Hi Guys, New astronomer needing help with CCD :)

[NickH]

Second hand Meade DSI, good way to get in to deep sky, great software, and then when you move up...makes a superb guide cam

[CrazyMike]

Hi SkyExplorer, heres the link Crazy Cameras - Celestron NexImage Solar System Imager found it for £71.99 in the end. Bargin

Hi,

Id use caution with that site. Check out this link: Crazy Cameras - AVForums.com

Seems that while they do usually deliver, it can take forever. Most people just give up and ask for a refund, which can also be slow.

I know, i ordered one too! lol

[SkyExplorer]

Yeah I looked at the website and noticed the products come from the states, I guess that is why they can sell the stuff that cheaply.

Thanks for the info CrazyMike.

[The Sailor]

Being reading the link that CrazyMike gave, certainly not a good advert for them, keep your money in you pocket I say .

[The_PSY3NTIST]

Oh dear lol Ill let you know how long it takes to come. I can wait a week or two to save £50.. that can go towards the mod see what happens lol

[The_PSY3NTIST]

Just updating you about the Celestron NexImage CCD Imager from crazy cameras... They shipped it within two working days and now its in the hands of DHL Got a tracking number and it left LA at 21:00 last night. Just thought id let you know SkyExplorer £40 extra from what ive saved to put towards some eyepieces now

[SkyExplorer]

ah, maybe not as bad as it may seem, please post when you get the item.

I've been keeping an eye on the neximage on ebay for £87 just in case.

Thanks

[The_PSY3NTIST]

I will do mate £87 new is still a bargin though!

[The_PSY3NTIST]

CCD Just tuned up SkyExplorer

[The Sailor]

Thats good news, after reading all the problems about them. Good viewing .

Jim

[CrazyMike]

Just updating you about the Celestron NexImage CCD Imager from crazy cameras... They shipped it within two working days and now its in the hands of DHL Got a tracking number and it left LA at 21:00 last night. Just thought id let you know SkyExplorer £40 extra from what ive saved to put towards some eyepieces now

Yeah, my camera arrived today, took 10 days, not quite what they promised, their customer service is abysmal, they never answer the phone, but the products do seem to come.

Im pretty sure they dont stock much, they literally order it as and when they get a customer order hence the delays and delaying tactics.

Id probably order from them again if there was a big difference in price

[CrazyMike]

ah, maybe not as bad as it may seem, please post when you get the item.

I've been keeping an eye on the neximage on ebay for £87 just in case.

Thanks

Id give crazycameras a try, dont expect any replies from e-mails, btu you will likely get your item.

[The_PSY3NTIST]

Yeh can be annoying expecting a delivery for days on end cant it.. Im having that problem with telescope planet at the minute. Anyone had problems with them before? Ive lost 2 days earnings due to waiting in for deliveries could have spent that on a bigger aperture lol ah well.. live and learn

[arad85]

Search the forum for Telescope Planet... Not always a good story I'm afraid.........

[SkyExplorer]

Thanks for the update, I may take the plunge now and give C-Camera a go

[The_PSY3NTIST]

what would be a good reasonably priced monochrome camera to go for. Would it be better to go down that route rather than dslr?

[robbieince]

I say that a mono camera will always give better results than a dslr - it all depends on budget. How about an atik 314l?

[The_PSY3NTIST]

i wish i had that budget Rob Was thinking more along the £500 mark but would go higher if it made a dramatic difference. Would like something with high resolution though.

[TopHouse]

Don't know if this helps anyone here but in the swap section I have a spare toucam 740k which is the same internally as the spc900 and can in fact be firmware flashed to the 900 according to this :-

Philips SPC900NC uncovered

[Whippy]

i wish i had that budget Rob Was thinking more along the £500 mark but would go higher if it made a dramatic difference. Would like something with high resolution though.

Not that they come up very often, but you can buy a camera with the Sony 285 chip such as the Atik 16Hr/314L or Stalight Xpress H9 for about £500 - £600 (in fact there's a colour Atik on AB&S atm). Not the largest chip in the world (not even close really!) but still very nice cameras that will give you stunning results.

Tony..

[NickH]

if you see an Atik16HR or an H9 for £500 jump on it...more likely they go for £650-700, the H9's typically for more, as the 285 is one of the best chips ever made for noise floor/high QE(courtesy of the microlense system) etc. not huge, but when you can take 15 minute exposures without a dark frame, you kind of don't care

[Whippy]

Good point Nick, H9's do tend be more expensive but the 16Hr's are cheaper, IIRC I paid £600 for mine but they don't hang about at that price!

Tony..

[NickH]

12 second DL time on the 16HR as apposed to the 1 second on the 314L and H9 was the only reason I upgraded. For Solar widefield (0.001s) it's a corker too.. form factor also on the H9 and 314L is better than the 16HR if you ever want to go down the Hyperstar route

Whatever though, blisteringly great camera/chip combo...not much can touch it

[johnkirkpatrick]

Yeh can be annoying expecting a delivery for days on end cant it.. Im having that problem with telescope planet at the minute. Anyone had problems with them before? Ive lost 2 days earnings due to waiting in for deliveries could have spent that on a bigger aperture lol ah well.. live and learn

I just bought my scope from them a few days ago. they said it would be next day delivery so i phoned them and said I would be working and gave them my mother inlaws address and it got sent there but only my scope arrived and am still waiting on my books and binoculars. sent them a reminder today no reply yet. i read a page on reviews on telescope planet and it was 50/50 really. hope you get in soon.