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Old 14-01-2015, 09:39 PM
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John K
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,468
Should I just cool or also mono my DSLR?

Hi guys,

I have the option of either cooling with a cold finger my trusty old Canon 400D, but also potentially debayering the camera to mono.

Going to mono will increase the cost significantly, and then add the cost of filters and a filter holder (my current filter wheel won't cut it - it's not low profile enough and also only 1.25")

So, my options are:

1. JUST COOLING - $500 PLUS SHIPPING

2. COOLING AND MONO CONVERSION - $820, PLUS $500 for 36mm LRGB FILTERS (Bintel), PLUS $150 FOR A 36mm FILTER HOLDER, PLUS SHIPPING
So the Mono option will take me up to near to $1500.

If I stick with a DSLR, is going Mono and Cooled going to give me a worthwhile improvement over just cooled DSLR OSC?

My set up is a 12.5" f/5 scope, and generally I take captures only on a single object per night typically 1.5 hours to 3 hours has been my average so far as I pack everything and head to a dark sky site away from Melbourne.

My images with the un-cooled 400D here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnka...7594507459369/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnka...7627559363154/

My "gut" is telling me cooling the DSLR is very good value, so stick with this for another year but with a cooled camera, and then get a more high end dedicated mono CCD camera later on but still have a OSC cooled unit as a back up.

People that have been on a similar journey - thoughts, advice comments?

Appreciate any advice.

Clear skies,

John K.
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