Best Camera for Planetary Imaging

[Gina]

I'm thinking of having a go at planetary imaging and would appreciate recommendations for cameras.  Thank you

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Your QHY5L-II-C could be used first, but that sensor does suffer from sensor pattern noise. I used an ASI130MM first which has the mono variant of the sensor and needed to record darks and flats for planetary,which is unusual (especially the darks). You can get good result at F/25 or so

 

LRGB using ASI130MM

 

The ASI174MM is a very versatile option: good at solar, lunar and planetary.

IR-R-G false colour shot with ASI174MM

 

 

One shot colour is less hassle, and can produce great results.

ASI120MC Mars and Jupiter shots

 

My current favourite in OSC is the ASI224MC, which can also do IR really well

[PeterCPC]

You won't go far wrong if you opt for one of the ZWO offerings such as the ASI224. It depends on how much you want to spend. You can pick up a ASI120 for about £100 now.

Peter

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

If possible, go for the ASI120MM-S or ASI120MC-S which are also popping up second-hand. They are USB 3.0, which makes quite an impact on frame rates

[Freddie]

You may also want to have a think about which planets you will be able to image given their positions over the next few years.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I did get myself a ZWO ADC with that in mind

Doesn't help with seeing, but really helps with  the atmospheric refraction

[Gina]

Thank you all   I was wondering if my QHY5L-II-C would be suitable or whether the sensor might be a bit on the big side.  I can dismantle my all sky cam and take the camera out as it's not working ATM and needs sorting out.  Interesting that nobody has mentioned the Imaging Source cameras.  For scope I'm thinking ofusing my MN190 Mak-Newt with Barlow though I realise a dedicated scope would be better but that's off-topic

[Gina]

I was also wondering if webcams would be worth trying - I have Philips SPC900NC and Microsoft Lifecam Cinema HD but the image looks mighty small in the FOV calculator.

That ZWO ADC looks well worthwhile Michael

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

The MN190 should be fine. Its secondary obstruction is smaller than that of my C8. It does require a 5x PowerMate to work optimally with big-pixel cameras like the ASI 174MM, but 3x (or a touch more)  for  the ASI120 or ASI224 to reach F/16-F/20 which is optimal for those cameras. An ASI178MM or MC might also be interesting: A 2.5x PowerMate would be optimal for its small pixels (F/11-F/14 optimal), and it would be great for lunar as well (or even solar)

Regarding the chip size of the QHY5L-II-C: if the camera supports acquisition in ROI mode, you are fine. I think it would be superior to an SPC900NC any time.

 

DMK cameras (now Celestron Skyris) are rather more expensive than the excellent ZWO offerings

 

 

[Gina]

Thanks Michael   I remember seeing recommendations for PowerMates - where's the best place to buy one, FLO don't seem to sell them?

[RAC]

I can fully recommend a ZWO ASI224MC and an ADC also from ZWO.

 

And here's a 3d image of Mars done with both of those with my 20" f3.8 dob + a 5 X powermate.

[Gina]

Looks good - thank you

[Gina]

Great images   Oh for a 20" scope My biggest is 7.5" so would f26 be practical?  MN190 + PM 5x.

[Grotemobile]

Hi Gina. This is what I have been using. Need a fast laptop, to get the best out of it.  Glad I bought it.

http://www.tringastro.co.uk/zwo-asi185mc-usb30-colour-cmos-camera-with-sony-exmor-and-nir-technology-and-autoguider-port-9620-p.asp

[riklaunim]

If color ASI/QHY 224, if mono ASI/QHY 178/290. There is also cheaper Altair GPCamV2 with IMX224 too. Color ASI120/QHY5L-II aren't that good.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

On 5/30/2016 at 08:40, RAC said:

I can fully recommend a ZWO ASI224MC and an ADC also from ZWO.

 

And here's a 3d image of Mars done with both of those with my 20" f3.8 dob + a 5 X powermate.

That is amazing! Got the 3D effect immediately. The detail is lovely

[Gina]

FLO are selling the ZWO ASI185MC at just a pound more than the 224 - same pixel size but bigger sensor so that seems a "no brainer".  When/if I get fed up with planetary imaging (or no suitable plantes in view) the extra size will come in handy for other things such as an all sky cam.  The QHY5II-C I've used has noise problems.  They're also selling the ZWO ADC so I'll buy that to go with it.  Now I just have to source a TeleVue 5x PowerMate.

[Gina]

The laptop I have been using for imaging has a USB3 port (plus one USB2 port) so that will be suitable, whether kept as Win 7 Pro or upgraded to Linux, which is something I want to do - I'll probably set up dual boot at first so I have a choice.  Looks like the otherwise nice and compact raspberry Pi doesn't do USB3 even in its latest incarnation.  How nice it would be to have the processor right on the pier head

[Gina]

ZWO ASI185MC and ZWO ADC ordered from Amazon

[Grotemobile]

Good for U Gina .The ZWO ADC is not really needed for scopes under about 8" I believe. That is what I was told.

They come into there own , on  the large aperture scopes. I was getting 150fps on Mars the other night. Have fun

[Gina]

One day I might buy a bigger scope   But also I can see me wanting to image planets at low altitude such as Mars now - apart from one large tree I have a good view from east round to south west down to a few degrees above horizontal.

[riklaunim]

2 hours ago, Gina said:

FLO are selling the ZWO ASI185MC at just a pound more than the 224 - same pixel size but bigger sensor so that seems a "no brainer".  When/if I get fed up with planetary imaging (or no suitable plantes in view) the extra size will come in handy for other things such as an all sky cam.  The QHY5II-C I've used has noise problems.  They're also selling the ZWO ADC so I'll buy that to go with it.  Now I just have to source a TeleVue 5x PowerMate.

There is a difference in read noise, where ASI185MC has it bit higher.  Also most people won't have use for big color sensors as Sun/Moon is better with monochrome cameras

With 3,75 pixels the optimal f/ratio will be between f/14-19 so 5x PowerMate is to much for it.

[Gina]

I see - I wondered about that.  About 3x then.  I have a good quality x2 Barlow and a spacer could be used to to increase it to 3x.  Maybe not as good as a PowerMate but worth a try I guess.

[riklaunim]

Powermate aren't required, good Barlows will be as good as those devices.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

PowerMates and other tele-centric lenses really come into their own when you really need parallel principal rays, such as in H-alpha solar imaging. For planetary imaging I would certainly first try to see how your existing Barlow fares.