Double stack or Camera

[ramasule]

Hello,
As some of you know I have a ordered a Lunt 60. I was wondering from those you have cameras and doubles stacks which would you have gotten first. I am looking at saving up for either and I see there are some nice used cameras on classifieds.

It should be noted I have a unmodified dslr right now that I use, and I am comfortable with learning curves.

I'm looking for what you would do, not based on my skill set, just yours.

Thanks,

Derek L

[MapleRidge]

Hi Derek...

I had the SS Ha setup first, went to the DS system a year or so later. You can view/image a lot of fascinating detail with a SS unit.

I did have the cameras to begin with...doing CCD and digital video since 1991, so it was an easy transition into solar.

My 2 cents worth

Brian

[MjrTom]

I would suggest a CCD Camera first over the double stack option although I have neither lol

[Merlin66]

To image even with the single stack, investing in a good camera would be the way to go.
Then, by the time you upgrade, you will have had the practice and experience in solar imaging.
Something like a DMK31 would be a reasonable compromise...

[Montana]

I agree with the above definitely, however, if you are more into visual observing and that is what you get most pleasure from and imaging is secondary I would go for double-stack first and just enjoy the wonderful views.

Regards
Alexandra

[ramasule]

I was thinking a used SBIG self guiding mono or starlight express mono. I know these are good for night are they well for solar too?

[Merlin66]

Hmmmm
IMHO a webcam type ie the DMK series is much better, it allow the stacking of an AVI and selection of the best frames - which minimises the effects of seeing etc.
I use other cooled CCD's for "night time stuff"

[ramasule]

If you had to choose one or the other?

[MapleRidge]

Hi Derek...

The only SBIG camera well suited to solar is the ST2000XM...it will go down to 1/1000 sec exposure. Greg Piepol has good results from his, but I'm not sure that he still uses one. The biggest issue with the deep sky cameras is they are limited in shutter speed (SBIG is 0.11 sec on theirs, and not sure of the Starlight Express), and slow download speeds. The ST2000 can run a with an electronic shutter to get the exposre down, but download times are still less than desireable.

Starlight express has several cameras that use electronic shutters, but they have the same download issue.

The interline chips allow the fast shutter speeds.

Best bet for solar is to get a mono video style camera...Lumenera/Imaging Source/Point Grey/others to do the job. If one camera did it all I wouldn't have 7 of them

Brian