[Ask] Canon 60D Upgrade for Planetary Imaging

[donygp]

Hello,

Please kindly help me to give suggestion related my plan to upgrade my camera. For the time being, I've used Canon 60D mainly for planetary imaging using video recording with Celestron CPC 1100 and some with Skywatcher BK100ED.

I'm planning to improve the imaging result by upgrading the camera to a more dedicated planetary camera (maybe a CCD camera) using the same scope. In my area, it's not very easy to get ccd camera, very limited option and most of them are ZWO. The current available ZWO series in my town are ZWO ASI120, 120MC, 178MM, 462MC, 178MC, 678MC, and 224MC. I'm considering the coloured camera/not a mono. Is there any worth camera upgrade for my current  Canon 60D from  the listed cameras above?

Thank you for the inputs.

Regards,

Dony

[Elp]

You mean CMOS, CCD is older technology. The 224MC is a common and capable planetary camera. Your decision depends on your budget.

You don't really want a mono camera for planetary due to needing filters and to quickly swap them in quick succession to image all filters within the space of a few minutes (you've listed the 178mm).

Have you decided what software you're planning on using to control the camera?

Edited January 10 by Elp

[Cosmic Geoff]

I have the ZWO  ASI120MC, the ASI224MC and the ASI462MC.  They all work, but the ASI462MC is the best of the three. Note that the ASI462MC is now discontinued.  ZWO frequently introduce newer and more capable cameras.   Note that you may also need an IR-cut filter, depending on which camera you buy.

[donygp]

3 hours ago, Elp said:

You mean CMOS, CCD is older technology. The 224MC is a common and capable planetary camera. Your decision depends on your budget.

You don't really want a mono camera for planetary due to needing filters and to quickly swap them in quick succession to image all filters within the space of a few minutes (you've listed the 178mm).

Have you decided what software you're planning on using to control the camera?

Actually, I can afford all of the cameras on my list but I want to know the best value for money camera and considering the worthy upgrade from my current Canon 60D.

I haven't decided what software that will be used since I only used to use Canon software  to control the 60D. Do you have any suggestion for that?

Thank you

[Swoop1]

I have a 290MC which I use on my Celestron C6 SCT for lunar and planetary. With lunar, to capture a full disc I need a minimum of a 4 pane mosaic- gives you an idea of the FOV.

I run mine on the ZWO software and it works beautifuly.

What telescope are you attaching it to? Knowing that, you can use the field of view simulator to get an idea of what you will see-

https://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/

[Elp]

If you want to use the camera for other things, the larger the sensor the better (some smaller sensor ones can't be used for DSO as the amp glow infringes into the FOV). A good one I've used for both DSO and planetary is the 485mc, the latest version is the 585 which has the no amp glow design so even better.

Software, if it's zwo you can use asi studio, haven't used it, it might be limited in terms of options. Sharpcap, firecapture, NINA would all be better I think. Or you can invest in an on board controller like an Asiair (restricted to zwo astro cameras only, Canon/Nikon/Sony DSLRs are supported), Mini PC loaded with whatever software you like, Stellarmate, raspberry pi with Astroberry, or just use a connected laptop directly to the camera, depends on how you want to do it an budget. I didn't want to use a laptop so went the air route for my main AP imaging, I also use my rpi with astroberry when doing solar system imaging.

[donygp]

49 minutes ago, Swoop1 said:

I have a 290MC which I use on my Celestron C6 SCT for lunar and planetary. With lunar, to capture a full disc I need a minimum of a 4 pane mosaic- gives you an idea of the FOV.

I run mine on the ZWO software and it works beautifuly.

What telescope are you attaching it to? Knowing that, you can use the field of view simulator to get an idea of what you will see-

https://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/

I will attach it to Celestron CPC 1100. Nice to know that ASI290MC works well for you. I'll play the simulator to get the idea of the FoV.

Thanks