Upgrade to CCD Camera or Stick with DSLR?

Hi,
I have ~$1600 I can spend on a CCD camera if it makes sense. I was thinking used market. Wondering how much better this would be for short as well as long exposures than my Canon 50d? My short exposures are at 30 seconds and long exposures at least 5 minutes. This is with a Nexstar 11" GPS SCT with some light pollution (i.e. I can barely see spiral arms of the whirlpool galaxy with 30 second exposures ISO 3200 on reasonable nights).

I am weighing the trade offs with purchasing the CCD camera versus the Explore Scientific 6" refractor with the Celestron gc-5 (sp) mount.

In many ways I am newbee to the hobby. Thanks for any guidance and help!

Alan

If you have run into the top end of the Canon 50 D, then upgrade. However, don't do it until you have gotten your rig working very well (tracking, focusing, processing, etc.). You can learn a lot with the DSLR, and get a lot out of the images. Eventually you will want to upgrade to a CCD, but the ones that represent an decent upgrade cost more than the $1600 you have. CCD's have a higher top end ultimately. But no need to rush in.

Alex

alan orr said:

Hi,
I have ~$1600 I can spend on a CCD camera if it makes sense. I was thinking used market. Wondering how much better this would be for short as well as long exposures than my Canon 50d? My short exposures are at 30 seconds and long exposures at least 5 minutes. This is with a Nexstar 11" GPS SCT with some light pollution (i.e. I can barely see spiral arms of the whirlpool galaxy with 30 second exposures ISO 3200 on reasonable nights).

I am weighing the trade offs with purchasing the CCD camera versus the Explore Scientific 6" refractor with the Celestron gc-5 (sp) mount.

In many ways I am newbee to the hobby. Thanks for any guidance and help!

Alan

In part it depends on your goals. If you want to go super deep, or do science, a CCD is recommended. HOWEVER...if you are more interested in pretty pictures, especially pretty color pictures, stick with DSLRs. You would be better off using the money to buy a modified DSLR or having your current one modified. TYou would be far better off with an 80mm ED refractor piggybacked on your SCT if your main focus is imaging.

At any rate, best advice is to get real good with what you have before jumpint to the More Better Gooder.