Sensitivity comparison: planetary video cameras

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

I've recently bought a new toy... a high sensitivity digital video cam from Point Grey Research in Canada, and this is how it compares to one of the most popular alternative cameras, the DMK21AF04.AS from The Imaging Source...

As you can see from the images the new camera is a significant step up!

cheers, Bird

[sheeny (Al)]

Interesting comparison Anthony.

Al.

[iceman (Mike)]

That's an excellent comparison! Really shows the sensitivity improvements.

What about noise?

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Check the backgrounds around each of the images and you can see the noise in each one. There's almost none.

cheers, Bird

[spearo (Frank)]

Nice,
How do you apply the color filters? Does it come with a filter wheel (presumably sold separately of course)?
They also dont show the prices on their website
Any hints in terms of comparison with the DMK?
frank

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Hi Frank, PGR only sell cameras.. I have a filter wheel from True Technology and filers from Astrodon (I-Series for RGB) and Astronomik for IR (742nm and 807nm).

Not sure what you're asking re: the DMK, the image I posted above shows the sensitivity comparison pretty clearly...

Under Windows you can use FireCapture for software, and under Linux (like I use) I can supply a custom build of Coriander or you can use the standard version if you like.

cheers, Bird

[Steffen]

I guess what everybody likes to know is, how much do you have to pay for the Flea3. My personal feeling (based on the fact that PGR won't give prices on their web site) is "a lot".

Cheers
Steffen.

[spearo (Frank)]

Hi
Sorry i meant the price comparison
It does definitely look more sensitive.

Of course I'm not a planetary imager...yet..but i will eventually take the plunge and this camera looks like it will do the job, just wondering about the general cost comparison with the DMK that's all.

frank

[asimov (John)]

An imformative comparison Anthony. Thank you.

[Paul Haese]

Interesting comparison Anthony. Looks really sensitive and noise looks quite good. Perhaps it is time for a new planetary camera. Thanks for taking the time to make the comparison.

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Thanks guys, the Flea3 costs $US595, not too bad for the performance level you get.

cheers, Bird

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by bird

Thanks guys, the Flea3 costs $US595, not too bad for the performance level you get.

Not too bad at all! I'm a bit puzzled that they don't offer any Mac software, being a FW-800 device and all… Then again, it may work on Macs without any further ado or driver installs.

Cheers
Steffen.

[Quark (Trevor)]

Thanks very much Bird for taking the time to do this, looking at spec's is one thing but a real world comparison is much more helpful.

Regards
Trevor

[rick01 (Roman)]

Very nice comparison. I've search for some information about Quantum efficiency of Flea 3. But I found just relative QE graph. Does anybody find chart with absolute QE? Just wondering how sensitive is this camera. Think it would be around 60%. Thanks.

edit: and what about Flea 3 with ICX414? It has 9x9 um pixel. Noise has to be veery low. But price propably veeery high.

Regards, Roman

[Troy]

Nice comparison Anthony.
It would be interesting to compare the Dragonfly2 to the Flea3 in the same way.

[gregbradley]

Wow, that is pretty clear cut.

Its more of what I was wanting in a camera.

I use a FLI filter wheel. I wonder if this tiny camera can be connected to it? It would look funny with a tiny camera sticking out of a giant filter wheel but it would do the job. I could control the filter wheel using the FLI filter wheel software.

Greg.