Has anyone used the Pi High Quality camera for autoguiding?

[JimFR]

I’m working on building an auto guider using the EQ5 and mods, and the 9x50 finder. Has anyone used the Pi High Quality camera for autoguiding? It has a C-mount on the board, which would seem perfect when allied with the C/CS Astro Essentials via FLO, but how does it perform optically? Is it sensitive enough?

Ta!

[michael8554]

The V1 does up to 6 secs exposure, the V2 up to 10, and the HQ up to 230secs.

Pixels are tiny (1.12 to 1.5um)  so would be best for a guide setup that requires a short FL guidescope eg 100mm FL.

Does it have a driver that the guide software recognises ?

Michael

[PlankWithANailIn]

You can get a version of the Pi OS that turns the Pi Zero and HQ camera into a webcam. 

https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2020/raspberry-pi-makes-great-usb-webcam-100

I was going to suggest IMX290 USB modules from Aliexpress but they have shot up in price from £25 and free postage when I bought one in April last year to £40. You need an adapter to C mount and they only get half a second exposure but I find that works just fine on my guidescope. 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33009237481.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.705a1802F6ki6c

I had fun designing a case for it and shortening the USB cable to the exact length needed for my setup. Not sure its worth it as fun project when the prices are so high.