Why no DSLR cameras?

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dhkaiser
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Why no DSLR cameras?

Post by dhkaiser »

Why no DSLR cameras?

Brand new to Ha solar observing. While I await the arrival of my Lunt LS60HaTP, I have been perusing the forum. I don't see any reference to the use of any DSLR cameras with solar telescopes. Curious why not?


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Re: Why no DSLR cameras?

Post by Merlin66 »

A fast frame mono camera allows you to freeze those fleeing moments of good seeing and by using Autostakkert 3 you can stack the video (AVI or SER) and sort for quality and then use Registax 6 to tweak the image for maximum definition.
DSLR’s are used but honestly of limited success.


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Re: Why no DSLR cameras?

Post by Rusted »

Some astro cameras can exceed 300 fps video capture on the solar disk though an H-alpha telescope. In a few second you can have literally thousands of video frames to automatically sort for image quality using the free software mentioned by Merlin.

Atmospheric seeing conditions and even the wind, can spoil some images. But you still have so many thousands of good frames to choose from. So the chances are far greater of ending up with an incredibly sharp and detailed, still image after the clever video and image processing.

The process is called "lucky imaging." The software ensures your are far luckier than you ever would be in trying to capture individual stills. The video processing has become an advanced means of obtaining striking still images from only the best, selected frames.

Some highly skilled, solar imagers can produce amazing animations from the final processed, still images. By running them as frames, in series, as a moving video. The movement of the prominences and surface details, on the sun, can become tantalizing and almost hypnotic by being sped up from normal speed.

Enjoy your new telescope! The sun is, by far, the most active target for amateurs.


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Re: Why no DSLR cameras?

Post by dhkaiser »

Thank you Merlin and Rusted. Makes sense.


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Re: Why no DSLR cameras?

Post by rsfoto »

dhkaiser wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2019 4:00 pm Why no DSLR cameras?

Brand new to Ha solar observing. While I await the arrival of my Lunt LS60HaTP, I have been perusing the forum. I don't see any reference to the use of any DSLR cameras with solar telescopes. Curious why not?
Because the Bayer Matrix is your enemy, e.g. the colour filter which makes a DSLR a colour camera with its RGGB filter over the pixels of the imaging chip, and does not let through more then maybe 20% of H-Alpha light at the RED filter and the Green and Blue filters distort the H-alpha colour.

Another thing is White light images ... but for me they are boring ... It is a question of taste too ...


regards Rainer

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Re: Why no DSLR cameras?

Post by christian viladrich »

To expand a litlle bit futher on what Rainer said, with a DSLR camera we only have one pixel out of four which is sensitive to Halpha.
This means that resolution is divided by about 2 compared to a black and white sensor.


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Re: Why no DSLR cameras?

Post by Radon86 »

Hi dhkaiser,
I would like a lunt ls60 Ha telescope as well but cannot be sure of its worth compared to my 70mm ED refractor+Quark.
What camera will you use as the total plus the mount could add up.

I have thought about this, but would not spend this even if I was Bill Gates. As I have less than 12 clear days a year and the weather is too humid. I need an observatory and good view of the East horizon without roofs and concrete in the way. Is this too restrictive?
I am in London.

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year everyoneveryone!


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Re: Why no DSLR cameras?

Post by DeepSolar64 »

dhkaiser wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2019 4:00 pm Why no DSLR cameras?

Brand new to Ha solar observing. While I await the arrival of my Lunt LS60HaTP, I have been perusing the forum. I don't see any reference to the use of any DSLR cameras with solar telescopes. Curious why not?
I wondered the same! I knew the video cameras were superior but was amazed at the total absence of DSLR solar photography. It makes me wonder how amateurs photographed the sun before monochrome video cameras and the stacking method. Did film SLR cameras do better than digital ones in respect to solar? Back in the late 1970's and early 1980's the best I did with solar photography was by photographing the projected WL solar image from a screen with a 110 or 126 Instamatic camera!

James


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Re: Why no DSLR cameras?

Post by christian viladrich »

In the old time, we were using BW films, for example Kodak Microfile AHU, Kodak TP 2415, etc.


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