Which pixel size is optimal for my setup

[mcmalloy]

Hello everyone! 

I've been trying to get into AP since november, and i have been using the Canon EOS 700D as my imaging camera up until now.

However I have been contemplating whether or not the next step for me is to get a monochrome CCD camera.

I've noticed one thing, and this is something i assume we can all agree on; they aren't cheap cameras! For someone like me who lacks expertise, I find it difficult to commit to such an expensive camera without exactly knowing what i'm getting myself into. I would prefer to have a regret-free purchase! I read somewhere that the pixel size on the sensor matters greatly depending on the focal length of the OTA.

So i've got two telescopes that I try and use for AP , one is a 71mm aperture Teleskop-Service 347mm focal length f/5 flatfield APO refractor. The second telescope is the Orion F/3.9 Newtonian astrograph.

Currently i'm most into taking wide-field AP images, meaning that the primary focal length i will be imaging at will be 347mm. Which mono CCD's would you recommend for this focal length? Currently i have no maximum budget, but I would like to keep things simple.

I would love to hear your suggestions! 

Mark Malloy

[Scott]

If it's widefield you are most interested in It will need to be something with either a fairly large chip or you will be doing mosaics.

Try using http://www.12dstring.me.uk/fovcalc.php to get an Idea of the fov you can get with various scope/camera combinations

[Cornelius Varley]

This site may be of some use to you in determining the optimum pixel size http://www.ayton.id.au/gary/Science/Astronomy/Ast_Photography.htm .Scroll down to the section entitled "what digital sensor for telescope ?" some some info.

[Altais]

Another useful article about optimum pixel size: http://www.astro-imaging.com/Tutorial/MatchingCCD.html

[Alien 13]

The canon 700d is actually a perfect match for the 71mm refractor (the focal length and f ratio are in camera lens teritory) but a mono ccd would allow you to get into narrowband imaging.

Alan