Hi All,
I have been reading
Chris' thread about his monster scopes and cameras on the way and got to wondering, based on my modest little F5 200mm Skywatcher newt, which of these cameras in my price range would suit my scope the best.
As I have been struggling with Light Pollution, processing, the unmodded 1000D DSLR, MPCC etc etc, I have decided that the time is nigh for a cooled CCD up to about $1500 max.
Research has led me to the following, which I have plugged into CCD calc to look at the arcsec/pixel values and field of view display. However, I am not 100% sure of the optimum pixel size of the camera for my short 1000mm FL scope....hence the question.
Here is what I am looking at in order of preference;
1) QHY8L - $1450 - 6.1 megapixel, 7.8um pixel size (square), 3110 x 2030 pixels = 1.61 arcsec per pixel
This is the nicest looking, seems to have the best chip (Sony HAD) and has TEC cooling down to 35 deg below ambient.
2) Orion Starshoot V2 Pro - $1499 - basically the same chip (Sony 413AQ) - design, size, pixels, everything....except no guide port and temp cooling only -30 deg below ambient....? Same 1.61 arsec per pixel
3) Atik 320E - $1399 - 2.0 Megapixel however, 4.4um pixel size, giving an arsec/pixel of 0.91....the readout noise is extremely low, only 3e- compared to the above 2 cameras that say they are 8 to 10e-. I assume I could bring the arsec/pixel up by binning the camera to say 2x2 but the resultant image would be halved in resolution? Is that the way it works?
For the LP issue, I am also looking at a 2" IDAS LPS filter to help remove the Sydney junk from the sky near my house...as well as building a light box to take care of the flats that I have been procrastinating doing....
So the question is, for the combo I have, the HEQ5 Pro with the F5 200mm newt, I assume I can use the MPCC on the cameras (as I think I still need to as these are APS size chips like my 1000D), which OSC camera would give me the best arcsec per pixel ratio to maximise the results of my limited skills at capturing and processing my images?
Or, is there a better recommendation of a camera for the budget of which that I am unaware?
I would be interested in your thoughts and advice.
Thanks in advance
Chris