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

Date: November 10, 2006 5:07:23 PM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Anybody else using Pt Grey cameras?


Walt:


Of course!  I should have remembered yours, as I saw pix you took with

it at RTMC.  Didn't know you had another one, though.


I'm considering either the 640x480 Scorpion, because  of it's 9.9

micron pixels (only available in grayscale though), or perhaps the

1600x1200 color version (but it's about $2K, yikes!).  I'd look into

the Optronix cameras too, but from what I remember, Milton thought

they'd be really expensive.


I'm still learning a lot about autoguiding.  Turns out that my

"stuff", even mounted on the NJP, seems to have quite a bit of flexure

points I'm going to have to track down, so I'm going to simplify

things considerably before I try again, so I can pin down the problem

areas more easily.  Like I might take a set of spare optics and make

myself an ultralight "rail" guidescope to piggyback on the C-8 or the

9.25 via the dovetails.


-Tim.


--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Walter Lickteig <wflyer@...> wrote:


Tim,


Yes, I have two Point Greys.  One is a 640x480 BW and the other is a  

10124x768 Color.  I also have a Shoestring "guider" box.

With Astro IIDC, you can open two copies and use one to guide with  

and the other to capture...


Walt Lickteig



On Nov 10, 2006, at 2:34 PM, Tim wrote:


Reason I ask is that I'd like to add another camera, and be able to

switch back and forth between it and the Flea as to which I use for

guiding while I image with the other. I have to admit that i like the

color on-chip cameras the best. I have a ST2000XM, Meade DSI Pro, and

prototype Starfish cameras for grayscale, and the SBIG and Meade have

color filters with them. But I must be the ultimate in lazy dude

units, as I use the flea far more than the others because it's so easy

to set up and use, and weighs essentially nothing. (Ever see a C-8

with an ST2000XM with the AO-7 and CFW-10 attached on an EM-10?:

Can't balance in Dec without adding a weight on the sky end of the

dovetail, and then it looks pretty comical).


I also like the Pt Grey cameras' long exposure capability.


But not necessarily their prices. (it looks like I might be able to

buy about 3 low-end TIS cameras for the price of a flea, and I'm

drooling over the even more expensive Scorpions).


I'm planning on adding a Shoestring GPUSB gizmo so I can guide with

one camera, but I haven't ordered one yet.


I still have the Aplux version of the Fire-i, but it's pretty old (4

years) and its sensitivity is pathetic. I've never been able to see

any but the very brightest stars with it.


Thinking out loud... ...hope the noise isn't disturbing! ;o)


-Tim.