DSI review

[beren]

Legend cloudy nighter Suk Lee has a Meade DSI review listed on the site

http://www.cloudynights.com/lab/astrophotography/ds1.pdf

posted today i think.

[silvinator]

goash darn it, wish I had seen the last three letters of your link first. I hate it when acrobat reader opens up by itself...oh well, reading it now. Thanks for this aragorn! I don't hang out much at CN anymore, it's hard enough keeping up with AO and this forum.

[silvinator]

Well I've just read through it. Very thorough review and simply written. It does convince me that this would be an inexpensive alternative to start my astrophotography learning curve with. I really like how he showed how focus is so simply achieved with his not so pretty hartman mask. I will now go and "borrow" some nice cardboard from work to try my hand at making my own.
Does anyone know what the retail price of the DSI is in Australia? Gah! I shouldn't have read the article. Thanks a lot stuart... :P

[cometcatcher]

DSI $499 from Bintel.

I'm not all that impressed from what I've seen so far but I haven't read the review yet. Some reading for me to do now.

[mch62]

Have you guys checked out some of the new Sac imagers.
Larger chips size for wider views. 1/3 1/2 5/8 as compared to 1/4"
Yes they are more expensive but that comes with bigger chips.
You can bring one of these in your self and not pay the premium mark up of local dealers.

http://www.sac-imaging.com/main.html

[silvinator]

Ouch, that doesn't seem so great a deal after all CC, thanks for that. It may not be impressive I suppose if you want to get high resolution images that you can frame or use as a desktop pic etc, but I reckon it's as a good a start as any for someone like me. Do you guys think the LPI is better than the DSI? (only asking because it is also cheaper).
I've looked into those sac imagers mhodson, and yes they do cost a little more but you get what you pay for don't you.
I just have one question though, do all these webcams and DSI's, LPI's and sac imagers etc need to be connected to an autoguider port? I'm just asking because my lxd55 mount doesn't have a port for autoguiding so I feel my options are limited.

[mch62]

No they don't have to be but it would make like simpler.
It will depend on how bad your PE error is and the exposure length.
If your using an AVi style imager and stacking hundreds of frames or multiple single minute frames stacked than autoguideing is not necessary but if you looking at a long exposure single frame yes ( like 1/2 hour or more) .
There are different Sacs that are either one shot or AVi style.
The same as a LPi or ToUcam are AVI style that you stack the images from an AVi.
Pixels are really really small and it doesn't take much error to wander over multiple pixels. This will depend a lot on the focal ratio as well and other factors.
That being said i have seen some great long exposure pic with one shot imagers taken the old fashion why with a guide scope and your eye.

[silvinator]

thanks for that mhodson. i have a feeling the PE error will be a figure I won't like with my mount! But one has to make do with what they have. It's a pity it's been so cloudy lately and also the amount of time needed to learn all this and go through all the processes is also demanding. But we're all in the same boat and I have to say that those that are out there getting those wonderful images are really inspiring.

[Orion]

Thanks for posting that link Aragorn, ordered the DSI not long ago and that review was very helpfull.

[rumples riot]

I have my own review since I own one of these units. DSI stands for "dumb stupid idiot". Can't autoguide and has an almost intelligible interface that I cannot work out and Meade doesn't not supply a descent manual. Good piece of junk, does not even take shots of planets like the LPI. :bashcomp:

Not happy Jan:mad2:

[mch62]

So does that mean you don't like it:P :D

[rumples riot]

Not that I don't like it, just really disappointed that I purchased it. I guess it is like anything and I will need to do some practicing with it. Contrary to what Meade says, even with experience I found it almost impossible to use on the first night. Nothing like misleading and deceptive conduct.

Anyway I would not be to eager to recommend this as a starter camera.

[mch62]

That's why Meade is so successfully , not due to superior quality equipment , but flooding the market and every magazine around with advertising . Some of which is let say stretching the truth.
Meade has some great ideas and packages , it is just a shame they don't fully live up to the Advertising ; but that life .

[rumples riot]

yeah thats for sure

[Robby]

I'm getting a DSI to try out from a friend who brought it and doesn't have the time to try it out.
It will be interesting to see if I can get "images like that" on my first night. I suspect not. We will see. Watch this space.