New GStar EX Colour Camera

renormalised (Carl) · #1 15-09-2009, 01:58 PM

Just been released over at MyAstroShop. $495, it appears.

lacad01 (Adam) · #2 15-09-2009, 03:06 PM

Darn good price by the looks of it

renormalised (Carl) · #3 15-09-2009, 03:08 PM

Yeah, I'll have to email Steve and confirm that price.

renormalised (Carl) · #4 15-09-2009, 04:31 PM

Just got an email back from Steve. That's the price point he's looking at...$495. Said he should have stock in around 4 weeks.

davewaldo · #5 15-09-2009, 04:40 PM

Would this work as a colour viewing aid? Basically what I mean is, could you use this with a big dob to see colour images of galaxies real time on an LCD?

lacad01 (Adam) · #6 15-09-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davewaldo

Would this work as a colour viewing aid? Basically what I mean is, could you use this with a big dob to see colour images of galaxies real time on an LCD?

Certainly would. Check out the thread below of screen shots from similar cameras such as the Malincan Colour, Watec, etc some colour some mono
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthrea.../fpart/21/vc/1

renormalised (Carl) · #7 15-09-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davewaldo

Would this work as a colour viewing aid? Basically what I mean is, could you use this with a big dob to see colour images of galaxies real time on an LCD?

Yes, especially of the brighter objects...M42, M27, M8, M31, LMC/SMC, stars etc. Great for the planets and Moon as well

davewaldo · #8 15-09-2009, 04:59 PM

Sounds like fun

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #9 15-09-2009, 06:49 PM

Yep, Start saving now and you can have one for Christmas.

coldspace · #10 15-09-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davewaldo

Would this work as a colour viewing aid? Basically what I mean is, could you use this with a big dob to see colour images of galaxies real time on an LCD?

I agree you will be able to see some objects in colour with this new camera, but it depends on how long the intergration times are and how much gain can be achieved without any TEC cooling to bring out the best image from the colour chip for " Real time" viewing in colour of most of the brighter dep sky objects without the need of stacking.
It should perform good on brighter objects in "Real time" and at its price is very affordable to most people. Would like to see some "Real time" examples from this camera without any stacking or processing.

Viewing objects in real time in colour not only is more pleasing to the eye but it wil also show you more detail in the object so its good to see other manufactures starting to bring out colour versions for real time viewing and not just imaging with filters etc.

At 495 its a bargain, it will appeal to alot of people.

You won't just need a big Dob, any scope can do just that fast optics and at least Alt/AZ tracking, so for a Dob a servo cat or a round table system work very well or fork mounted SCT.

These types of cameras are excellent for viewing with friends and kids love it. It is one way to get kids interested in astronomy as its "plug and play" with instant gratification.

These cameras are great on deep sky objects and OK on moon and planets but I dare say a DMK 31 would be a better choice on solar system objects.

The Mallincam with TEC is the best colour system out there by far for "Real time" viewing without stacking and post processing. Buts its custom made, pricey and 6 month wait, but service from Rock Mallin is 10 out of 10. He does upgrades if you get one as he improves his electronics in the cameras. Attached are a couple of examples for you of M42 at 2 seconds intergration and 7 seconds intergration and one of the moon. This is what we see on a 19 inch LCD in real time in light polluted Brissy.

Matt.

duncan · #11 15-09-2009, 07:49 PM

Hi All,
At last a new toy to buy and so damn affordable.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At least it will be a Xmas present that the ( ONE TO OBEY! ) wont argue about.
Tee Hee!!
WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Duncan

renormalised (Carl) · #12 15-09-2009, 08:43 PM

Yeah, the Mallincams are exceptional cameras, but at US$1200 they're a little expensive.

coldspace · #13 15-09-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renormalised

Yeah, the Mallincams are exceptional cameras, but at US$1200 they're a little expensive.

