SolarChat!

I may go down the ASI120MM route for solar and my trusty PGR Chameleon will be up for sale. PM me if you are interested. All pictures I've posted in the forums were taken with it. It's a little over 1 year old and bought from PGR distributors in the UK. It's up for sale in the UK in AstroBuySell but price is negotiable for forum members!
Thanks for looking!

How many frames per second does it do and is it similar to a DMK41? and is it more light sensitive than the DMK41? is it less noisy than a DMK41 when taking a prominence (sorry I don't understand all the techno babble about this model and I am confused but interested). If anyone could give me a little guidance I would be very grateful.

Alexandra

Hi Alexandra

what I have seen it takes 18 fps and has small 3,75 µm pixels, 1/3" chip

Specs






I have one and its great:

more info here:
http://www.astrosurf.com/re/chamaleon.html

The only thing I do not like is the imaging soft. I use Firecapture instead.

best regards

Hi Alexandra

I don't know how it compares to the DMK41 as I've never owned one but the PGR is quite a capable little camera. For all purposes its max 18fps are good for solar and lunar imaging. FireCapture is great as Pedro says and its native 16bit set it a notch above other cameras at the same price range.

Roberto

I'm very tempted but I just don't understand all the techno speak above that Pedro provided.

Pedro, if you are out there, you have both cameras, please could you tell me whether if I took a prominence with the Chameleon would I use a quicker exposure and would it be less noisy? than the DMK41.

Also it says it has a smaller pixel size than the DMK41, does that mean I will capture more detail?

Can it take pictures of Saturn?

Many thanks
Alexandra

Hi Alexandra:

The PGR Chameleon has a smaller chip but a better resolution (smaller pixels). As far as noise is concerned it compares well with the DMK41. I use the DMKs most of the times but the PGR Chameleon is great for HR imaging of the moon and planets as well (and of course the sun). The only problem is that you will have to install the drivers and the imaging soft (FlyCapture) that is very bad IMHO. Having done this you can use Firecapture (much better). Hope this helps.

best regards

Hi Alexandra, I'll give the Chameleon two thumbs up as well - you've seen my images: that is what I've been using, and just at the 8 bit setting in FireCapture:





Here's a good blog that reviews various cameras, and the Chameleon gets a pretty good evaluation:

http://www.rkblog.rk.edu.pl/w/p/new-sol ... eras-2013/

Bob B)

Thanks Bob, I was actually viewing your images today as a gold standard. I shall have a read of the review as to be honest I am so confused I don't really know what to do. I don't know whether to put up with my damaged DMK41 and wait for something in the future, or go for this as a replacement whilst I wait. It will probably be sold by the time I make up my confused mind.

Alexandra

What's wrong with your DMK41 Alexandra?

best regards

I have slow chip degradation.

Alexandra

Sorry to hear that, the last images I saw were fine

best regards

pardon my newbie ignorance, but what is chip degradation? Can't decide between PGR chameleon and DMK41, but that sounds troubling? Is it something that is acculmulative with solar imaging?

thanks
Andy

Hi Andy,
I shouldn't bother about this too much, I think I am the only unlucky person in the world of solar astronomers. I think it was there from the beginning really but was too naive to notice, I then could have had it fixed in warranty. It is now getting worse so I have to put up with it. Nobody else has this problem. I think either a DMK41 or Chameleon seem roughly identical, you would be really happy with either of them. Ignore my problem as it seems to be one in a million.

Alexandra

thanks for the clarification, sorry for your troubles

Hi Alexandra

I'm sory to hear about the DMK41 degradation. Maybe the manufacturer is reading this and is willing to look into it despite the months gone.


Don't forget, you are one out of 8 billions. Very special and unique and above all, solarette of the UK