my first ccd tests

[vertigo262]

I have been using a canon 7d full spectrum, and I wanted to see what it was like using a cheap ccd so i bought a asi174mc to just get the feel of it. 

After getting it, I realized, it is really a cmos sensor, but still gives me an idea of fits, and how it works.

also, I didn't really know it was more suited for planetary then dso, but i gave it a try.

My first test of m42 seemed promising, it recorded significant more data then my dslr in 1 frame

after this, the dimmer objects all seemed impossible to get anything. I am at a location with around 1 on the lp scale, and i am also using a lp filter.This is what i got.

Bodes nebula

Fire Nebula

Horse

rosette

i can get these all with my dslr, although the results i am getting are ok, and would really like to step up my quality as i am considering narrowband and a mono ccd, but on these tests, they were way worse then my DSLR, as I can't seem to expose anything at all.

My guess is that this sensor wasn't meant for dso, but I would think it would be better then using a DSLR.

Or I am doing something wrong. But these exposers are a lot longer then my DSLR and I can't seem to get a thing.

Input on what is going on is appreciated.

[wavydavy]

There seems like a few things going on in the pics, I use the ASI120MM camera, originaly used this for planetary imaging only, now I only use it as a guide camera. A couple of the pics have some guiding issues, which in turn will also blur the object you are targeting, also there seems to be some stray light entering from somewhere, and getting into the optical path, or poss (but unlikely) amp glow but I think this only happens with CCD not CMOS (?).There is some noise in the images, this can be greatly reduced, with dark frames and stacking multiple images. Id try my hand on the moon, planets and the like, just to get to grips with the 174 which should produce some nice images, what scope you using for this?? And how about showing some of the modded 7D??

[vertigo262]

sure,

here are some planetary from tonight

from 7D

I am using a explore scientific 127mm refractor

advanced vx mount

orion guide scope

Everything seems realy bloated with this camera. I think has to do with the sensor size. 

the light, seems to be coming from the sensor on long exposures. I don't have that problem with my 7D

But what I can't figure out is why nothing seems to expose as well as my 7D.  

[Leveye]

Check your focus next session. It seems slightly off. I'm getting an ASI120MC soon but until then that all i can contribute. Maybe ask over on the camera discussion section the best settings.

[lensman57]

Is this a colour camera? You still seem to have the Bayer matrix on top. What was the length of the exposures, settings for gain and how many subs did you use?

The ASIs are planetary and not DSO cameras on brighter objects they may produce results but you'd need a very large number of subs to build up the integration time.

A.G

[vertigo262]

on all the pics, I did exposures ranging from about 30 to 400 seconds. Nothing showed up, whereas I get some results on short exposures with my DSLR.

the only one that showed up was m42, but that is bright. So I am guessing the camera can't do it with dso