Atik 428EX and Hyperstar with 8" SCT

[traeschn]

I have a C8 SGT XLT on CG5 EQ Mount... I'm intrigued with hyperstar as are a lot of people. So as my OTA is only an 8inch it is limited to what CCD's it can put on the front without losing any light gathering ability...I have pondered these CCD's...Please tell me what you think of them and your experience or someone you knows experience and it will be greatly appreciated to hear the pros and cons of them. I want a One Shot Color not a Mono since I am starting out and only want to be semi serious about AP.

Atik 428EX
Atik 420
Atik 450
Starlight Xpress H9C
QHY8L
QHY8PRO
QHY10
Starlight Xpress H674C
Celestron Nightscape

[Alfredo Beltran]

Hi

Of those, the H674 and 428 have the highest quantum efficieny and have (in the paper the lowest read noise).

Next would be the H9C

Best regards

Alfredo

[traeschn]

Yeah but the H674C is like 250 or 350 more than the 428....I got my C8 SGT XLT for the purpose of getting into AP and I'm having a hard time convincing myself to get a ccd worth more then my ota and mount combined and some!

[Alfredo Beltran]

Well, that's usually the case because the cameras are typically more expensive than the OTAs. And if you go mono also should be considered the cost of filter wheel and filters.

Each item is just part of the whole imaging system, as the OTA, mount, focal reducer, focuser, etc

Best regards

Alfredo

[Phil Leigh]

Yeah but the H674C is like 250 or 350 more than the 428....I got my C8 SGT XLT for the purpose of getting into AP and I'm having a hard time convincing myself to get a ccd worth more then my ota and mount combined and some!

I'm afraid this the reality of high-end imaging!

[Phil Leigh]

AP is kind of the inverse of terrestrial photography; with TP you just need a "decent" DSLR body and a few (maybe only 1) great lenses to take great pictures. With AP you need a "decent" scope and a great camera and mount (and filters and guide camera and...)

[Alfredo Beltran]

I completely agree. My setup is a 6SE SCT OTA on an iEQ45 mount and a Canon T1i.

The DSLR alone costs more than the OTA. And by far the mount is the more expensive item. And the Microtouch focuser matches the cost of the OTA.

I'm planning to move to a mono CCD in the next year to take full advantage of narrow band imaging. If the decision had to be made today I'd go for the 428 or the H674.

Obviously everyone makes own decisions.

Best regards

Alfredo

[traeschn]

Well I want to stick with the OSC CCD because I want it to be as easy as possible for me and I have extra money but not to throw at filters and their wheels. So with that said. I've been recommended on a few different accounts to get the SBIG 8300C but I think its just too big for a 8" Hyperstar and they did agree but one person told me that it would turn the 8" Hyperstar from a f/2.0 to a f/2.5....Is this true, and if so, is it worth the trade off? By the way, I accidently unsubscribed this thread, any way to put it back on and how do I add a photo to my Profile? Thank You all!!

[tmohr]

By the way, I accidently unsubscribed this thread, any way to put it back on and how do I add a photo to my Profile? Thank You all!!

Traeschn,

at the top of this thread is a link to "thread tools", in the drop down you can click on "subscribe to thread" and follow the prompts.

To add a profile picture (I think you mean avatar), click on the "user CP" in the new window you have two options: If you want to put a profile picture, it's one of the first links on the left "Edit Profile Picture". If you meant Avatar (the one that shows on all your posts) that link is also on the left just a little ways below "Edit profile Picture". It's called "Edit Avatar".

Each of these have a few parameters you'll have to contend with when uploading your picture. Image size and space being two of them.

Hope that helps.

Clear skies,