[FLO]

Atik have today announced the new Atik 428EX CCD camera featuring Sony's ICX674 2.8MP sensor. Indeed we think this might be the first camera available to astronomers to offer this sensor. Could it be the replacement for the acclaimed Sony ICX285?

Atik are very excited saying it has outstanding Quantum Efficiency, very low noise, excellent thermal management and high sensitivity. Built into Atik's new 400 series platform the ICX674 sensor should make an excellent choice for deep-sky photography and be an ideal match for the short-medium focal length telescopes commonly used by astrophotographers.





Price has not been set but we hope to update this thread this evening.

For specifications and an up-to-date price please see our website.

[Deneb]

It could only be expected - Why did I feel this chill in my back when the new designs were announced. Perhaps phasing out the old design ...

[FLO]

Originally Posted by Deneb

Perhaps phasing out the old design ...

Don't worry Nadeem, there is still plenty of life left in the Sony 285. There are many of us, myself included, who are still only scratching the surface of what it can do

[Black Knight]

Is the price correct? Your website seems to be quoting the 450l!

Argh! Just noticed you said in your original post you would be updating it this evening. Sorry!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[FLO]

Oops

That was me rushing. I duplicated then edited the 450L listing to save time but forgot to zero the price. I hope to have the correct price soon.

Thanks for mentioning it

Steve

[Tim]

Now this is very interesting

I've been wondering when we'd see another Sony chip utilised.

Happy to review it for you Steve

[Coco]

Might be a little typo but the camera says Model: atik-450l-mono[1] just a little Q.

Am waiting for the prices... I could be very interested

[FLO]

Originally Posted by Black Knight

Is the price correct? Your website seems to be quoting the 450l!

Originally Posted by Coco

Might be a little typo but the camera says Model: atik-450l-mono[1] just a little Q.

Originally Posted by FLO

Oops

That was me rushing. I duplicated then edited the 450L listing to save time but forgot to zero the price. I hope to have the correct price soon.

I was in a hurry, I'll be more careful next time

[FLO]

Originally Posted by Tim

Happy to review it for you Steve

We will be making one available for an SGL review

[FLO]

Originally Posted by Coco

Am waiting for the prices... I could be very interested

Atik haven't released a price yet. We'll post it here and on our website as soon as we are able. If you haven't already, please go to the product description on our website then click on the 'Notify me when this item is available' button. Our website will then automatically generate an email letting you know when they come into stock.

First Light Optics - Atik 428EX

HTH

[FLO]

We do know there will be a small (due to component availablity) batch available sometime in January. We will reserve what we can but I doubt any one dealer will be able to access more than 2 or 3 from the initial batch.

HTH

[riklaunim]

Only pixels smaller. The QE charts are here and they do look nice. Only full well depth info is missing.

[FLO]

Originally Posted by FLO

We do know there will be a small (due to component availablity) batch available sometime in January. We will reserve what we can but I doubt any one dealer will be able to access more than 2 or 3 from the initial batch.

We have secured three from the from the first batch due sometime in January. The price has been set at £1595.

[Tim]

Even more interesting!

[Tim]

Isn't this the chip that will also do 40FPS?

[riklaunim]

It's either slow and low on read noise or fast and with bigger read noise (and you need USB3/GigE/Firewire 800 for such framerate). DS cams are the slow solution.

If you want low noise and fast on demand - just check prices of Andor Clara - Andor Interline CCD Camera - High Resolution Even basic ICX285 lab camera that is fast costs 2x Atik 314L+ or even more

[Tim]

For those that are interested;

ATIK 428 vs ATIK 314L (& other 285 chip cameras)

Using a 10" F4 newt (focal length 1014mm) as an example:

428 = 0.92 arcsec/pixel, FOV 22.3 x 29.7 arc min

314L = 1.31 arcsec/pixel, FOV 22.7 x 30.3 arc min

As can be seen, the new camera offers the same pleasing field of view as the very popular 285 series of cameras, but with smaller pixels the resolution is considerably better, and smack bang in the middle of the recommended arcsec/pixel range for deep sky imaging.

The chip is very similar in size to the 285 chip, and so 1.25" filters will be ample.

Cheers

Tim

[Tim]

Originally Posted by riklaunim

Only pixels smaller. The QE charts are here and they do look nice. Only full well depth info is missing.

Great link! The 674 chip looks to have considerably more sensitivity across a wider range of wavelengths, should make capturing SII data a little bit easier

[Tim]

I think I just talked myself into one!

[Tim]

Originally Posted by riklaunim

Only full well depth info is missing.

Can't find this info anywhere so far.
Only reports stating that Exview HAD technology is anti-blooming and low noise.

EDIT: Here's Sony's own spec sheet.

It does give a saturation signal of 800mV but I'd be lying if I said I knew what that meant :s

[Black Knight]

Originally Posted by Tim

For those that are interested;

ATIK 428 vs ATIK 314L (& other 285 chip cameras)

Using a 10" F4 newt (focal length 1014mm) as an example:

428 = 0.92 arcsec/pixel, FOV 22.3 x 29.7 arc min

314L = 1.31 arcsec/pixel, FOV 22.7 x 30.3 arc min

As can be seen, the new camera offers the same pleasing field of view as the very popular 285 series of cameras, but with smaller pixels the resolution is considerably better, and smack bang in the middle of the recommended arcsec/pixel range for deep sky imaging.

The chip is very similar in size to the 285 chip, and so 1.25" filters will be ample.

Cheers

Tim

Just as a matter of interest, what is the recommended arcsec/pixel range for deep sky imaging?

[Tim]

Generally the seeing dictates a max of 0.5arcsec/pix, so the usual figures banded about are 0.5 - 1.5 arcsec/pix. I dont suppose there is an upper limit really

You can use CCDcalc to work out what your rig is working at.

[Tim]

Good article here

If you are a typical bloke, skip to the last sentences for the gist

[Whirlwind]

According to this site the dynamic range is 64db

technical specifications

(admittedly this is a different camera so i'm assuming the readout noise is about the same).

If that is correct then you are looking at a full well depth of about 8000. 20 log (8000/5) = 64db. Alternatively you can view this a 1600 brightness levels

Thanks

Ian

[Tim]

Thanks Ian. How does that compare to the other cameras?