What CCD cameras do folk recommend at various price points?

[g__day]

I'd be interested in your views at what CCD vs calibre of scopes makes a sensible pairing. Looking thru the latest Australian Astronomy magazine reveals several options, including:

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 239pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=319 border=0 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><COL style="WIDTH: 137pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6692" width=183><COL style="WIDTH: 54pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2633" width=72><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=64 height=17>Meade</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; WIDTH: 137pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=183>Deep Sky Imager</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; WIDTH: 54pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" width=72 x:num="529"> $ 529.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Deep Sky Imager Pro</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="749"> $ 749.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>Celestron</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Nextimage</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="265"> $ 265.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17>StarShoot</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Deep Space CCD</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="579"> $ 579.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">Solar System Colour Imaging</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="225"> $ 225.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" height=17></TD><TD class=xl23 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent">ST7xme</TD><TD class=xl24 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" x:num="2750"> $2,750.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Any recommendations, given I'm on a 5" MAK and I'm aiming towards a 10" -12" SCT?

[Robert_T]

g'day g_day,

If you're after a deep sky camera you can leave aside the neximage as it's really a dedicated solar system imager (you can do a long exposure mod but it will always be ltd as it has no cooling).

I'm tempted myself just to buy the star shoot deep sky colour camera and see how it goes as a beginners foray into deep sky CCD. It's a good price, is colour already so no filtering required and has more pixels and peltier cooling. All sounds good, but I guess the proof of the ccd pudding will be in the capture.

good luck,

[Hitchhiker]

Hi g-day, if I was buying an entry level CCD for deep sky, now, I would buy the Orion StarShoot simply because of the thermoelectric cooling. Do your research though - I've seen some positive comments, so far, but no full blown review.

[Striker]

I also would like the Orion Deep space starshooter but they havn't been released yet as far as I know....there saying January now in the states.

[g__day]

Thanks!

I'm surprised they StarShoot advertised a thermocouple (a.k.a. peltier) device with no apparent heat sink/fan to blow off all the heat they generate. If you have what is in effect a heat pump, you really do want something effective to exhaust all the generated heat away effectively, else you'll have a 50 - 60 celcius part hanging off the back of your scope ready to burn you or melt wires.

Strange design.

[gbeal]

Why not look at a used Starlight Xpress camera as well?

[g__day]

Any links to these CCDs and/or any reviews? I haven't seen many guides for intermediate to advanced starwatchers - I'd love to read those!

[atalas]

Hi g_day,and a Merry Christmas to you ! for Starlight Xpress cameras google and you'll find all info on them . Now being a owner of one I can tell you that they are an excellent camera .

[anthony2302749]

Hi

Consider this as an idea, go for the DSI or DSI Pro which can both be used for imaging as well as autoguiding (if you need to cool the DSI you can add the Outback Cooler from Mogg Adapter later) plus the Canon 350D. The complete package would set you back about $2000 to $2500, less then what you would pay for an ST-7XME.

I would go for the DSI Pro as it is a monochrome camera (Monochrome cameras are more sensitive than their colour counterparts) and you can start daddling around with RGB imaging. As the DSI can be used as an autoguide you can use the Canon 350D as a large format imager e.g 8 Megapixal as apposed to 250 000 pixels with the DSI. Save me writing for hours on the subject it would be best if you check out Chris Venter's image of M42 to get an idea what the 350D can do.

http://www.asv.org.au/index.php?option=com_zoom&Itemid=42&page=view&catid=4&PageNo=4&key=30&hit=1

Just my thoughts on the topic

[g__day]

Conincidence - M42 is my wife's wallpaper - that exact shot!