What is a good camera for Ha / WL / planetary imaging ?

[spaceboy]

Looking to upgrade from my SPC900 but don't really want to push the boat out too far. What would be a good camera to keep an eye out for on the used market ?

[JamesF]

How much isn't pushing the boat out too far?

James

[spaceboy]

£200 is in deep waters for me.

[Steve Ward]

http://www.modernastronomy.com/camerasPlanetary.html#QHY5-II

[Pete Presland]

Not any easy question to answer, but mono or OSC (one shot colour) ? Mono is the more sensitive. OSC the cheaper route. I went from the SPC900 to the DMK21au04 mono webcam which does require RGB filters + wheel for colour planetary imaging. Even in the 2nd hand market i am guessing it this would be at least £150.

[spaceboy]

I've had a Dfk21au216 in the past and didn't feel it offered much of an advantage over my SPC900 other than the obvious increase in frame rate. As far as I'm aware they are the same chip so would the larger chip of the qhy5 offer any advantages?

[Pete Presland]

I've had a Dfk21au216 in the past and didn't feel it offered much of an advantage over my SPC900 other than the obvious increase in frame rate. As far as I'm aware they are the same chip so would the larger chip of the qhy5 offer any advantages?

Do you mean dfk21au618 ?

[spaceboy]

Doh! Yep that would be the one....

[JamesF]

As far as I recall it's the DFK21AU04 that has the same sensor as the SPC900.  The DFK21AU618 has a sensor that should be better.

James

[Pete Presland]

I think given the choice again i would still go for the DMK21au04 mono webcam again especially for HA/white light imaging. you can always add filters/wheel later in the year, with the long days around the corner you would be ready for the sun and have time to hunt down 2nd hand filters and wheel.

[riklaunim]

The old D*K21AU05 would cost around webcam price to be worth buying. It's a very old sensors and in TIS cameras suffers from circular artifacts at 60 FPS. ICX618 in D*K21AU618 is much better, but still the camera should cost less than new QHY5L-II/ASI120MM. If you want to do also solar H-alpha imaging then maybe a nicely prices PGR Chameleon would show up somewhere (or some e2v / Sony CCD based PGR Blackfly cameras). At 200 GBP you almost can buy new Blackfly and QHY5L-II/ASI120 cameras

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I had the DMK21AU618 (monochrome) and it was a lot better my old SPC900NC. Got me many great shots, lunar, solar and planetary. Mono is much better than one shot colour for H-alpha in particular. My big mosaics with the LS35 THa were all made with the DMK21AU618. Great little camera

[catman161]

If go for the ASI120MC (secondhand) you'll get one for around £150. Smashing camera that will keep you occupied for a long while after the SPC900

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[spaceboy]

Thanks for all the replies guys. At least now I have a better idea what to look out for Now comes the waiting game.

[Steve Ward]

If you're using a PST for the Ha then the QHY5 will be a better bet as the whole thing is 1-1/4" in diameter and slips into the focuser far enough to get to focus without the need for Barlowing.

[Leveye]

ZWO  ASI120MC for me.

[JamesF]

If you're using a PST for the Ha then the QHY5 will be a better bet as the whole thing is 1-1/4" in diameter and slips into the focuser far enough to get to focus without the need for Barlowing.

You mean the QHY5-II with the cylindrical body, Steve, not the older model?

James

[riklaunim]

Just note that QHY5L-II as well as ASI120 have a Micron sensors which is likely to give Newton rings in solar H-alpha telescopes. Do not recommend Micron based cameras as a dedicated solar imaging cameras as it may end up badly

[Stardust]

The QHY5L-IIM does come to focus with a pst just by dropping in but does suffer from Newtons rings. It also does a good job on the Moon and is my guide camera, so has been a very versatile piece of kit.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I would not use a colour camera on solar H-alpha: you are throwing away 3/4 of the pixels (all the blue and green ones). Of the ASI range, I think the ASI174MM is one of the only ones that does not show (strong) Newton rings in H-alpha (no more than the DMK21 I used to have)

[Pete Presland]

Micheal is correct as i said earlier mono is really the best route for HA solar imaging and you can always add the filters later. The DMK21 focus issue without a barlow on a PST can be resolved by removing the flange on the nosepiece with a file or lathe if you have access to one.