Beginner AP Questions

[gnomus]

I am going to start doing some imaging of the moon and planets.  I have a C8 Edge HD on a CGEM mount. 

I thought that a good starting point would be to get hold of a lunar and planetary imaging camera.  Having done some Internet research it seems that the ZWO ASI120 camera is well regarded for what I want to do.  I’ve gone back and forth on colour vs mono – but I have decided that I am going to try going down the mono route.  I see that ZWO have just brought out a USB 3.0 version of the ASI120.

[i figure that this camera may also allow me (in the future) to have a go at some DSOs, with my DSLR taking the images, and the ZWO doing the guiding.]

I will of course need some filters, and I see that a filter wheel would be a good idea too.  I note that ZWO do a wheel and filter set.  I note also that the prices for wheels and filters range from reasonably inexpensive (the ZWO stuff) to the extremely expensive (Atik springs to mind). 

My questions are:

1)      Does the plan seem reasonable?  Should I consider other options before pulling the trigger on the ZWO? 

2)      Regarding filter wheel and filter set – will the ZWO stuff be good enough?  I have an awful tendency with my hobbies to buy cheap, then end up buying twice.  I don’t mind spending a bit more to get noticeably better quality.  I did see, for example, the      

         Brightstar wheel on the Modern Astronomy site.  I'm never sure, however, if all of these things are being made by the same guy in the same factory, before having different badges stuck on.

3)      Regarding the Baader filter set – what is the difference between this http://www.firstlightoptics.com/rgb-filters-filter-sets/baader-lrgbc-ccd-filter-set.html (at ~£200) and this http://www.baader-planetarium.uk.com/productinfo.php/filters/rgb-ccd-filter-sets/ccd-rgb-filter-set-beginners-317mm/3427  (at more than half the price)?

4)      Last (stupid) question – when shooting the moon do folks generally just shoot in B&W?

Any other comments, or things I should be thinking about would be most welcome.

Thanks in anticipation of your assistance.   

[JRWASTRO]

Never heard about ZWO cameras before you mentioned them.

Now I just might buy one to try out:

Quote from:   http://www.iceinspace.com.au/93-742-0-0-1-0.html

" ... I am now the proud owner of arguably one of the finest planetary cameras available & without doubt, certainly the cheapest, the ZWO ASI120MC. ..."

I would say,  "You have made a good start "

Jeremy.

[JRWASTRO]

Addition:

To the no so stupid question:    "  ... when shooting the moon do folks generally just shoot in B&W?  "

Shoot in full colour. Why?

 At the best of times the moon looks like partially set concrete (with out the green tinge !) 

so a full colour picture will tell you how good is your picture: No colour and does it look like concrete  = good picture!

Jeremy.

[gnomus]

Thanks Jeremy for both answers.

I have one more stupid question:

When taking video captures of the planets and moon, should I take a Luminance capture as well as the R, G & B captures, or is a Luminance capture only required when shooting fainter objects (DSOs)?  

[JRWASTRO]

The answer qto your last question is best answered by people who do a lot more than me in this area. Sorry about the cop out but I just do not know much about this area ... Only enough to be dangerous.

Jeremy.

[Stardust]

I use a QHY5L-IIM and very pleased with the results on Solar/Lunar and guiding. It is the same chip as one of the ZWO's so I guess the images would be similar.