Moving up from a DSLR to What?

[glend]

I have been using a Canon 450D DSLR but am thinking about getting a serious astro camera with a cooled sensor array (something hard to do with the Canon). What are the recommendations from the experts on a possible camera as an intro to a dedicated astro platform? The primary scope is: a 10" ultralight imaging newt (f/5, 1250fl) sitting on a NEQ6 mount, and it is equipped with a dedicated guidescope and ASI130MM guidecamera. The Canon 450D has pixel size of 5.19, and my targets are DSOs. My budget will not stretch to Finger Lakes or QSI cameras but I could afford an ATIK 320E or something similiar - so say $1500 to $2500 AUD. Is it feasible to get a good performing one-shot colour, cooled sensor camera for that price? Any advice by guys with the experience is welcome.

[pluto]

Are you looking to get a mono camera with filters or a one shot colour?

My first step into CCD imaging was an Atik 314L+ mono with an Orion 5 pos manual filter wheel and Baader narrowband filters. This steup cost about $2500 from memory and performed really well.

If you're going to go a colour camera you could get a QHY9 for about $2500 I think. Or perhaps the QHY8 with its bigger pixels would be better suited to your scope.

[glend]

Hugh thanks, as stated in the first post, one-shot colour (no filter wheel etc).

[rmuhlack]

$2500 would get you a QHY10 from Theo at Gama Electronics. That would be my pick for a OSC with your scope

[photosinferno]

Hi Glend,
Considering your scope set up and the fact you mentioned the Atik 320E (which is now superseded by the 420), Have you heard about the new Atik 414EX which has a much more efficient chip than the venerable 314L+?
Thought I'd mention it ;)
However the Pixel size is a bit more at 6.45 vs 4.4 for the 420
http://www.atik-cameras.com/product/atik-414ex/

John :)

[Andy01]

The new Sony A7s DSLR is rumoured to be coming soon as a cooled & modded unit - An IIS member recently got a modded one for around $2500
Its a game changing awesome high Iso low noise full frame camera!

[rustigsmed]

An alternative is the CDS modified dslrs.
cooled spectrum enhanced 6d's in your budget and maybe cooled spectrum enhanced A7s.

http://www.centralds.net/cam/?post_type=product

[rmuhlack]

I reckon there would be serious vignetting with a full frame sensor in combination with the 2" focuser that Glen is using, which would count out the 6D or A7s. The corrected field of a MPCC is also smaller than full-frame. If you want to go OSC CCD with that scope, you're best to stick with something like the QHY9c or QHY8/10/12.