CCD Camera Help!?

Question

I am looking for a beginner CCD camera to acompany my brand new Celestron C8-SGT on equatorial mount. I am looking for relatively inexpensive and good for planets, and deep sky objects. If anyone can give me some advice with CCD cameras that would be great also and some models. Im not looking to break the bank.

Answer 1

If you are looking for easy to use and fairly inexpensive, both Meade and Orion have options. Both of these entry CCD's are about 100 - 200 dollars and come with software to help take the pictures and process the images. I have both the Meade LPI and the Orion Starshooter II. I think the Orion has better image quality, but it is more expensive.

Answer 2

I see that alot of these people are telling you to buy these expensive digital SLR'S, but if you want a good true CCD camera that will not cost you an arm and a leg, Go for the Orion StarShoot DSI, it will run you about 300.00 bucks, and it will do anything you want, and it is a USB port model powered by your computer or laptop. Also Meade has a good one that is around 400.00 bucks.

If you decide to buy Orion do not get the Star Shoot planetary imager, because the chip is not sensitive enough to pick up deep sky objects, Go for the bigger DSI model. I know I have both of them, plus an SBIG- 1100, but that is way out of your price range at 3,000 bucks.

Answer 3

You have two options here. You can go with a CCD, or you can get a digital camera. Here me out on the digital camera.

A CCD is black and white. If you want color, you have to take multiple exposures in different filters - so there's the added filter expense. Also, a CCD can be pretty expensive. I'd suggest checking out what Apogee and FingerLakes optics have to offer on the amateur level. If you do want to try your hand at useful astronomy, you'll want the CCD and filters.

However, if you're doing it for fun and pretty pictures, which is a good 95% of amatuers, I'd suggest looking into the digital cameras that Canon is offering. I've used them on smaller professional quality scopes, and the result is great. Plus you get the color without the filters. The good ones will have adapters to attach to the telescope, and will automatically take dark frames like the professional instruments.

Either way, if you want to reduce the images yourself, I'd suggest investing in a program called MaximDL - it's used by amateurs and professionals for reducing astronomical images.

Good luck, and have fun!

Answer 4

Give the simplest thing a try.

I had my BEST results with a $5 120 film camera with a simple wide angle lense

So I'd say something like a Kodak or Polariod 4 or 5 MP none-optical zoom, wide angel digital zoom only camera might work the best.

Just put it up to the eyepiece

set it for NO FLASH

Set it for FAST ACTION

Answer 5

Its o.ok. for capturing of the moon. For the better planets, its extremely sufficient and for the smaller planets, you would be fortunate to work out a dot. do not ignore, you will desire a working laptop or workstation with USB port and the minimum utility standards to make it artwork. a workstation is superb, as long as you may perform next to the scope.. A scope that tracks is effectual, yet not mandatory. Take some time with it. Focusing must be a topic in the journey that your telescope shakes once you touch the scope. by way of all ability commence with the moon first. Its an elementary aim.

Answer 6

The Nikon D40 has been getting good reviews. It's their new entry level SLR