Jump to content

NLCbanner2024.jpg.2478be509670e60c2d6efd04834b8b47.jpg

S@N reviewer away with the fairies?

coliea

By coliea
in The Astro Lounge

Recommended Posts

NickH

NickH

Posted
Posted

Not in the instances I have found Steve. With a CCD, it's just that, a CCD, pretty much all the same. The 5000 series Meade I reviewed clearly was an off the shelf unit, as if it were hand picked, then the iron filing issue would have been seen.

Sadly, with some scopes, you do get wild variations (try solar...for the ultimate wild ride in variance!), but having seen a few TMB's in my time now, and some simply amazing, some "okay"...it's true at all ends of the spectrum, with optics, precision and consistency are not easy...why do you think Solarscope charge as much as they do...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 41
  • Created
  • Last Reply
FLO

FLO

Posted
Posted

I am carefully not mentioning specific magazines or brands and I have faith in your integrity Nick :) but I am sure we both know of companies and circumstances where this has happened.

Out of curiosity, are you able to test the cooling performance of CCD cameras? It strikes me that some manufacturer's quoted specs are a little ... ambitious, particularly where they have power circuitry built-in to the camera casing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NickH

NickH

Posted
Posted

I am able to test the linearity/adu levels, and a whole slew of other things now with my "little box of tricks" which was a requirement for the Palomar PTF project. If you read the chapter on CCD testing in the Handbook of Astronomical Image Processing, that is a good set of tests. Actual temperature on the CCD, with most being closed is tricky, you have to reply on the readback from the sensor to software. I didn't test the new Atik cooled cams, but one was tested and the guys at Atik are now implementing some new stuff (Steve's great with this kind of thing, he made up some custom firmware for another set of tests I was doing for Palomar)

What you would do with set point is a set of tests at various "read" temperatures and see if the noise floor was responding how you expect.

Am currently testing a new camera which has cooling and high frame rates for another company..

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mark at Beaufort

Mark at Beaufort

Posted
Posted

I have bought equipment as a result of a positive review in an astro mag - Moonfish 30mm EP being a good example. I also take note of what is said my other members of this forum and have appreciated advice from Steve/FLO from time to time.

So in future I will continue to buy Astro mags and read their reviews but I will always seek other opinions before the final purchase.

Mark

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Macavity

Macavity

Posted
Posted

I sense eyepiece reviews are notoriously... variable? But, so much so, I spent quite a LOT of time (even back in CN only days) really trying to understand the "aberration thing" (in practice) and also comparing my impressions with other commentators. I concluded that a few of them genuinely "knew what they were talking about". <G> But that is NOT to criticise, merely remark that quantitative (qualitiative) reviews need a LOT of thought and often a rather specialist knowledge. :rolleyes:

I think there have been S@N reviews, through which I have learned something. <G> I remember a GOOD one re. the budget Orion "Solar System Colour Imager". As indeed the reviewer, I found it a useful introduction to (albeit minimalist!) IMAGING. Most of the "internet" declared the beast to be (at best?) "rubbish" or "useless"! Admittedly, it is NOT the most sensitive CMOS chip... But it does what the review (and I) claim: It's great for Moon (Sun) and "Brighter Planets". :)

And who can forget the now famous "Fashion" (Anorak) review? Again useful, if your clothes sense/shopping

is of the same priority as certain, considerably more famous, astronomers. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
FLO

FLO

Posted
Posted

Writing product reviews is much more difficult that it appears so credit to those who produce them.

And who can forget the now famous "Fashion" (Anorak) review?

I saw that one. Whilst I didn't buy any of the coats reviewed the article did make me aware of how much better goose-down filling is compared to regular polyester and I did then buy a similar coat :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GazOC

GazOC

Posted
Posted

And who can forget the now famous "Fashion" (Anorak) review? Again useful, if your clothes sense/shopping

is of the same priority as certain, considerably more famous, astronomers. :)

Don't get me started on that one Mac, I nearly applied for a partial refund on my subsciption that month...:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.