Changing camera for galaxies

[Tom33]

I have been considering purchasing a long focal length scope for galaxies as I currently use a SW Esprit 100 and an ASI 294MC PRO for wider field imaging but am wondering if I am better changing my camera to say an ASI 533 MC PRO with a smaller chip and smaller pixels to get the same result. Just wondered if anyone had opinions on this ?

[Elp]

The specs are so similar you wouldn't gain anything other than the anti amp glow feature on the 533 which is a none issue because for any camera that does amp glow it calibrates out. In fact I think it's a downgrade as you loose the larger field of the 294 which is almost apsc size.

As the 533 is a smaller sensor, it's a crop of what you can achieve with the 294.

The only issue I'd consider changing from a 294 to something else is if you have the random red/green swirl pattern effect across the image caused by the sensor glass which affects some units but not all, as it limits your data stretching capability.

[ollypenrice]

The size of the chip has nothing to do with resolution. The object just needs to fit on the chip. Daytime photography talk of 'crop factor' is 100% meaningless in AP.

What resolution will each camera give you in arcseconds per pixel? That is the number which matters. If it is around 1.2 or 1.3 "PP it will be good on galaxies.

Olly

[Elp]

Crop factor I agree is meaningless, but it doesn't change the fact that a smaller sensor will produce an equivalent of a larger sensor image that has been cropped. Some people perceive this as the camera enabling a zoomed in image, it's not, it's a crop IF you compare it to a larger sensor image, or to put it in another way, it's simply what the camera sensor can see within it's dimensions based on the optics projected onto it, a larger sensor will see more FOV given the optics remain the same as long as it fits within an optics illuminated circle.

[Adam J]

On 03/05/2024 at 10:25, Tom33 said:

I have been considering purchasing a long focal length scope for galaxies as I currently use a SW Esprit 100 and an ASI 294MC PRO for wider field imaging but am wondering if I am better changing my camera to say an ASI 533 MC PRO with a smaller chip and smaller pixels to get the same result. Just wondered if anyone had opinions on this ?

Can you give some example of images of galaxies you have already taken?

This is my image of NGC4565 with an esprit 100 and a ASI1600mm pro. Are you already getting this kind of resolution? I doubt you will get much more than this from that scope.

Adam