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Old 04-03-2014, 11:02 AM
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Paddy (Patrick)
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Camera for Ha solar imaging

This will really get Niko laughing, but...

After putting Malcolm Barker's DMK 41 on my ED80 with Lunt 50mmHa filter and B1200 at Snake Valley I am now contemplating putting a camera on this scope for solar imaging. I've been looking at the ZWO ASI 103MM mono CMOS camera which has a 6.66 mm x 5.32mm imaging area and 5.2x5.2 micron pixels.

I reckon I still won't be able to get the full disc in one shot with the 600mm focal length of my scope so I will have to use a reducer or do a mosaic for full disc images.

Questions:

Will a 0.5 focal reducer have a significant impact on image quality
Compared to the DMK 41 the pixel size of the ZWO is a bit bigger 5.2x5.2 vs 4.65x4.65. Is this likely to be reflected in significantly poorer image quality?

What I like about the ZWO is that the sensor is bigger than the DMK 41 and the price about half.

Thanks for any thoughts
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Old 04-03-2014, 11:09 AM
04Stefan07 (Stefan)
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Hey Patrick.

I hope I can help a little bit and contribute. I decided to purchase a QHY-5LII Monochrome for my Solar imaging. The first couple of times I didn't get that good of an image because I was still learning how to use it and find the best settings.

My latest image of the Sun I am happy with and find it to be a good camera for the budget I had. I do not use the software that comes with it however, I use a much better program called FireCapture.
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Old 04-03-2014, 12:30 PM
Poita (Peter)
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Do you have a computer with firewire? I have a mono grasshopper camera you could borrow for a while. It is sitting on the shelf until I can get the money together to fix my mount, so it is sitting idle. You are more than welcome to borrow it, it is fantastic for solar imaging.
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Old 05-03-2014, 11:42 AM
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Paddy (Patrick)
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Thanks Stefan and Peter!

I really appreciate your very generous offer Peter, but might find it hard to go back to a camera in the range I want to spend if I play with a grasshopper!

The QHY5 looks an interesting option. I checked out images with the ZWO and have decided to go for that option.
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Old 06-03-2014, 05:52 AM
04Stefan07 (Stefan)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy View Post
Thanks Stefan and Peter!

I really appreciate your very generous offer Peter, but might find it hard to go back to a camera in the range I want to spend if I play with a grasshopper!

The QHY5 looks an interesting option. I checked out images with the ZWO and have decided to go for that option.
Let us know how you go with the ZWO.
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Old 06-03-2014, 06:38 AM
pw (Peter)
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I'll be interested in the results with the ZWO too.
I would like a DMK51 or Grasshopper Express, but the cost/value is hard for me to get my head around. I'm currently looking at a secondhand Flea 3, but am not in love with the idea of stitching to get a full disk image.
The ZWO ASI 130MM mono looks like a good deal if it works well and gives quality results.
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Old 06-03-2014, 01:57 PM
04Stefan07 (Stefan)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pw View Post
I'll be interested in the results with the ZWO too.
I would like a DMK51 or Grasshopper Express, but the cost/value is hard for me to get my head around. I'm currently looking at a secondhand Flea 3, but am not in love with the idea of stitching to get a full disk image.
The ZWO ASI 130MM mono looks like a good deal if it works well and gives quality results.
I was deciding between the QHY and ZWO and decided to go with the QHY. I would like to see what can be achieved with the ZWO though.
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Old 06-03-2014, 02:42 PM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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Peter,
I went down the DMK route, first with the DMK21 then on to the DMK41 and finally the DMK51....
I use them on a SM60 double stacked ED80/ BF15 and also on the 102mm modded PST.
I'm over in Maribyrnong if you want to check them out....
Yes, a reducer will give a wider FOV and more solar disk on the CCD.
With the inevitable loss of surface detail due to the pixel size/ sampling.
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Old 06-03-2014, 06:56 PM
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Paddy (Patrick)
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Thanks for the offer Ken. I had a go with Malcolm Barker's DMK 41 at Snake Valley and quite liked it but want to save pennies for getting a double stack filter. So I've ordered the ZWO 130 - images look good and the price is great. Hope to have some posted by the end of next week if delivery is as fast as they promise.
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Old 07-07-2014, 04:00 PM
04Stefan07 (Stefan)
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I know this is a bit of an old post but are you able to upload some photos taken?
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Old 07-07-2014, 04:31 PM
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Octane (Humayun)
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Stefan,

Do you know if FireCapture is compatible with the original QHY5?

I agree, that the QGVideo software is atrocious.

I've read the instructions on how to take dark frames, but, the software provides no prompts. Or, maybe I'm a simpleton.

H
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Old 14-07-2014, 03:58 PM
04Stefan07 (Stefan)
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Hey mate,

Don't know if it's compatible with the original, on the website it has these cameras listed under QHY.

IMG0H, IMG132S, 5L-II

Thanks,
Stefan.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Octane View Post
Stefan,

Do you know if FireCapture is compatible with the original QHY5?

I agree, that the QGVideo software is atrocious.

I've read the instructions on how to take dark frames, but, the software provides no prompts. Or, maybe I'm a simpleton.

H
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Old 14-07-2014, 05:07 PM
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Octane (Humayun)
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Appreciate the reply, Stefan. I'll experiment on the weekend. I built my own Baader Solar Safety Film filter on the weekend.

While it won't win any awards for engineering excellence, it fits snugly on the FSQ-106N's dew shield and I was able to successfully test it yesterday just before the evening sun sunk behind the trees between the neighbour's place and ours.

H
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