Which Camera ????

[loc46south (Geoffrey)]

Hi - I'm sure this question has been asked 1,000 times - but which current camera is suitable for Moon & Planets - Without breaking bank or mortgaging wife.

Present preoccupation is Deep Space and have ST8 and ST2000XCM but neither really that good for solar system imaging.

Thanks in advance
Geof

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

The Imaging Source cameras seem to be quite popular - either the mono version with a filter wheel or you can get an OSC version.

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Hi Geoff, the answer depends on how much money you want to spend - for those on a budget the Imaging Source cameras are the best bet, if you have more to spend (ie around $2k) then the cameras from Point Grey Research or Lumenera are the current top of the line.

I've been using the PGR Dragonfly2 mono camera + filters for the last couple of years and it's a very good camera.

cheers, Bird

[Paul Haese]

Geof as mentioned budget really determines what you can get. Aside from the Imaging Source camera's you could also try using a 900nc which is pretty cheap and affordable and will give you a taste of what planetary imaging is really like. I think they retail for around $200 with a nose piece.

If you are already more serious about planetary imaging then the DMK or DFK or DBK cameras from the Imaging Source are probably what you are after. They can provide quite good images (please take a look through my planetary images on my website), are quite sensitive and provide fairly low levels of noise.

I am currently using a Lumenera Skynyx 2-0 camera which is a top of the range camera, and is quite expensive. The results they provide are excellent but price is the problem.

Let us know if you have any futher questions.

[loc46south (Geoffrey)]

Thanks for advice - I decided to go for a paddle in the shallow end before jumping in the deep end and ordered a Imaging Source DMK 21AU04 Mono - I want to have a crack at Jupiter later in the year. Plus I'm trying to accumulate some cash for a decent refractor in the 130mm class - once the NZ$ V US$ rate improves a bit.

Cheers
Geof