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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 5:39:30 GMT
I'm wanting to give video astronomy a try - particularly for the purpose of enhancing my observing from my less-than-desirable (NELM 4.5) suburban home location. My primary observing targets would be deep sky objects, although I also do quite a bit solar observing, both in Ha and white light. My scopes that I would like to be able to use with a single video camera are: an Obsession 15" f/4.5 with ServoCAT, a Stellarvue 90mm APO on a MiniTower mount, and a Coronado PST for Ha solar (which can also be mounted on the MiniTower). My budget is in a range that I'm considering one of three Mallincam cameras: the Micro-Ex, Junior Pro, or Pro Dob II. Although I do have a basic understanding of the differences between these cameras, I really have no sense of which one would perform better with a particular scope or with a particular type of observing target.
Which video camera would you recommend as the best option for me to give video astronomy a try, and why?
Clear skies,
Mark Friedman Worthington, OH USA
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Post by Dragon Man on Nov 11, 2014 9:18:48 GMT
Mark, this is where It would be good to see Jack jump in and help you decide. Not because Jack is the Mallincam dealer (you have already decided to go with Mallincam), but because he also uses a huge Dobsonian with his cameras. He could advise you on how each would work in that size scope.
I think Lee (hemmi) has also used some medium to large scopes, I'm not sure.
And Shevill has a lot of experience in all sorts of telescope configurations, large and small.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 9:37:24 GMT
Hi Mark, If you can afford a Jnr Pro, I would go that way. It's an excellent camera for the price and will work fine on the 15" Obsession bearing in mind that the field of view will be quite small (around 20x15 arcminutes for example) with a dob/newt and adding a focal reducer to a dob/newt will very likely introduce coma even at very low focal reduction ratios.
The 90mm APO and Coronado will present a wider fov as you can add more aggressive focal reducers to those without introducing coma.
Regards Dean
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 14:56:08 GMT
Mark,
The PRO DOB II is basically a Micr0-EX modified to reside in a 2" round bodied camera that can slide deep into a focuser and allowing the ability to achieve focus without scope modification. I have both in stock. They are limited to 17 seconds in exposure time with the possibility of stacking on the fly up to 5 images. However, the stacking does not align stars so the stars may appear slightly trailed when going longer than 17 seconds. The JR PRO uses a slightly larger sensor and provides more vivid colors - especially when the standard color chip is used. The one issue you may have is achieving focus when using a focal reducer on the DOB. Obsessions don't provide much leaway in focus travel and when a focal reducer is used to achieve a lower power, wifer field of view, more in focus is needed. Some Obsession owners have simply cut the truss poles to push the focal plane out farther to allow the use of a focal reducer. Others have ordered a second set of poles and trimmed one whlie leaving the other at the original length.
Yours truly,
Jack Huerkamp
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Nov 17, 2014 4:22:13 GMT
Hi Mark,
I don't have a tracking platform for my 8" f/4.5 dob, so I can't give you any recommendations there.
My two video scopes are an Orion 80 EDT and a Mallincam 8" RC. I own two video cameras, a Mallincam Jr. Pro and a ZWO ASI120MC. I got the former for DSOs and I got the latter for planetary viewing. I thought it was a bonus that the ZWO also could be used as an all-sky camera.
Honestly, I have not had a lot of luck with the ZWO other than with views of the moon. It does a good job with that, but I've really struggled getting the settings right on planets. And I'm also not a big fan of its all-sky performance. Maybe its just me not getting the settings right, but I went ahead and got the MallinCam All-Sky cam, which I have enjoyed very much. I'm still working on a good mount for it so that I can have it going full time. No issues, just too many irons in the fire.
The Jr. Pro I have really gotten to enjoy. I've mostly viewed DSOs with both scopes but I have also gotten some decent Jupiter and Saturn views this summer. I say that without even doing stacking with Miloslick yet! I wouldn't call myself a master yet, but I can do outreach events with no issues at all.
I dont know what I may do for planets. My next experiments will be with eyepiece projection with my Jr Pro and with my RC scope (f/8) to see how that works.
I also got a solar filter for white light for my ED80 and I am trying to figure out what Ha scope to get. I am planning on starting with the ZWO to start just because solar makes me nervous. I just want to get some experience under my belt before putting the Jr Pro in there. I considered using the Micro, and Jack has some Youtube videos showing the micro's performance with his solar scopes.
From everything I have read, the Micro is a great intro camera and gives a lot of features for its price, but its easy to outgrow it. I may get a micro anyway because its just so versatile (some have been using it to guide).
If I had to do it over again, I might have gotten a micro to just get my initial video chops (experience)... and instead of buying the Jr. Pro kept on saving to afford an Extreme II. Of course, now the Exterminator is here!
--Rick
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