CCD cameras
CCD cameras
Hi guys, I am trying to get a good quality CCD camera for astrophotography at a budget of below 1000. Got any suggestion from you all seasoned astrophotographers?
Blast off!!!!!!!
Hi,
Before getting a CCD, what will be the scope and equipment that you intend to image with? Also, how many hours are you willing to spend imaging at night, out in the field, collecting hours of data for DSOs? Or do you intend to do widefield astrophotography?
The cheapest CCD you can get is Meade DSI first generation at S$339 from Astrobargains, but there's no point investing that money into a CCD if you don't have proper equipment such as an APO scope, as well as a motorized mount to do your astrophotography. Of course, there's also drift alignment that you ultimately have to learn, as well as spending hours in the field, just to capture enough data for your DSO. You'll need external power to do the imaging, as well as running your motorized EQ mount.
Other than those, you'll also need to think about cooling times and all. It's not as simple as getting a CCD and capturing data. Processing images are also rather different from simply stacking them like how you do with lunar and planetary imaging. If you don't process your raw data well, they could end up being images that are unsatisfactory. You'd probably feel that lugging all those heavy stuff out into the field and spending so many hours collecting data were not worthed it.
It's probably why weixing suggested a DSLR since you can play with widefield astrophotography through prime focus for a beginner, and move into DSOs if you learn how to. It's quite a hassle, and sometimes include modifying your DSLR so that you can capture data that are not detected without an IR filter. If you get bored or tired of all the work on astrophotography, you can go back to terrestial photography, provided that you didn't modify your DSLR (which will render it useless for normal photography).
My advice for you is that, don't go into a CCD without thinking of all the other hassles that comes along with astrophotography. If you think you're ready, then you can get your Meade DSI from Astrobargains. With your budget, you can probably get a Meade DSI II for $700+, or if you are willing to increase your budget, maybe the DSI III. Of course, those are actually not the best you can get. If you want to go with the best, Lumenera SKYnyx is what you should be looking at.
Regards,
Zane
Before getting a CCD, what will be the scope and equipment that you intend to image with? Also, how many hours are you willing to spend imaging at night, out in the field, collecting hours of data for DSOs? Or do you intend to do widefield astrophotography?
The cheapest CCD you can get is Meade DSI first generation at S$339 from Astrobargains, but there's no point investing that money into a CCD if you don't have proper equipment such as an APO scope, as well as a motorized mount to do your astrophotography. Of course, there's also drift alignment that you ultimately have to learn, as well as spending hours in the field, just to capture enough data for your DSO. You'll need external power to do the imaging, as well as running your motorized EQ mount.
Other than those, you'll also need to think about cooling times and all. It's not as simple as getting a CCD and capturing data. Processing images are also rather different from simply stacking them like how you do with lunar and planetary imaging. If you don't process your raw data well, they could end up being images that are unsatisfactory. You'd probably feel that lugging all those heavy stuff out into the field and spending so many hours collecting data were not worthed it.
It's probably why weixing suggested a DSLR since you can play with widefield astrophotography through prime focus for a beginner, and move into DSOs if you learn how to. It's quite a hassle, and sometimes include modifying your DSLR so that you can capture data that are not detected without an IR filter. If you get bored or tired of all the work on astrophotography, you can go back to terrestial photography, provided that you didn't modify your DSLR (which will render it useless for normal photography).
My advice for you is that, don't go into a CCD without thinking of all the other hassles that comes along with astrophotography. If you think you're ready, then you can get your Meade DSI from Astrobargains. With your budget, you can probably get a Meade DSI II for $700+, or if you are willing to increase your budget, maybe the DSI III. Of course, those are actually not the best you can get. If you want to go with the best, Lumenera SKYnyx is what you should be looking at.
Regards,
Zane
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orly_andico
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I know a lot of folks in my astro club back in the Philippines who have taken great shots with DSLR's.
To combat skyglow use an LPR filter. Or limit your exposures, there is an article somewhere on the net which derives the maximum exposure time allowable in urban skies before The Green Horror of skyglow ruins your image.
It's surprisingly short, 30 seconds sometimes. So you have to take a lot of shots and stack them. A good side effect is that you can take the shots un-guided, since each shot is so short.
To combat skyglow use an LPR filter. Or limit your exposures, there is an article somewhere on the net which derives the maximum exposure time allowable in urban skies before The Green Horror of skyglow ruins your image.
It's surprisingly short, 30 seconds sometimes. So you have to take a lot of shots and stack them. A good side effect is that you can take the shots un-guided, since each shot is so short.
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weixing
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Hi,
CCD sensor is just a type of sensor, not a camera by itself and some DSLR also use CCD sensor instead of CMOS sensor... so I assume that when you mention "CCD", you mean those dedicated astronomical camera which mostly use a CCD sensor.
So is there any way of doing astrphotography in light polluted area?? IMHO, you still can get very decent astrophoto even you shoot in light polluted area... the key is understand some basic theory in Astrophotography, understand your equipments and most importantly, clear sky.
Have a nice day.
CCD sensor is just a type of sensor, not a camera by itself and some DSLR also use CCD sensor instead of CMOS sensor... so I assume that when you mention "CCD", you mean those dedicated astronomical camera which mostly use a CCD sensor.
If there is light, a dedicated astronomical camera will capture it like a DSLR if there is no special filter been used. So the simple answer is no.yybmage wrote:I tried several times to get my DSLR to photograph the skies through my LX 200, but the results were not as pleasing especially the skyglow. Will CCD help a little?
So is there any way of doing astrphotography in light polluted area?? IMHO, you still can get very decent astrophoto even you shoot in light polluted area... the key is understand some basic theory in Astrophotography, understand your equipments and most importantly, clear sky.
Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."