Yep, expensive but still cheap for the performnce they punch out. Although its cheaper than a cooled starshoot or QHY8 but conventional imaging was not the pathway I wanted to head down. Add in shipping/insurance, gst,import duty and conversion to the AUD its more like 2K so you could get 4 of these Gstar colour cameras but I still won't be trading mine in for anything else soon and the cooling makes a very big difference as it allows you to crank up the gain. I have used mine for about 2 years now and it still blows me away with what it can do.
All these cameras are great for people to see objects, especialy from light polluted environments.

Its so cool when a good friend of mine rings me up with his latest 18th mag S/nova discovery a 100 mly away and I can plug the video system in and view it on a LCD screen. I would have no chance of seeing these things even in a 30 inch from dark skies.

For people wanting to experiment with imaging without all the time issues I totally recommend video astronomy

especially when sharing with kids and friends.

Matt.

renormalised (Carl) · #14 15-09-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldspace

Yep, expensive but still cheap for the performnce they punch out. Although its cheaper than a cooled starshoot or QHY8 but conventional imaging was not the pathway I wanted to head down. Add in shipping/insurance, gst,import duty and conversion to the AUD its more like 2K so you could get 4 of these Gstar colour cameras but I still won't be trading mine in for anything else soon and the cooling makes a very big difference as it allows you to crank up the gain. I have used mine for about 2 years now and it still blows me away with what it can do.
All these cameras are great for people to see objects, especialy from light polluted environments.

Its so cool when a good friend of mine rings me up with his latest 18th mag S/nova discovery a 100 mly away and I can plug the video system in and view it on a LCD screen. I would have no chance of seeing these things even in a 30 inch from dark skies.

For people wanting to experiment with imaging without all the time issues I totally recommend video astronomy

especially when sharing with kids and friends.

Matt.

That's true....any of these cameras are good value for money.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #15 15-09-2009, 09:25 PM

I love my Gstar.

coldspace · #16 15-09-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I love my Gstar.

I know you do

.

marki · #17 15-09-2009, 09:31 PM

Might have to look into this as they could be great for viewing nights at school

.

Mark

renormalised (Carl) · #18 15-09-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marki

Might have to look into this as they could be great for viewing nights at school

.

Mark

They'd be great for school viewing nights. Have one connected to a large LCD and you could have 20-30 kids around the screen and explaining to them what they're seeing.

coldspace · #19 15-09-2009, 09:45 PM

A further note on the expense of these cameras.
Rock hand assembles them one at a time only he does it and not 100 workers in a factory. They share the same outer housing as some other makes but he guts them, installs a nice Sony ICX418AKL-A class 1 colour CCD sensor which he picks out of small batches and tests for quality before installing them, he then puts in a Holtec high gain amp and installs a custom made TEC system which can cool to 40 below.
He then adds long toggle switches to increase the intergration times upto 56 seconds, being small produced at only a few cameras a week thats why they are expensive but when you see one in action its worth every penny. I might sound like a dealer of these promoting them but after seeing first hand what they can do and his back up service I am surprised not many people have taken these up in this country, might be because they are not well known and the price scares some into getting one.

Back up service is top notch a friend of mine broke his after 3 years, and Rock via email could not work out what went wrong to his camera so he is sending my friend out a new one for free even though its a year out of warranty. Great service.

Matt.

coldspace · #20 15-09-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marki

Might have to look into this as they could be great for viewing nights at school

.

Mark

Mark for school viewing nights the video systems can't be beat.
I have used mine a couple of times at my daughters school and that was a big mistake

as now I keep getting requests to do it again and again.

Not just boring old moon or Jupiter, but you can show the kids some deep sky delights on a LCD and they are in awe as they would have no chance of seeing these in the eyepiece in a light polluted sky at school.

Also, you don't have to worry about all of the kids grabbing eyepieces and the teachers can have them all seated in front of the monitor while you talk to them, no one wants to go home which was a problem.
These systems are perfect for this.

Matt.