Colour camera used as a guide cam?

[skogpingvin]

G'day folks, Bill here

I've got a question that was asked by a client. He wants to buy a planetary camera now for an EdgeHD 11, and then upgrade to a deep sky cam and swap the small sensor to use on a guide scope.

I use an ASI 120MM as a guide scope and don't know how well a OSC will play with PHD. Has anyone tried it? Can PHD somehow ignore the Bayer filter and just guide on luminance or something?

[gb44]

Hi Bill
I have no problem using my ZWO 178MC, which is OSC, for guiding with PhD

GlennB

[ChrisV]

I've used a 224MC and was fine. Just prefer to use my 290MM as it has smaller pixels

[doppler]

You would need something better (more sensitive) than a 120mc for guiding at longer focal lengths. They are ok at f5 but it can get hard to find guide stars at times. I swapped to the 120mm for the extra sensitivity. I should probably add that I now use an OAG, the 120mc was always good enough with a guide scope.

[paul71]

Hi Bill
I use a Zwo120mc and have for many years as a guide cam and it has never failed to find stars for guiding.

Cheers Paul.

[Nikolas]

224 mc here no issue

[assbutt94]

120mc at 400mm f/5 guidescope, at 2.5/3sec exposures.

Literally the only times ive been unable to get guidestars that are in my mainscope's FOV is when I've left the dust cap on

[skogpingvin]

Thanks everyone. Due to weight issues, my client is probably after an OAG for his EdgeHD 11. Having a guide scope might start to push the weight limit of his NEQ6.

It sounds like it's worth a try, but the sensitivity might not quite be there with a 120MC-S.