"Re: [M]: Which CCD to chose?" in the Meade Astronomy Archive

Subject: Re: [M]: Which CCD to chose?
From: Jack Dembicky
Reply To: mapug@shore.net
Date: Thu Jun 07 02:31:40 2001

While you're here, how about checking out the Astronomy Book List ?

I own a MX7C/STAR2000/AstroArt.

If I were in your position I would probably choose the MX7C w/o the STAR 2000
and AstroArt (and probably save up to get AstroArt, if you don't like the
included software).

You can image with the software that comes with the camera (and it is capable,
although I prefer AstroArt for the features and plugins, I think you can d/l a
demo (doesn't work with the camera though) to get a feel for the processing
capabilities. AstroArt has plugins for the camera, color separation, and LX200
control but unfortunately I don't think any work with the demo). You can also
get away WITHOUT the STAR2000 interface by just taking short (30s - 1 min)
exposures and stacking the images together. The camera does very well at
capturing objects in just a few secs so 30sec isn't as short as it sounds with
a CCD. Obviously a longer total exposure is nice, but stacking also works
quite well for many. If you do decide that you want the autoguiding (STAR
2000) it is always an option to add later.

Do you have a wedge? If not, you are limited in the time you can take
exposures before field rotation occurs (1-5 mins depending on where the
telescope is pointing) and the STAR 2000 device will not prevent this from
happening (only a wedge or field de-rotator).

IMHO

Jack Dembicky

Moderator of Yahoo!EGroups Astronomy Star Parties
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StarParties

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> Hey everybody,
>
> With Fathers day fast approaching my wife has "graciously" given me the
> =
> OK to purchase a CCD camera. My budget for this is rather limited, =
> about $1,600.
>
> I have a LX200 10" F10, and will probably get the F6 and F3 focal =
> reducers a little later this summer. Also, I live in St. Louis, MO, so
> =
> the light pollution around is fair to moderate.
>
> After looking at the Meade products, SBIG and the Starlight Express, =
> I've pretty much decided to get a Starlight Express camera. I'm torn =
> between the MX5C and the newer MX7C.
>
> I'm looking to just get into CCD work, using it for a combination of =
> DSO's and planetary imaging. A color CCD is a definitive must have, and
> =
> easy of use as well.
>
> If I go with the MX5C I will be able to also get the STAR 2000 auto =
> guiding add-on, and the Astroart CCD Image processing software. Kind of
> =
> a all in one package.
>
> If I go with the MX7C I will just be able to afford the camera, and the
> =
> software that comes with it.
>
> According to Starlight Express's website, the MX7C is twice as sensitive
> =
> as the MX5C, hence my problem. Should I go with the MX7C camera, and =
> then just purchase the add-on's when I can, or should I go with the MX5C
> =
> where I will be able to afford the whole package?
>
> Opinions anyone? Do you think I will be able to get as good a pictures
> =
> from the MX5C as from the MX7C? I hate to buy the MX7C, then realize =
> that it's kinda useless without the other stuff, but I would also hate =
> to get the MX5C and then keep second guessing and wondering if I should
> =
> have gotten the other one.
>
> Any and all opinions are gratefully appreciated.
>
> David Brune
> St. Louis, MO
>
>
>
> <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
> <HTML><HEAD>
> <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
> charset=3Diso-8859-1">
> <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.50.4611.1300" name=3DGENERATOR>
> <STYLE></STYLE>
> </HEAD>
> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hey everybody,</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>With Fathers day fast approaching my =
> wife has=20
> "graciously" given me the OK to purchase a CCD camera. My budget =
> for this=20
> is rather limited, about $1,600.</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have a LX200 10" F10, and will =
> probably get the=20
> F6 and F3 focal reducers a little later this summer. Also, I live
> =
> in St.=20
> Louis, MO, so the light pollution around is fair to =
> moderate.</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>After looking at the
> =
> Meade=20
> products, SBIG and the Starlight Express, I've pretty much decided to =
> get a=20
> Starlight Express camera. I'm torn between the MX5C and the
> newer=20
> MX7C.</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I'm looking to just get into CCD work,
> =
> using it for=20
> a combination of DSO's and planetary imaging. A color CCD is a =
> definitive=20
> must have, and easy of use as well.</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If I go with the MX5C I will be able to
> =
> also get=20
> the STAR 2000 auto guiding add-on, and the Astroart CCD Image processing
> =
>
> software. Kind of a all in one package.</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If I go with the MX7C I will just be =
> able to afford=20
> the camera, and the software that comes with it.</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>According to Starlight Express's =
> website, the MX7C=20
> is twice as sensitive as the MX5C, hence my problem. Should I go =
> with the=20
> MX7C camera, and then just purchase the add-on's when I can, or should I
> =
> go with=20
> the MX5C where I will be able to afford the whole package?</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Opinions anyone? Do you think I =
> will be able=20
> to get as good a pictures from the MX5C as from the MX7C? I hate =
> to buy=20
> the MX7C, then realize that it's kinda useless without the other stuff,
> =
> but I=20
> would also hate to get the MX5C and then keep second guessing and =
> wondering if I=20
> should have gotten the other one.</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Any and all opinions are gratefully=20
> appreciated.</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>David Brune</FONT></DIV>
> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>St. Louis, =
> MO</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
>
>
>

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