From: "Tim" <tjp314@pacbell.net>

Date: December 8, 2005 5:05:52 PM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Optronics Magnafire SP camera

Alan:

I would think that the Scorpion 640x480 monochrome camera would be the bee's knees 

for sensitivity and speed.

9.9 micron pixels, so good well depth.  Lower "resolution" than the smaller pixel cameras 

(with more pixels, though), but that's what barlows are for, right?  FYI, Don Parker shoots 

planetary with a SBIG ST9, with 20 micron pixels.

With my color Flea on the 9.25", I can't really take advantage of the 60fps (8-bit) capability 

of the camera, because I need more light.  30fps works very well, though.  And that's with 

the "sub=spiffy" bluish IR block filter permanently in place (and the color chip).  The 

monochrome camera doesn't have an IR blocker, apparently.  Also, the Scorpion cameras 

have removable IR filters.  They're more expensive than the flea, though, with the 

1600x1200 ccd chip camera being around 2 grand, IIRC.  They don't list it on the main 

page, but the Scorpion can also be equipped with a 2/3" CMOS chip.  I'm sure they're less 

sensitive than the ccd version, but the size of the chip sure makes me otherwise drool.

-Tim.

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Milton Aupperle <milton@o...> wrote:

Hi Alan;

It depends on which camera your asking about.

The new DragonFly 2 "High Res" Mono cameras are quite nice and  

support 640x480, 800x600 and 1024x768 video sizes for both 8 or 16  

bit (12 bit actual) and frame rates to 30 fps. They have a small  

pixel size of 4.65 microns (your DMK and Unibrain camera are 5.6  

microns) which for planetary will give you better resolution. However  

the smaller pixel size will cost you some light gathering capability  

by about 17% (4.65/5.6  = 0.83).

Hope That Helps..

Milton J. Aupperle

President

ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting

Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist

#1005 - 815 14th Avenue. S.W.

Calgary Alberta Canada T2R0N5

1-(403)-229-9456

milton@o...

www.outcastsoft.com

On 8-Dec-05, at 3:05 PM, Alan Friedman wrote:

I wonder if you guys could comment on the monochrome Pt. Gray  

cameras. I am tempted by the capacity for faster download rate and  

bit depth on the larger chips for solar and lunar imaging. The  

array of names and specs has me a little intimidated - I'm not a  

very technical guy.

thanks  -

Alan

On Dec 8, 2005, at 4:47 PM, Tim wrote:

I still believe that the best imaging setup for planetary is a 16- 

bit firewire camera (I shoot

color, but I may add a monochrome camera at some point) and Astro  

IIDC.