NGC 1300 The Sprinkler Galaxy

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Certainly not saying anything bad about the old Starlight express Mike, I've always heard they were exceptional cameras but I always had issues finding focus which I put down to my inexperience and possibly now thinking about it a spacing issue using a camera lens and adapter.
I've always wanted to get it operational, I should read the manual again, it was the only name I ever knew going from my SLR and I always wanted one and it was the first astronomy camera I ever bought (very old when I bought it but in amazing condition).
Plus I was always trying to achieve focus on distant mountains with the Starlight book suggesting landscape learning. Moving trees don't focus so well at higher zoom levels, it could have been that, it could have beenmany things including the possibility I'm just too stupid to use a good camera.
I still have it in it's original box with manual and cables and must try again one day, the unit looks in new condition and that's EXACTLY why I have not tried to modify putting a different camera sensor into the cooled body. I fix junk, I don't destroy good stuff, ever.
I'd rather give it to someone than risk destroying it.

[joshman (Josh)]

It's a fantastic image Mike, and that camera is definitely a good improvement over the previous. I'm really looking forward to seeing what mischief you can make with this!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Certainly not saying anything bad about the old Starlight express Mike, I've always heard they were exceptional cameras

Hey no worries, didn't think you were

I still have it in it's original box with manual and cables and must try again one day, the unit looks in new condition and that's EXACTLY why I have not tried to modify putting a different camera sensor into the cooled body. I fix junk, I don't destroy good stuff, ever. I'd rather give it to someone than risk destroying it.

Which SX camera is it? Sounds more like you were trying to setup your image train with the incorrect spacing figures..?

Originally Posted by joshman

It's a fantastic image Mike, and that camera is definitely a good improvement over the previous. I'm really looking forward to seeing what mischief you can make with this!

Thanks mate, happy enough...now just need to change the telescope ..........

Mike

[PRejto (Peter)]

I will only make a short barb....goood thing you stayed away from the early SX-46!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by PRejto

I will only make a short barb....goood thing you stayed away from the early SX-46!

Yes, I recal you had some issues, never fun . For big chip work, I was using the FLI Pro Line16803 from March 2010, it is also amazing, can cool to 60C below ambient, which was great during summer, I could stay with -30C darks all year round! ...haven't given it a run yet from Eagleview, too keen to utilise the excellent seeing I get now and it only provides a coarse 3.5"/pix on the TakFSQ106, to which it is attached....

Mike

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I'll have to hunt it and check which model, I know I put it away somewhere safe so it didn't get damaged. I do know it's a colour unit and it came with the original book and everything was done to what was printed in the user manual. It was so different to my old D80 (I guess as is my D810 strangely enough, lol).
You may have seen mention, I collect cameras (other than astronomy) and have been for well over 50 years, I look after my gear. But my baby is broken (D810 aperture error with any lens (except for automated G lenses)), the repair centre sent me a shipping label today and they cover postage (with a minimum repair fee of $99 and that's fair enough) and I have to pack it up tonight and get it sorted. I feel broken without it.
compliment to the company whose name I can't recall at the moment, they even emailed instructions for correct packaging of the camera body for postage and while I spent enough time working as a parts interpreter (a step down from the tools as a forklift technician) I shipped enough products to know how to safely package sensitive stuff but many people don't and it was a nice touch.

[AlexN]

Beautiful image Mike! (surprise... give the big man even better resolution and he produces even finer detail...)

I remember lusting after the SX25C when I had a QHY8 in 2008~2009.

They both carried the same sensor, but the Starlight Xpress model had proper setpoint based cooling, and somehow, even cleaner electronics. Not to mention, it did not exhibit the garish reflections the QHY8's optical window caused...

I am a sucker for old tech though... I'd still prefer a 16200 over any of the current CMOS sensors... or a 16803 if I could ever find one at a price I was comfortable paying for a used camera... Even the KAF8300 that I sold in December last year was still chugging along beautifully after 13 years of service...

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by AlexN

Beautiful image Mike! (surprise... give the big man even better resolution and he produces even finer detail...)

I remember lusting after the SX25C when I had a QHY8 in 2008~2009.

They both carried the same sensor, but the Starlight Xpress model had proper setpoint based cooling, and somehow, even cleaner electronics. Not to mention, it did not exhibit the garish reflections the QHY8's optical window caused...

I am a sucker for old tech though... I'd still prefer a 16200 over any of the current CMOS sensors... or a 16803 if I could ever find one at a price I was comfortable paying for a used camera... Even the KAF8300 that I sold in December last year was still chugging along beautifully after 13 years of service...

Thanks Alex Yeah the SX and FLI CCD based cameras are still awesome and if I get the conditions on the left half of this graph I have a galaxy machine now

It was recently one year since our son Ben passed away, so it's been a bit somber and we have been dealing with the associated stuff . Hopefully the New Year will bring me a new image

Mike