cable powers the device. The panel can be opened and closed from software, and the brightness of the light can also be controlled from the same interface.
The panel works well with flat frame tools in software like NINA. It can adjust its brightness automatically to match the camera’s settings and exposure time. This helps make flat frame capture more accurate and repeatable. It also works with automated imaging sequences, so users don’t have to handle the panel during the night.
The eXcalibur can also act as a dust cap by staying closed when the telescope is not in use. This is helpful for remote setups or when the user wants to leave the telescope outside overnight. Since the cover closes by itself, the telescope stays protected when imaging is done. RBFocus sells the eXcalibur in different sizes for different telescopes. The product is not cheap, but many users buy it to avoid manual work and to keep their imaging process consistent.
The RBFocus eXcalibur robotic flat panel might just be one of the most underrated game-changers in modern astrophotography, and Cuiv the Lazy Geek is here to prove exactly that. In his signature enthusiastic yet practical style, Cuiv walks viewers through how this flip-flap style flat panel has quite literally changed his imaging workflow. It’s not clickbait. He means it when he says this device has made him even “lazier”, but in the best, most efficient, automation-loving way possible.
Cuiv, known for embracing tools that save time, simplify astrophotography, and make complex setups more user-friendly, dives deep into why the eXcalibur from RBFocus isn’t just another accessory. It’s a fully integrated, intelligent, robotic solution that takes one of the most annoying chores in astrophotography, capturing flat frames, and automates it entirely. No more fumbling in the dark with a separate light panel. No more balancing gear on dew-soaked telescopes. No more standing outside in freezing temperatures adjusting brightness. The eXcalibur takes care of everything with a tap on a screen, or automatically, without needing to lift a finger.
The product itself is from RBFocus, a small family-run company based in Spain. Despite not being from a giant manufacturer like ZWO or QHY, this flat panel is remarkably well thought out, smartly built, and surprisingly easy to integrate into a Windows-based astrophotography rig. As Cuiv points out early in the video, this isn’t a ZWO-compatible device, so it doesn’t work with ASIAIR. But for anyone using a Windows PC, especially with software like NINA (Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy), this panel is fully supported via a dedicated ASCOM driver, which can be downloaded from RBFocus’s website.
Installation is refreshingly simple. The eXcalibur attaches directly to the telescope using adhesive mounts, one for the flat panel and another for the robotic arm that flips it open and shut. The panel itself is customizable in diameter, so buyers can match the size to their specific telescope tube. Cuiv shows his panel mounted on his own rig, where it's securely attached and perfectly centered.
The panel is connected to a PC via USB, and powered through a DC output, he uses the GS2 control center (also from RBFocus) to power and manage it. Though the GS2 deserves its own dedicated review (which Cuiv promises in a future video), he gives a brief nod to its impressive capabilities, such as controlled power outputs, Wi-Fi connectivity, USB expansion, and support for dew heaters.
Once set up, the eXcalibur becomes part of the broader astrophotography ecosystem, especially when paired with NINA. Cuiv uses the NINA Touch interface, a touchscreen-friendly frontend for NINA that he’s reviewed in the past, to showcase exactly how the eXcalibur is controlled in real time. Once the panel is connected via the ASCOM driver, it shows up in the hardware list with a red lightbulb icon. Tapping this icon allows full control of the flat panel: opening and closing the cover, turning the light on or off, and adjusting brightness levels with fine precision.
And when he says fine precision, he means it. The eXcalibur allows for 4,092 brightness levels. That's not an exaggeration. You can manually or automatically set the exact brightness to match whatever exposure time and filter setup you’re using. Cuiv demonstrates brightness adjustments in real time, sliding the levels from very dim to maximum intensity. The smart integration also means that the light turns off automatically when the panel is opened, no wasted light, no unnecessary power drain. It's little things like that which reveal how much thought went into the design.
The real magic happens when automation kicks in.
