Hello all, I have gotten a celestron CPC 800HD and would like some feedback on what would be a CCD camera up to no more than 800 dollars to get started with, work it a while and see if its really what I want to do, thanks
New to this
Started by Rmille6161, 01/11/2013 12:41AM
Posted 01/11/2013 12:41AM
Opening Post
Posted 01/11/2013 07:30PM
#1
Hi Robert,
If your thinking of planetary imaging, your probably OK to start with the CPC. Planetary images are very short and can be rotated and stacked.
Are you talking planetary images or nebula and galaxies ?
If your thinking of deep sky objects, your CPC has a couple strikes against it. Not that it is not a nice scope, but it is an awful long focal length to get started and you will be limited to exposures of 20 seconds or so before field rotation takes affect by trailing stars in the image.
People can and do produce good images with fork mounted scopes, but you will have to have an equatorial wedge to track properly to avoid the field rotation. Even then it is very difficult.
Rather than spend money on a CCD just yet, start looking into a german equatorial mount and a smaller focal length scope. That is a good place to start. Trying to image with a fork mounted, long focal length scope my make you quit before you actually get a taste for it.
Not that you can not do it, but you would be starting the hard way.
From learning the hard way myself, the best recommendation would be a small GEM mount, an 80mm refractor and a small guide scope to guide it for long exposures. That would be a good starting point and you would know quickly if you were hooked. Read up on it, it is a great part of this hobby, but starting out wrong in imaging might discourage you very quickly.
Different equipment than you currently have could make all the difference for deep sky objects.
Brad
If your thinking of planetary imaging, your probably OK to start with the CPC. Planetary images are very short and can be rotated and stacked.
Are you talking planetary images or nebula and galaxies ?
If your thinking of deep sky objects, your CPC has a couple strikes against it. Not that it is not a nice scope, but it is an awful long focal length to get started and you will be limited to exposures of 20 seconds or so before field rotation takes affect by trailing stars in the image.
People can and do produce good images with fork mounted scopes, but you will have to have an equatorial wedge to track properly to avoid the field rotation. Even then it is very difficult.
Rather than spend money on a CCD just yet, start looking into a german equatorial mount and a smaller focal length scope. That is a good place to start. Trying to image with a fork mounted, long focal length scope my make you quit before you actually get a taste for it.
Not that you can not do it, but you would be starting the hard way.
From learning the hard way myself, the best recommendation would be a small GEM mount, an 80mm refractor and a small guide scope to guide it for long exposures. That would be a good starting point and you would know quickly if you were hooked. Read up on it, it is a great part of this hobby, but starting out wrong in imaging might discourage you very quickly.
Different equipment than you currently have could make all the difference for deep sky objects.
Brad
Funding Member
