Telescope Reviews: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing!

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements >> Vendor and Group Announcements

Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

Jim Chung
Vendor - Icodome

Reged: 12/07/05

Loc: Toronto

Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing!
#5639380 - 01/23/13 06:27 PM

Just a teaser to loyal followers, I'm on my way to a local Starbucks to pick up a lightly used QHY8 ccd (love living in a big city!). Research indicates that QHY simply used the entire sensor board from the Nikon D40 so it should be a simple matter to convert this to monochrome. Stay tuned for first light tests if the weather forecast holds for tomorrow night (clear but -18 C !!!!).

My thinking, for interested parties instead of sending the entire camera to me and then back, we can substantially save on shipping if I ship you a converted sensor board, give you instructions on installing (simple) and you send me your original sensor. Or for those of you less mechanically inclined we can still do it the traditional way.

Jim

Post Extras:

zerro1
Postmaster

Reged: 08/02/09

Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°...

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: Jim Chung]
#5639899 - 01/24/13 01:16 AM

I'll be keeping an eye on this ...

Post Extras:

psandelle
sage

Reged: 06/18/08

Loc: Los Angeles

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: zerro1]
#5640692 - 01/24/13 01:28 PM

I will be looking closely at this, too.

I love the larger-sized Sony chips, but they don't ever come in mono. If anyone ever does a mono'd version of the QHY12...I'm all there!

Paul

Post Extras:

Cyclop_si
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/13/08

Loc: Slovenia

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: psandelle]
#5640925 - 01/24/13 03:28 PM

Yes, large Sony mono chips are what we are looking for!

Post Extras:

corpusse
professor emeritus

Reged: 04/11/10

Loc: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: Cyclop_si]
#5643566 - 01/25/13 11:26 PM

Hmmm. I'm local and I have a QHY8 too

Post Extras:

zerro1
Postmaster

Reged: 08/02/09

Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°...

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: corpusse]
#5644524 - 01/26/13 02:39 PM

Quote:

Hmmm. I have a QHY8 too

pretty much what "I'll be keeping an eye on this ..."

meant

Post Extras:

Jim Chung
Vendor - Icodome

Reged: 12/07/05

Loc: Toronto

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: zerro1]
#5645641 - 01/27/13 09:05 AM

With regret I have to announce a halt to my QHY8 monochrome conversion development. QHY does utilize a Nikon sensor platform from the D40/D50 family but while very similar and definitely a Nikon product, it is neither a D40 or D50 sensor board but some strange hybrid. Releasing the board was difficult because QHY decided to cover the PCB surface with a silicone sealant which effectively becomes a glue. I must have been tired as well because I damaged the sensor wires while removing the Bayer layer and now have to contact QHY to see if they have any extras. The idea of just swapping Nikon D40 sensor boards is definitely not feasible.

On a positive note .... I did successfully convert my first Nikon D5100, a great DSLR.

Jim

Post Extras:

psandelle
sage

Reged: 06/18/08

Loc: Los Angeles

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: Jim Chung]
#5645931 - 01/27/13 12:06 PM

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (inhale) oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Bummer.

Oh, well.

Paul

Post Extras:

Cyclop_si
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/13/08

Loc: Slovenia

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: psandelle]
#5646142 - 01/27/13 02:11 PM

While contacting QHY regarding your QHY8 repair, it might be worth suggesting them possible cooperation to produce QHY8 mono camera together...

I hope something good still happens with this project. I am holding my fingers up!

Post Extras:

Jim Chung
Vendor - Icodome

Reged: 12/07/05

Loc: Toronto

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: Cyclop_si]
#5685503 - 02/17/13 04:43 PM

Just some update on the QHY8 project as some people have wondered. I've been a little busy doing Nikon conversions but I have exchanged several emails with Qiu from QHY and he confirms that the QHY8 has several different internal sensor setups over the years. I can retrofit a D40 sensorboard but will need a new heatsink which he was going to send me. I also have to replace FFC connector on the motherboard because I broke it while trying to release the cable as a result of all the silicone sealant QHY sprayed over the PCB to prevent tampering!