With NINA’s flat frame wizard, Cuiv walks through how you can let the software automatically control both exposure and panel brightness. Say you want flat frames that are exactly one second long, with a histogram peak at 30% of dynamic range. No problem. NINA, using the eXcalibur’s ASCOM controls, will slowly ramp the panel brightness up or down, capturing test frames until it dials in the exact brightness needed to hit that target. Once that’s done, it just runs through your full flat frame sequence, 20 frames, 50, 100, whatever you need. The panel opens, lights up, captures the frames, then shuts itself again, sealing the scope for daytime or dust protection.
Cuiv narrates the entire process with his usual mix of excitement and dry humor, even turning off his balcony lights to show how the system operates in total darkness. In the video, the automation works exactly as promised. The brightness adjustment steps through a few levels, checks the histogram after each image, and begins capturing frames once the desired settings are met. In his case, it reaches the perfect brightness in seconds and starts taking the 20 flat frames without any intervention. The telescope remains parked, the camera connected, and Cuiv is inside, warm and relaxed.
And yes, “lazy”, but that’s the point. Automation in astrophotography isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about reducing the friction that discourages people from imaging. It’s about ensuring consistency and reliability in every frame, night after night. Cuiv doesn’t shy away from this philosophy. His channel isn’t called “Lazy Geek” by accident. He proudly leans into efficiency, streamlining, and any tech that makes life easier without sacrificing image quality.
That said, the eXcalibur is not a budget device. Cuiv notes that it runs around €330, which translates to roughly $360–$380 USD depending on current exchange rates. That’s not cheap, especially compared to DIY solutions or manual panels. But for astrophotographers who regularly capture flats, or who run remote setups or observatories, it’s a worthy investment. The time saved alone can quickly justify the cost. More importantly, the consistency and automation it brings ensures that flat frames are no longer an afterthought or a bottleneck.
One particularly insightful part of the video is Cuiv’s commentary on how the panel fits into sequencing. Within NINA, he sets up his imaging routines to open the flat panel cover at the start of the session and close it at the end. That means the telescope is protected when not in use, and he doesn’t have to touch the scope at all. He’s used this setup enough times that it’s become second nature, he wakes up, the flats are done, and the scope is capped and ready for storage. It's exactly what you'd want from any fully automated setup.
Cuiv also takes a moment to speak directly to his audience. He asks whether viewers use flat panels, if they own an eXcalibur or similar device, and what other brands people recommend. It’s not just about promoting one product, it’s about building a conversation in the astrophotography community around the tools that work and the solutions that improve imaging efficiency. Cuiv’s channel thrives on this kind of dialogue, and his genuine curiosity makes the video feel more like a conversation than a lecture.
Toward the end, he doubles down on his praise for the device. No, it’s not absolutely essential, you can shoot astrophotography without it. But once you’ve used it, once you’ve seen what it’s like to have flats handled automatically with perfect precision, it’s incredibly hard to go back. He even jokes that he doesn’t want to use his other telescopes anymore because they don’t have robotic flat panels attached. It’s an addiction, but one rooted in the joy of seamless imaging.
And that’s really the heart of the video. Cuiv’s excitement is contagious not because he’s trying to sell a product, but because he’s found something that genuinely improves his workflow. For any astrophotographer who’s struggled with flats, especially in the dead of night or while juggling other tasks, the RBFocus eXcalibur offers a better way. It’s not flashy or gimmicky. It’s just smart, reliable, and quietly brilliant.
To wrap up, Cuiv thanks his supporters, patrons, and viewers. He reminds everyone that links to affiliate sites are available in the video description, and that anyone looking to support the channel can do so via memberships or Patreon. As always, he ends with his classic reminder: whenever you can, look up at the stars.
In true Cuiv the Lazy Geek fashion, the video delivers not just a review but a real-world validation of how automation can improve astrophotography for everyone, from the beginner to the obsessive tinkerer. The RBFocus eXcalibur robotic flat panel is more than just a gadget. For many, it’s the missing puzzle piece in a fully automated, fully optimized astrophotography setup.
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