Dedicated Atro Cameras (CCDs/CMOS)

After some time away from the hobby with life, work, and just about everything else going on, I've finally found myself with lots of time on my hands, and some hard-earned cash for some new gear.

Right now I've got my trusty 60D, but I'm about ready to upgrade to a full frame (I shoot product photos, landscapes, animals, cars, videos, etc.) and given the requirement to do more than just astrophotography, that rules out things like the EOS Ra (or other variants) or modded DSLRs. For that purpose, I'm debating between a 5DmkIV and the new mirrorless R5 (though the lack of an external intervalometer support and no LiveView functions is rather off-putting).

Because I want to take my astrophotography to the next level, invest in a telescope or two, and eventually build a similar style observatory to Baz, I've been looking at both cooled and uncooled cameras dedicated to this type of photography. I've already determined that going with a monochrome camera and using the appropriate filters is just fine, and I like the technical challenge as well as more data to post-process.

I mainly want to do DSO and planetary, but wouldn't mind doing wide-angle exposures either. However, preliminary reading doesn't seem to give me a conclusive solution for an all-purpose camera. Am I correct in the assumption that I'd look at something like the uncooled ASI462MM from ZWO for primarily planetary imaging and basic DSO imaging, and then something like the ASI1600MM Pro for more dedicated/detailed DSO imaging? I don't mind carrying extra gear, I just want to be sure I have everything I need to shoot all the things that interest me.

I suppose with an adapter which is readily available, I can use my existing Canon lenses with these as well to take wide-angle exposure shots. I recognize that a quality guided mount will be what really makes the experience.

Thanks in advance!

ETA: I just realized an error in the title... oops!

Sorry if this reply gets to you too late, hopefully you've made your choice. But I was going to recommend the ZWO ASI178MM-C or 183MM-C, which you could use for both planetary and DSOs. I use the 178MM with Canon primes (and even cheap pentax primes) with nice results for DSOs, and I use a 600mm Sky-Watcher ED80 for planetary (or 8" SCT if I'm brave).

I have not made my choice yet! I've been super, super busy with work.

I've been using my R5, and it's done well enough so far along with having a guided mount, but I am looking to eventually move to something from ZWO.

Heya,

If you want a single camera to do it all, the IMX183 sensor based cameras (such as ASI183MM-Pro) would be a good start when dealing with short focal length instruments with fast focal-ratios because it has tiny 2.4um pixels for sampling purposes (this is important with planetary imaging, 2.4um would ideally sample between F10 and F15 for planets). The large 1" sensor is great for the FOV for DSO and will sample well with fast focal-ratio short lenses or refractors (again due to small pixels). The cooling is critical for DSO to take care of noise from long exposure. Cooling doesn't do anything in planetary, but if you want a do all, get the cooling. For planetary, the wide field is nice to get the planet(s) in the field of view and then use region of interest (ROI) to crop the sensor's used pixels down to only those near the planet, the result is this sensor can go 300 FPS so you can get a ton of frames for planetary imaging. With mono, you will supply the RGB filters and narrowband filters (such as Near UV (395nm), HA, S2, O3, 685nm IR, 742nm IR, etc). Color sensors will not do narrowband as nicely due to the limited resolution and signal due to the bayer matrix. Filters are costly, but get good ones (Astronomik, Chroma, Astrodon, Baader; don't get the ZWO filters). Hurts once. You will want an 8 position filter wheel to hold them all, and if it's electronically controlled that's even better so you don't move the scope while trying to change filters and nudge the planet out of your FOV or change your position on your DSO. Get electronic. It's costly, but it saves you the headache you find out you moved your scope touching it while imaging. While at it, look into the ZWO EAF motorized focuser so you don't touch the scope too. Worth it.

If you you want to image without all the doodads, less filters, less fuss, less extras, then just get a cooled color sensor. The IMX183MC Pro is the same as above, but color (bayer matrix). Otherwise, look into the 1" ASI533MC Pro (it has zero amp glow). I would not bother with the aged panasonic 1600MM sensor at this point, there are better options now.

Very best,

I'm definitely looking at something with filters, I don't mind shooting the different spectrums. OSC is nice, but having more control is nicer. I'm intrigued by the electronic filter wheel, and even more so about the electronic focusing.

I guess the nice thing about not having jumped on anything yet, is that in this short amount of time, tech has almost certainly already advanced.

Getting my hands on a good scope is going to be next, mostly interested in DSO for that.

VaiFanatic wrote in post #19194621
I'm definitely looking at something with filters, I don't mind shooting the different spectrums. OSC is nice, but having more control is nicer. I'm intrigued by the electronic filter wheel, and even more so about the electronic focusing.

I guess the nice thing about not having jumped on anything yet, is that in this short amount of time, tech has almost certainly already advanced.

Getting my hands on a good scope is going to be next, mostly interested in DSO for that.

There are more scope options than camera options. The issue will be finding one in stock and available.

For DSO, start with something short, 60mm to 102mm aperture, F6~F7 with and without a focal-reducer option that is flat fielded with a good focuser that can be mechanized. Buy once, hurt once. The bigger you go on your scope the more emphasis it will put on getting a serious tracking mount.

You shouldn't get anything until you actually have a tracking mount though, its the backbone of all imaging you will do.

Very best,

VaiFanatic wrote in post #19194621
I'm definitely looking at something with filters, I don't mind shooting the different spectrums. OSC is nice, but having more control is nicer. I'm intrigued by the electronic filter wheel, and even more so about the electronic focusing.

I guess the nice thing about not having jumped on anything yet, is that in this short amount of time, tech has almost certainly already advanced.

Getting my hands on a good scope is going to be next, mostly interested in DSO for that.

Hi, I am wondering if you would find my video review of the William Optics Zenithstar 73 would be useful? I'm not crazy big on going its specs, but instead, I used the time to go over my thoughts about this impressive refractor, and why I think it's a fantastic beginner friendly scope that will serve you for a long long time.

https://youtu.be/q99ze​4316Sw

I just started my channel and I also went over some of the more popular filters. Are you dead set on getting a monochrome camera?

I'm going to check out your video!

I've looked at the William Optics in the past, and was looking at the Zenithstar line or even the Space Cat. I've got my iOptron SkyGuider Pro which should handle the weight of most of WO's smaller offerings, even if I choose to shoot with my R5. I need to get a better Azimuth mount for it (I like the William Optics option, just haven't ordered it yet), and I may upgrade further by replacing the spotting scope with the iPolar camera to get a more accurate polar alignment. I have Dell Precision laptop with decent battery life that I can work with.

I am most definitely set on going monochrome; I've seen some beautiful photos taken just in monochrome that look fantastic! Color isn't always everything.

VaiFanatic wrote in post #19195406
I'm going to check out your video!

I've looked at the William Optics in the past, and was looking at the Zenithstar line or even the Space Cat. I've got my iOptron SkyGuider Pro which should handle the weight of most of WO's smaller offerings, even if I choose to shoot with my R5. I need to get a better Azimuth mount for it (I like the William Optics option, just haven't ordered it yet), and I may upgrade further by replacing the spotting scope with the iPolar camera to get a more accurate polar alignment. I have Dell Precision laptop with decent battery life that I can work with.

I am most definitely set on going monochrome; I've seen some beautiful photos taken just in monochrome that look fantastic! Color isn't always everything.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. FYI though, the Sky Guider Pro can handle the Redcat/Spacecat, Zenithstar 61. But I can't guarantee accurate tracking with the Zenithstar 73.

Remember, almost all mounts has a tracking limit of ~70% of their maximum payload capacity.