So the QHY8 is temporarily on hold but not forgotten!

Jim

Post Extras:

zerro1
Postmaster

Reged: 08/02/09

Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°...

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: Jim Chung]
#5685601 - 02/17/13 05:37 PM

They are very nice people over there at QHY!

from my own experience!

I'll keep watching with my QHY8 close by

Post Extras:

Jim Chung
Vendor - Icodome

Reged: 12/07/05

Loc: Toronto

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: zerro1]
#5687597 - 02/18/13 07:14 PM

Latest development - QHY is sending me a few QHY10 OSC sensors to convert to mono sensing for a potential new product line. I think they want to find some way to use up their large stock of these sensors. I think this is actually better than trying to convert the QHY8 to mono, the QHY10 sensor is better is all respects for this.

Post Extras:

zerro1
Postmaster

Reged: 08/02/09

Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°...

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: Jim Chung]
#5687633 - 02/18/13 07:36 PM

Quote:

Latest development - QHY is sending me a few QHY10 OSC sensors to convert to mono sensing for a potential new product line. I think they want to find some way to use up their large stock of these sensors. I think this is actually better than trying to convert the QHY8 to mono, the QHY10 sensor is better is all respects for this.

That is "very" Cool!

Post Extras:

fetoma
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/26/06

Loc: Southern New Jersey

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: zerro1]
#5687784 - 02/18/13 08:50 PM

Jim,

I talked to Qui yesterday via the QHY forums and he mentioned this. I didn't think much of it since it's a Sony sensor, but apparently you can do those also from your last post here.

Post Extras:

psandelle
sage

Reged: 06/18/08

Loc: Los Angeles

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: fetoma]
#5688090 - 02/18/13 11:55 PM

Got my fingers crossed on the QHY10 conversion - love my QHY12 and wish it were mono.

Paul

Post Extras:

Cyclop_si
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/13/08

Loc: Slovenia

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: psandelle]
#5688184 - 02/19/13 01:29 AM

Great news! I am in for QHY10 mono

Post Extras:

orlyandico
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/10/09

Loc: Singapore

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: Cyclop_si]
#5688270 - 02/19/13 03:27 AM

the QHY8 and Nikon D40 use the same Sony sensor... the QHY10 Sony sensor is probably the same one in the Nikon D60 (10.2MP) so since Jim has successfully modded all these models of Nikon DSLR the QHY's should be straightforward.

Right, Jim?

and yes if QHY sold mono-fied Sony APS-C sensor cameras that would be great. The rest of the world is stuck with the 8300M and resorting to deep cooling to try to overcome the limitations of this consumer 4/3-DSLR chip.

and the Kodak 6303, 3200, etc. are all so expensive.

Post Extras:

Jim Chung
Vendor - Icodome

Reged: 12/07/05

Loc: Toronto

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: orlyandico]
#5707656 - 03/01/13 07:19 PM Attachment (5 downloads)

Look what came in the mail from QHY today!!

Three ICX493 and three ICX413 sensors!!

Post Extras:

zerro1
Postmaster

Reged: 08/02/09

Loc: Smokey Point , 48.12°N 122.25°...

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: Jim Chung]
#5707794 - 03/01/13 09:04 PM

Cool!

Isn't the 413 the sensor that they used in the prototype QHY8 then switched to the 453 for production?

Post Extras:

Cyclop_si
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/13/08

Loc: Slovenia

Re: Icodome converting QHY8 to monochrome sensing! new

[Re: zerro1]
#5709023 - 03/02/13 03:44 PM

I would gladly purchase mono camera based those sensors. By removing colour filter, do you remove microlensing as well or microlensing stay on chip?

Do you need some tester for those little gems... ?

Post Extras:

Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

Extra information

3 registered and 7 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: BRisley, bilgebay

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 1674

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics