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Old 23-11-2007, 08:12 PM
Zuts
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ST-402XME, Help

Hi All,

I can get an SBIG ST-402XME for 900AUD

Is this a good deal?
Is this a good camera?

Has a filter wheel but no filters

What do you guys think?
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  #2  
Old 23-11-2007, 08:22 PM
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[1ponders] (Paul)
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I don't know the XME but check out the ones from Optcorp http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?...kw=ST-402&st=2
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?...kw=ST-402&st=2
Is it USB or serial? ABG or NABG (Antiblooming gateway/Non-antiblooming gateway)
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Old 23-11-2007, 08:29 PM
Zuts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by [1ponders] View Post
I don't know the XME but check out the ones from Optcorp http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?...kw=ST-402&st=2
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?...kw=ST-402&st=2
Is it USB or serial? ABG or NABG (Antiblooming gateway/Non-antiblooming gateway)
I believe USB2.0 and NABG
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Old 23-11-2007, 08:36 PM
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Sounds like a damn fine price to me. From memory it uses the same chip as it's big brother the ST 7XME.
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Old 23-11-2007, 08:44 PM
Zuts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by [1ponders] View Post
Sounds like a damn fine price to me. From memory it uses the same chip as it's big brother the ST 7XME.
Hi 1Ponders
Thats what i beleive, I am umming and rrring as i really want a one shot colour.

How would this go with a small refractor F4.8 with focal reducer, 80mm?

Thanks Paul
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Old 23-11-2007, 08:47 PM
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It would be lovely with that refractor, , but doing RGB and LRGB imaging is challenging I hear. I haven't tried it yet as I'm still doing a shake down on the camera and getting to know it properly (the 7XME I bought in July. I nearly bought the 402).
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Old 23-11-2007, 08:49 PM
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Mind you at that price you could pick up a good second hand 350D from somewhere, use that for the colour and the 402 for the Luminance
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Old 23-11-2007, 08:58 PM
Zuts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by [1ponders] View Post
Mind you at that price you could pick up a good second hand 350D from somewhere, use that for the colour and the 402 for the Luminance
Hi again

Now I am confused. I have a 400D, but because its not cooled or modded it is not ideal for astrophotography, but its all i have and i love it.

How would adding luminance to a 400D RGB frame make my picture prettier given that i cant go for more than about 5 minutes with a SLR and since i shoot in inner sydney need to use an astronomic UHC filter.

Lots of questions I know, but i need to make a decision quick

Here is the filter wheel (minus the filters of course):
http://www.sbig.com/sbwhtmls/402bvi.htm

And here is the camera specs: http://www.sbig.com/products/402_new.htm

The 'M' in 'XME' means 'microlensing' and so is more sensitive than the
non-'M' XE, which is also antiblooming as well as microlens-less.


Thanks Paul

Last edited by Zuts; 23-11-2007 at 09:00 PM. Reason: more info
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Old 23-11-2007, 09:12 PM
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The 400D will be great for imaging, you just need to make sure you take lots of lights and keep your darks as close to your light temperatures as you can. Basically you use the Canon to supply the colour and the SBIG to supply the detail, similar to an LRGB image

You use a mono luninance shot that has greater resolution than a standard colour image to increase the detail of the image. This can be problematic if you have an NABG. If you are trying to image a dim object and there are bright stars in the FOV they can start to bloom very quickly before you get detail on the dim objects.

Basically you use the Canon to supply the colour and the SBIG to supply the detail, similar to an LRGB image.
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Old 24-11-2007, 05:02 AM
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Check the specs, as somewhere in this pea sized brain of mine I recall there being a colour filter wheel that fits internally perhaps??
Gary
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Old 24-11-2007, 05:39 AM
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If you read the fine print, that price is in USD
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Old 25-11-2007, 10:42 PM
Vince G
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zuts View Post
Hi All,

I can get an SBIG ST-402XME for 900AUD

Is this a good deal?
Is this a good camera?

Has a filter wheel but no filters

What do you guys think?
The ST402ME is a very sensitive camera. One of the highest QE chips available. KAF 0402ME. The same chip as in the ST7XME, and as sensitive as the ST8XME, but not as large unless you use a f3.3 focal reducer.

The RGB filter wheel would be installed inside the camera. Using a software to image, such as CCDOPS, select a filter and take an image. Look down into the camera while you are taking the image and you should see the filter.

$900 AUD or US is still cheaper than normal. Unless you want to image with a single shot colour, or have a large field of view, it is an excellent camera for astrometry and photemetry.


Vince G
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