[floyd_2 (Dean)]

Hi Leo,
this is a version of the camera with both a main chip, and also an offset smaller chip for guiding. It's sort of an all-in-one camera that also does the work of an off axis guider, but without a separate OAG unit and camera.

I'm pretty sure that the current version is only an MC (colour) version. The introduction of an MM version (mono) might be interesting for some. The problem as I see it is that if you use filters, you only receive the filtered light to the main imaging chip AND the guiding chip. This may not be enough light for guiding. However, with a normal OAG setup, you can pick the light for the guide camera before the filter (if you use a filter) giving you an unmodified clean light source for guiding. You can also rotate the position of the guide camera separately to the main imaging camera when using a normal (not duo) setup to find more guide stars if the field is a little on the sparse side. This helps with framing whilst finding the best guide stars.

This is where the comments of the DUO being a little limiting come from. Of course, you also can't later upgrade your guide camera in the DUO without needing to either sell, then buy a new camera - or waste the onboard guide camera and use a separate OAG setup / camera.

Dean