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Old 02-12-2007, 05:21 PM
Zuts
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ST2000 XCM Question

What do I need to autoguide on my EQ6 Pro with a ST2000 XCM. I have a GPUSB from shoestring, is this enough or do i need something more.

And how do you connect it up, the camera directly to the mount or to the laptop and then the laptop to the mount.

Thanks Paul
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  #2  
Old 02-12-2007, 05:51 PM
gbeal
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I have the same camera, but a different mount.
Mine came with an RJ11 style lead, and an RJ11 to serial adaptor plug. This adaptor plug fits into the bottom of the camera, and the other end (RJ11) fits into the control socket of my mount. The mount is normally controlled by The Sky, and or Maxim DL.
If your EQ6 Pro has an RJ11 style socket, then I would try plugging this straight into the mount first, not the GPUSB. If all else fails, ask again.
Gary
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Old 02-12-2007, 07:15 PM
Zuts
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Thanks Gary,

I havn't got one yet but I want to be ready when and if i do.

By the way, what do you think of the camera?

Thanks Paul
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Old 03-12-2007, 10:38 AM
gbeal
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As far as most mounts etc are concerned, it is plug and play.
I was a dyed in the wool mono aficionado but tried this as a hope it works scenario. I love it. It is simple, but effective, and while mono will likely give better results, the extra work involved in R.G.B imaging may not necessarily reflect these better results.
I know of at least one other in NZ and he loves it as well. Effort to result ratio is very good.
Gary
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Old 03-12-2007, 11:47 AM
jase (Jason)
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Just to follow on from what Gary mentions...

The ST2kXCM is a very capable camera. The one shot colour certainly takes much less work in producing "pretty pictures". Though one shot colour CCD cameras along with DSLR's will not achieve the same quality output of a mono CCD camera equipped with colour filters. This isn't a debatable point. You only need to look around to see what the "pros" are using to see this trend. However, Mono CCD imaging with filters isn't for everyone. It does take a considerable effort to produce a good image compared to a one shot colour.

Other things to note;
  • You'll still need to colour balance your images with a one shot colour camera. This is unavoidable. The workload is not as simple as many believe. You'll probably end up splitting out the individual R,G,B channels so you can manually work on them.
  • In some cases exposure times with the one shot colour need to be longer than that of a mono camera due to the reduced QE. Though many one shot colour CCD chips have improved QE that are close or equal to mono chips nowadays.
  • Regardless of the camera type, you'll still have battles dealing with light pollution and its associated gradients it will produce on your images. Mono does give you the edge if you want to use narrowband filters, though these can also be used with one shot colour cameras (but are less effective).
  • Something that I didn't think of which was mentioned in an SBIG post on one shot colour cameras; "There are problems with colour artefacts, because in anti-blooming versions, the individual colours start to hit the ABG, at different points. So if you image a 'blue' star, and approach the ABG, the blue colour gets attenuated relative to the other colours, resulting in great problems with colour balance across the image."
  • "There is also an artificial 'shift' induced by the positions of the different colour pixels, which results in displacement between the colours, as you start to approach being undersampled." Neither of these two issues occur using a mono camera with filters.
The one shot colour camera is certain a great step up from the DSLR and along with DSLR's, both have their uses in this hobby. It comes back to your goals. If you're in this hobby to have fun and capture a few pics, then the one shot colour will do the task nicely. If the price is right for the ST2kXCM - go for it. You can always sell and upgrade to a mono later down the track as your experience increases.
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Old 05-12-2007, 06:36 AM
Zuts
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Thanks Jase and Gary,

I have looked at some photos and think I would be happy with the ST2000XCM. I guess I am just deciding if i want to try and find the extra money for the ST4000XCM. Also the QHY8 looks very interesting.

I have been using a DSLR and LRGB imaging seems very difficult which is why the one shot colour seems so attractive. Were I to try RGB, LRGB etc I think Jase is right, later on i could sell the one shot colour, but first i think i could buy a cheaper smaller size mono camera and see how i went with that.

Thanks everyone.
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