SX H9 cam in binned mode for speed

[nytecam]

Hi - I've used my CCDs for over a decade in brief video-like mode but with the easy option of save images directly.

Here's some experimental Starlight Xpress H9 CCD pics from last night in brief exposures with minimum processing eg contrast stretch. The mono cam has 1.4Mp but used in 2x2 or 4x4 binned mode for 'speed' on my 12" SCT @ f/6.3. The 4x4 mode proves ~twice the 'speed' of 2x2 binning but the images are not as smooth. The cam is cooled but no darks/flats used and in 2x2 binned mode unless stated in pic header. Included is M102 and NGC 5985/2/1 = Draco Trio - hope it's of interest

[NickK]

The sequence goes, to me: darkness - aperture - focal length - CCD efficiency - binning - camera gain - compressed ADC range - auto stretch...

12" at f/6.3 is going to give some serious photon hooverage. What you'd get in seconds, I'd probably get in minutes with a 4" refractor at f/6.38 (ie the pentax)!

[NickK]

Out of interest - what arc sec/binned pixel are you getting?

[NickK]

Just reading that - it sounded a little direct! Would be interested

[nytecam]

Out of interest - what arc sec/binned pixel are you getting?

2000mm fl = 0.645"/pixel full res so = 1.29" binned 2x2 and 2.58" binned 4x4 with 15' x 12' fov.