#21
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Which CCD camera?
Ian,
Thanks to yourself and Derrick for the clarification. My sincere apologies for jumping to the wrong conclusion. Regards, Tim Kearsley (Ian King) wrote in message . com... Tim I work for BC&F and I can tell you categorically that CCD Planet is nothing to do with BC&F or Telescope House. Derrick summarised the situation very well. Regards Ian King |
#22
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Which CCD camera?
I'm looking for a CCD camera in the $1000.00 range for my N11. Used or
new. ST237a's with color wheels go for about that, but the lack of a guiding chip and the fact that they're discontinued is a minus. I'm looking at used ST-7s which I could upgrade later to USB or the Starlight Xpress cameras. Any help would be appreciated ... -- Clear Skies, Chuck "David Nakamoto" wrote in message ... But the Starlight Xpress cameras can autoguide on any star in the field of view, at the expense of sensitivity of course. I don't see where this is poses a problem with mirror shift on an SCT. Also, the high cost of the SBIG cameras, some of them at least, weigh against them, unless price is no option, but I thought we were amateurs here, so we're cash strapped, either because we just bought that 36-inch Dob on an equatorial platform and have to pay for the hospital bills for the hernias we got trying to move it, or because we're married. ^_^ -- Sincerely, --- Dave ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A man is a god in ruins. --- Duke Ellington ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Roger Hamlett" wrote in message news:QBwoc.37$74.22@newsfe1-win... "David Nakamoto" wrote in message ... I personally recommend the Starlight Xpress cameras from personal experience. Software's robust and easy to use, technical help is there and knowledgeable, if at times it takes a few days to get back to you. The cameras are light-weight, robust, and take great pictures. Autotracking is good and flexible. Of course, SBIG also has good cameras, but I believe Starlight Xpress is just as good and at better prices. Good Luck! For the money, the Starlight cameras are good. However on an SCT, the guide CCD in the SBIG cameras, allows them to correct for the some of the effects of mirror shift. Realistically, on a 12" LX200, you will need a field flattener for any but the smaller CCD's, and this makes better use of the image scale on most CCD's. For photometry on the LX200, I'd consider a ST10XME, with the AO7, and a focal reducer/flattener to about 0.75* (AP). The software with the SBIG cameras, is a 'class ahead' of that with the Starlight cameras. The current releases of the Starlight software work OK, but most people wanting to do more automation, end up buying another package like AstroArt or Maxim. The latter offers the best scripting interface. Alternatively, the Starlight SXV, combined with an OAG, and perhaps Maxim DL/CCD, is a lot cheaper (smaller CCD), but offers excellent noise performance. At present there is not a high speed guide system like the AO7, but this may be going to change in the near future. The 12" LX200, is fairly heavy for it's mount, requiring some 'tweaking' to get guiding reasonably, and the AO7, makes all the difference on these mounts. Best Wishes "Johan van der Walt" wrote in message news:1083749213.423609@utl-lnx1... Hi there! My name is Johan and I am working in the Physics Department of the North-West University in South Africa. A couple of years ago we bought a 12" Meade LX200 as well as a Pictor 416XT CCD camera. The decision on the Pictor 416XT was sort of rushed decision since we had very little time to write the application for the funding of the equipment. Now it seems as if the 416XT was not a good decision. I never was really satisfied with its performance and with the Meade software that came with it. We now have the opportunity to again apply for funding and I would like to submit an application to buy a better CCD camera. We use it for student practicals and would like to use it for multi-color photometry. Autoguiding is quite important. So is good software. I shall appreciate it if someone can give me good advice on what to buy. Budget is limited as usual but any advice is welcome. Thanks Johan van der Walt |
#23
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Which CCD camera?
You can have mine, Starlight Xpress HX716 16 bit camera. Bought it over a
year ago, but never used it. Can send you more details and photos, if you're intrested. Julius "Chuck" wrote in message ... I'm looking for a CCD camera in the $1000.00 range for my N11. Used or new. ST237a's with color wheels go for about that, but the lack of a guiding chip and the fact that they're discontinued is a minus. I'm looking at used ST-7s which I could upgrade later to USB or the Starlight Xpress cameras. Any help would be appreciated ... -- Clear Skies, Chuck "David Nakamoto" wrote in message ... But the Starlight Xpress cameras can autoguide on any star in the field of view, at the expense of sensitivity of course. I don't see where this is poses a problem with mirror shift on an SCT. Also, the high cost of the SBIG cameras, some of them at least, weigh against them, unless price is no option, but I thought we were amateurs here, so we're cash strapped, either because we just bought that 36-inch Dob on an equatorial platform and have to pay for the hospital bills for the hernias we got trying to move it, or because we're married. ^_^ -- Sincerely, --- Dave ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A man is a god in ruins. --- Duke Ellington ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Roger Hamlett" wrote in message news:QBwoc.37$74.22@newsfe1-win... "David Nakamoto" wrote in message ... I personally recommend the Starlight Xpress cameras from personal experience. Software's robust and easy to use, technical help is there and knowledgeable, if at times it takes a few days to get back to you. The cameras are light-weight, robust, and take great pictures. Autotracking is good and flexible. Of course, SBIG also has good cameras, but I believe Starlight Xpress is just as good and at better prices. Good Luck! For the money, the Starlight cameras are good. However on an SCT, the guide CCD in the SBIG cameras, allows them to correct for the some of the effects of mirror shift. Realistically, on a 12" LX200, you will need a field flattener for any but the smaller CCD's, and this makes better use of the image scale on most CCD's. For photometry on the LX200, I'd consider a ST10XME, with the AO7, and a focal reducer/flattener to about 0.75* (AP). The software with the SBIG cameras, is a 'class ahead' of that with the Starlight cameras. The current releases of the Starlight software work OK, but most people wanting to do more automation, end up buying another package like AstroArt or Maxim. The latter offers the best scripting interface. Alternatively, the Starlight SXV, combined with an OAG, and perhaps Maxim DL/CCD, is a lot cheaper (smaller CCD), but offers excellent noise performance. At present there is not a high speed guide system like the AO7, but this may be going to change in the near future. The 12" LX200, is fairly heavy for it's mount, requiring some 'tweaking' to get guiding reasonably, and the AO7, makes all the difference on these mounts. Best Wishes "Johan van der Walt" wrote in message news:1083749213.423609@utl-lnx1... Hi there! My name is Johan and I am working in the Physics Department of the North-West University in South Africa. A couple of years ago we bought a 12" Meade LX200 as well as a Pictor 416XT CCD camera. The decision on the Pictor 416XT was sort of rushed decision since we had very little time to write the application for the funding of the equipment. Now it seems as if the 416XT was not a good decision. I never was really satisfied with its performance and with the Meade software that came with it. We now have the opportunity to again apply for funding and I would like to submit an application to buy a better CCD camera. We use it for student practicals and would like to use it for multi-color photometry. Autoguiding is quite important. So is good software. I shall appreciate it if someone can give me good advice on what to buy. Budget is limited as usual but any advice is welcome. Thanks Johan van der Walt |
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