Options for fast, large frame mono cameras?

[Merlin66]

Need some input.....
What's the current "weapon of choice" for planetary/ lunar/ solar imaging?
I'm looking for some alternative options to the DMK series of cameras.
Must be mono, and have good frame rates (>15/sec)
Any ideas?
Thanks

[John K]

ASI120mm - good to 1280X960 and USB3.0.

I have the USB 2.0 version and definitely the unit of choice.

they are talking about a cooled version at some point which would be a gun!

[Amaranthus]

Yes, I use the ASI120MM-S - it's the USB 3 version. It can easily do 60fps at full resolution. It also works brilliantly as an ultra-sensitive guide camera (that's what I mainly use it for, but have tinkered a bit with planetary).

[Merlin66]

John,
With USB2 what frame rate can you achieve?

[John K]

On Saturn I am getting 30 FPS for R, and G, about 17 for Blue.

For Mars 70 FPS for R, 45 for G, 30 for G.

For the Moon with an IR685 filter I am getting about 24 FPS at full resolution.

All this is with a 12.5" f/5 and 5 x Powermate - so nearly 9m focal length.

[JB80]

I can't speak for the 120mm-s version as I have the mm but the frame rates I get for solar start at around 27-30fps at full resolution and once I change the ROI in firecapture to concentrate on a particular feature are around 60-90fps, I have even had it at 100+ when concentrating just on a small sun spot region.
It's much the same for Lunar too.

My logs for Mars and Saturn are on the laptop but I think I get a touch lower frame rate than John but then my scope isn't the largest around.

It's a great camera and all I can really say is it is a shame that I got mine a couple of weeks before the MM-S was released as that is supposed to be even faster.

Then only issue is for Ha imaging you can get Newton rings, they never really turn up until I add a barlow to the train and either with a touch of drift or taking a flat I manage to negate them somewhat.
My DMK only gets used occasionally now and only for a full disc shot with the PST.

Other than that I know the Point Grey Flea's seem to be a popular choice or another PG one but I can't really comment on those.

edit: I'll also add that if you are to consider the ASI120mm then you should look at the QHY5-ii as they are practically the same thing and I think the QHY is better suited for the PST eyepiece holder as the ASI's adapters are not great on a vanilla PST, fine on the mod however. It was a close call on which to get for me but the fact the ASI came with a fisheye for all-sky shots sold it. I have yet to use that lens in anger though.

[SteveInNZ]

There was some discussion on another forum for a similar camera and these were suggested -

Point Grey Grasshopper 3. CMOSIS CMV4000 sensor 1" 2048x2048 90 fps 55% max $1395
Point Grey Grasshopper 3 Sony ICX808 sensor 1/1.8" 2016x2016 18fps max 80% max QE $1495
Imaging Source DMK 23UP031 Aptima MT9P031 sensor 2592x1944 1/2.5" 15fps 53% max QE $499

Steve.

[Camelopardalis]

Interesting suggestions. Quite high resolutions...what kind of scope/focal length/seeing is required to take advantage of those?

[Merlin66]

The reason for the request was to find suitable mono, fast frame cameras for use with spectroheliographs....
We need small pixel, hi resolution to image the various absorption bands in the solar spectrum then extract a "line scan image" to combine into a full disk scan of the sun in the selected wavelength.
This way you can safely image the sun not only in Ha but Mg, Fe, Na - in fact any wavelength you want! Try doing that with a commercial solar filter.

[Merlin66]

The Basler ace 1920-155um also gets mentioned...
USB3 only....
http://www.baslerweb.com/en/products/area-scan-cameras/ace/aca1920-155um