Grade 1 vs Grade 2 sensors

[Somnium (Aidan)]

what are people's experience with Grade 2 v grade 1 sensors? is it worth the extra couple of grand to shell out for a grade 1 sensor. or do processing techniques such as flats and darks make it less important?

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Somnium

what are people's experience with Grade 2 v grade 1 sensors? is it worth the extra couple of grand to shell out for a grade 1 sensor. or do processing techniques such as flats and darks make it less important?

I've used some class 0, 1 and 2 full frame sensors.

It simply comes down to what your time is worth.....with time and effort you can get a very clean picture from a class 2.

It's also a bit like the old Johnny Walker scotch advert....you want to take home the Scotch you want to drink, or the one you want to pay for?

[gregbradley]

I haven't used a Class 1 but I have never had trouble with any manufacturer with class 2 sensors. FLI in particular have very clean output with very little noise. I think QSI, SX and Apogee are similar. I presume SBIG are the same as well with their STF and STT and STX lines.

I don't see the value in Class 1 sensors just for a few less hot pixels.

Depending on the sensor, the Sony sensors have so little hot pixels that they simply get handled in regular median stacking or with data rejection even without dark subtraction.

Greg.