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
CJK
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/05/12
Loc: Scenic SE TN
|
camera question: DSLR vs. mono CCD
#5606569 - 01/05/13 12:58 PM
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I've been bitten by the AP bug, and I've managed a few decent images using my little micro 4/3 camera at prime focus. The major problem with my little setup is that I can't control the camera from the computer, so I'm looking at moving to something more suitable for serious AP. To my mind, that means I need to choose between a DSLR and a mono CCD.
My two candidates are the new Canon 6D and the SBIG STF-8300M. They are exactly the same price. I am leaning toward the SBIG for a couple of reasons:
- I don't need another DSLR, though I don't currently have a full-frame sensor and the 6D does, which is why it's tempting
- I'm sure I'm going to end up with a CCD eventually anyway, so why wait
I know I need a filter wheel and filters for the mono CCD camera, which for just LRGB would add about $1200 to the price.
Questions for those who know more than I do (which is just about everyone here):
(1) Can I hold off on the filter wheel for now and just take mono photos while learning the camera and software?
(2) If I buy a filter wheel, should I get 8 positions or 5? (I can't afford narrowband filters right now, so I'd just be shooting LRGB to start with.)
(3) I have a separate guide camera and scope -- any potential issues there?
Thanks in advance!
-- Chris
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Loc: NE Ohio
|
Re: camera question: DSLR vs. mono CCD
[Re: CJK]
#5606625 - 01/05/13 01:24 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
(1) Can I hold off on the filter wheel for now and just take mono photos while learning the camera and software?
Sure - you can even stick an Ha filter on the camera and go narrowband if you want to.
Quote:
(2) If I buy a filter wheel, should I get 8 positions or 5? (I can't afford narrowband filters right now, so I'd just be shooting LRGB to start with.)
That's a harder one. When I've owned cameras with LRGB only I've felt limited - but when I've owned full LRGBHaOIIISII filter sets I find that I almost never use SII or OIII. You can go for a long time with LRGBHa in a 5 position wheel.
Quote:
(3) I have a separate guide camera and scope -- any potential issues there?
Nope.
|
jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
|
Re: camera question: DSLR vs. mono CCD
[Re: CJK]
#5606631 - 01/05/13 01:27 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
(1) Can I hold off on the filter wheel for now and just take mono photos while learning the camera and software?
Absolutely. I find processing monochrome images can be relatively simple and they can be quite beautiful in their own way. This is a great way to learn your camera.
(2) If I buy a filter wheel, should I get 8 positions or 5? (I can't afford narrowband filters right now, so I'd just be shooting LRGB to start with.)
For starters I'd get a 5 position wheel, the 8's are kinda big. If'n it were me I'd eventually end up with two; one for LRGB the other for specialty filters.
(3) I have a separate guide camera and scope -- any potential issues there?
Not really. I have one setup with a guide scope another with an off-axis guider. The guide scope is a bit more flexible, the off-axis guider was a good solution for my SCT.
Taking things one step at a time spreads out the cost and the learning curve.
Enjoy.
|
CJK
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/05/12
Loc: Scenic SE TN
|
Re: camera question: DSLR vs. mono CCD
[Re: jgraham]
#5606690 - 01/05/13 02:02 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Thank you, John & John 
-- Chris
|
CJK
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/05/12
Loc: Scenic SE TN
|
Re: camera question: DSLR vs. mono CCD
[Re: CJK]
#5613619 - 01/09/13 12:18 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Just wanted to post an update: I just pulled the trigger on the STF-8300M and FW5. The 8300 was on sale, and I got the filter wheel package that included a set of Baader LRGB filters. This is pretty much a dream setup for me. (After my bank account recovers, I'm going to add a Ha filter to the fifth position in the filter wheel.)
Thank you guys again for your advice!
-- Chris
|
terry59
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/18/11
Loc: Colorado, USA
|
Re: camera question: DSLR vs. mono CCD
[Re: CJK]
#5613624 - 01/09/13 12:20 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Congrats. 
|
nemo129
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/03/10
Loc: WMass
|
Re: camera question: DSLR vs. mono CCD
[Re: CJK]
#5613671 - 01/09/13 12:48 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Nice camera choice Chris.  Good filter strategy as well. While I have used my OIII and SII filters quite a bit on my ST8300M, I do find that you can do quite a lot with 5 filters. Many times if the object has lots of Ha, I will use that for Luminance or combine Luminance and Ha to bring out more subtle details in a nebula. Congrats and enjoy your new camera.
|
CJK
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/05/12
Loc: Scenic SE TN
|
Re: camera question: DSLR vs. mono CCD
[Re: nemo129]
#5614101 - 01/09/13 05:08 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Thanks, everybody! I can't wait for it to arrive! (Of course, that means 2 weeks of clouds & rain, so I apologize in advance to everyone in the Tennessee Valley.)
-- Chris
|
|
7 registered and 18 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: Undermidnight, fishonkevin
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 363
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
