Question on the adapter for the Daystar Quark

[RugbyRene]

Hi all,

I have a question regarding the imaging setup for the DayStar Quark. I want to mount my DLSR to the back of it to do some imaging and want to know if it can take a standard DSLR T-adapter or do I need to buy a specialist adapter.  I've been reading a lot about an adapter that people are buying but not sure what it used for.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Steve Ward]

The adapter allows a t-ring to be fitted to the Quark and then the camera .

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/flo-thread-adapter-for-daystar-quark.html

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/t-rings.html

I would however recommend a mono-chipped fast frame rate 'planetary' camera rather than a DSLR for Hydrogen alpha imaging , (ZWO ASI120mm/ASI174mm or similar).

The DSLR's colour chip will not use more than 25% of its available pixels therefore reducing resolution substantially , and with such a dynamic target as the Sun with rapidly developing and changing features you need to be capturing lots of frames to stack in short bursts .

[RugbyRene]

Thanks for the advice.

[RugbyRene]

I know I'm probably opening up a can of worms but why can't I use a DSLR to capture solar images? If I go the CCD route, what are the pros/cons of monochrome over CCD?

Thanks

[MattJenko]

If you are using a Quark, then you have filtered out everything but a very narrow band of the spectrum. This means that only one of the four pixels under the colour filters (RGGB) in the DSLR bayer matrix will actually capture any of the data. This results in loss of resolution and while it will work, it is not the most efficient or optimal way of capturing an image.

A mono CMOS or CCD will capture on ALL the pixels in the sensor, and dedicated planetary cameras have faster framerates than most DSLRs as well. An OSC CCD suffesr the same problems as the DSLR.

[Davey-T]

Which camera do you have ? some have a crop video setting 640X480, if a DSLR is all you've then give it a go, will try mine when I get a chance to see what sort of results I get.

You probably get more Sun than me to experiment 

Dave

[Helen]

This might help for DSLR solar imaging  http://www.photosbykev.com/wordpress/photography/pst-solar-imaging/  (Kev is a member here) and and I found this helpful too http://www.astro-nut.com/SolarPrimer.pdf

I'd say experiment with what you've got first, including trying video mode.  A fast frame camera will almost certainly make it easier and give you better pictures in the long run though.

Helen