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

Date: October 6, 2009 5:20:17 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: scorpion first light

Alan:

I like the small pixels/large array with these cameras better than swapping out barlows for planetary image scales after finding and centering.  

With most of my scopes, I just use a 2x shorty barlow, center the planet on the ccd, then stop the video, set the ROI to 640x480, and click the center button at the bottom of the ROI screen so the planet will be centered in the VGA window.

I have noticed, though, with my flea2, that if I set the ROI to 640x480, but leave it in the upper left corner rather than centering, I can get higher frame rates than if I center.  I haven't tried this with the Scorpion, though (but you're slightly off-axis in the corner, which might not be desirable at high mags).

-Tim.

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Alan Friedman <alan@...> wrote:

Hi all,

I received the Scorpion 1600x1200 camera today. Brought a nikkor C  

mount adapter and a 35mm camera lens with me to work because I knew I  

would just have to plug it in and try it out:

http://www.avertedimagination.com/images/scorpion_firstlight_sm.jpg

I now have to go back and read the AstroIIDC manual to learn about the  

features that are available on this camera that are not available on  

the DMK cameras. A lot of new menu options appear that didn't before.  

Milton, thanks for that 92 page reference!

I was able to figure out how to set the Region of Interest (ROI)  

field. This should be a big advantage in my solar imaging work, where  

I am currently switching cameras back and forth between the 41DMK for  

its wide field and the 21DMK for its 60fps capture rate.

The Scorpion camera is quite beautifully made with its machined  

aluminum housing and radiused edges - the gray Pt. Grey anodizing  

coordinates nicely with my MacBook Pro. No tripod mounting socket is  

included BTW.

Tim - thanks very much for posting the heads up on these cameras.

cheers,

Alan