The STL11000 Monochrome is not far away now.

[Gama]

Originally Posted by jase

Camera manufacturers have secured a very limited supply of the 11k class 2 chip, so get in quick if you’re interested. I suspect prices will change back to class 1 spec soon as supplies diminish.

Kodak discontinued the KAI11000 sensor, and obviously a few manufacturers bought up the last stocks on the cheap.
Kodak has brought out the newer KAI11002 which from what i read, is exactly the bloody same. No difference whats so ever. Noise the same, QE the same, everything the same !. What was the point, maybe i missed something ?..

[Striker (Tony)]

I too liked the H9 but we are talking about a tiny chip compared to the STL11000.

The sony chips have a much less dark noise but it stops quickly at the H9.

Sony arn't making larger Monochrome chips thats why Starlight are moving onto Kodak chip...the H9 is there largest monochrome chip.....its all color sony chips from then on.

[Striker (Tony)]

Maybe your looking into QE to highly Gama.

have you seen some of the images produced by the ST2000 and STL11000.

Both of these camera are no suited to narrowband imaging but look at Brad moores images.

http://www.southern-astro.com.au/

Not that I expect to get anywhere near that but I like the results most people are getting with the ST-2000.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Very interesting info in this thread, and just what I'd been reading and learning over the last few months.

Each camera certainly has it's place, especially the STL11000. It does produce spectacular photo's and that large chip would be so nice.

I recently was considering upgrading my ST7 to a ST2000 but recently decided against it when I realised the dramatic difference in QE between the two. I have found that the astro photography I find most interesting and fun is the really really really faint stuff that few other people bother to image, so the 85% QE of the ST7 made the decision for me to stick with it's smaller chip size. So I've found myself a CFW8 for it now instead of upgrading the camera.

It all comes down to what you want to photograph, and if you don't care, then how pretty the pictures will turn out.

All interesting stuff. Very hard to comprehend as a beginner, I remember tyring to understand it all 3 years ago and just couldn't so went with the ST7 by default of price range. Now I have a much better understanding but gez it takes a bit. Perhaps that's one area where the STL11000 is always a winner - it's a one stop shop for pretty pictures of dark sky objects, if you have the money.

Roger.

[Striker (Tony)]

Well said Roger.

For someone who is after the faintstuff the STL11000 is not the pick.

I purchased this camera because I originaly was after the ST2000 but when I found that I could get something with 4 times the imaging area for not that much more in comparison to the whole package I jumped at it.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Tony. You WW you (Widefield Wooz)

Look forward to pics from that monster.

[Phil]

HI there i can tell you the camera is great as i have one i also got my from Peter i think you will get a shock when you see the size of the thing also i have the narrow band filters for it which aer great but cost alot of money . Have fun with you CCD and hope to see your photos soon
Phil

[Striker (Tony)]

Thank Phil.

I Know I will love it.

Just be prepared for me to ask lots of questions.

[Gama]

The STL11000 can image very faint objects, its just a matter of time (Exposure).
Being up to 50% QE at best and 32% at worst for the H.a, it should still take very faint images. Just takes about twice as long or even 3 times. Thats why i said its good that it has a guider, as you could just let it to its business.
In the end, i ordered one as well. The autoguider and the ability for AO was the clincher for me.

[Striker (Tony)]

Congrats Gama.

They must be getting to the end of the sale soon.....there wasn't that many left when I ordered mine.

They reckon end of year could be the last of the class 2 chip special.