Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

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04Stefan07
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Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

Post by 04Stefan07 »

I am using a Lunt50 (see sig below) and a Flea3 camera (https://www.avsupply.com/ITM/29702/FL3-U3-13Y3M-C.html).

It's a great camera and got some really nice full disk photos of the Sun over the years. Would be nice if resolution could be higher though to get a bit more detail.

Wondering if anyone thinks if its worth upgrading to a newer camera? I have been eyeing off these new PlayerOne Apollo cameras which look very nice but couldn't find a whole heap on them with the Lunt50.

I also hear the ASI290MM and the AS174MM are good choices as well.

Thoughts?


SOLAR SCOPES: Lunt LS50THa Pressure Tuned with B600 filter & Moonlite Focuser, Daystar Quark Chromosphere
MOUNTS: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro & Skywatcher Star Adventurer
CAMERA: Player One Neptune-M & Flea3 1.3 MP Mono USB3
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Re: Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

Post by nicosolcy »

I used the ASI290 with my Lunt 50DS (just got the scope and barely had time to play with it) and the 290, while very sensitive and very fast, will not give you a full disk, so you will need a 2 panel mosaic. Nothing wrong if you are into mosaics, but there is a bit of extra effort and work involved.

Can't comment on your other choices as I have no experience with them, but I am expecting the Teleskop Service branded version of the Player One 178MM to try it with my Lunt.

The image is with the ASI290 and it was just processed (after being stacked in AS3!) in PS just to merge and then on my cellphone. Yes, a bit out of focus, yes, I need to track down the sweet spot and yes, there is a bit of tilt, but the 290 IS a performer.
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Re: Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

Post by marktownley »

Hi Stefan.

A zwo 178mm will be a good match for the scope.

Mark


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Re: Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

Post by nicosolcy »

Yep, the 178 will sample well with a 1.5x barlow and give a full disk!


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Photosphere Junkie!
Borg 77 EDII f.6.6 (510mm), APM Herschel Wedge (Baader ND1.8)
Lunt 40mm SS FTF
ZWO ASI183MM, SW SolarQuest Mount
Baader Solar Continuum 540.0nm (FWHM 7.5) / Altair G-Band 430.3nm (FWHM 2nm) / Antlia K-Line 393.3nm (FWHM 3nm)
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Re: Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

Post by 04Stefan07 »

178MM sounds like the one!

Has anyone tried out the Apollo solar cameras from PlayerOne?


SOLAR SCOPES: Lunt LS50THa Pressure Tuned with B600 filter & Moonlite Focuser, Daystar Quark Chromosphere
MOUNTS: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro & Skywatcher Star Adventurer
CAMERA: Player One Neptune-M & Flea3 1.3 MP Mono USB3
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Re: Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

Post by nicosolcy »

Not the Apollo, but just received the Player One Neptune-M, which is their version of the IMX178. I opted for that one due to the built in tilt adjuster. I tested it yesterday with Firecapture - you need version 2.7 to recognize Player One cameras. Real testing and calibration this weekend hopefully!

The Apollo is not a good fit for the Lunt 50mm. To sample properly because of the "largish" pixel size you need to increase focal length quite a bit which may not give you full disks. I'd say any IMX178 with a barlow up to about 1.25x is the best bet with the 50mm, and gives you a generous FOV of 0.97° x 0.65°.


Nick
---------------------------------------------------------------
Photosphere Junkie!
Borg 77 EDII f.6.6 (510mm), APM Herschel Wedge (Baader ND1.8)
Lunt 40mm SS FTF
ZWO ASI183MM, SW SolarQuest Mount
Baader Solar Continuum 540.0nm (FWHM 7.5) / Altair G-Band 430.3nm (FWHM 2nm) / Antlia K-Line 393.3nm (FWHM 3nm)
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Re: Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

Post by nicosolcy »

Also, at that effective focal length, since you have the B600 and solar disk on the sensor will be about 3.98mm, it allows some wiggle room to find and use the sweet spot of the B600.


Nick
---------------------------------------------------------------
Photosphere Junkie!
Borg 77 EDII f.6.6 (510mm), APM Herschel Wedge (Baader ND1.8)
Lunt 40mm SS FTF
ZWO ASI183MM, SW SolarQuest Mount
Baader Solar Continuum 540.0nm (FWHM 7.5) / Altair G-Band 430.3nm (FWHM 2nm) / Antlia K-Line 393.3nm (FWHM 3nm)
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Re: Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

Post by 04Stefan07 »

The Neptune-M does look nice and for around the same price of the 178MM the fact that it comes with an in-built tilt is perfect. I always get Newton rings in my images.


SOLAR SCOPES: Lunt LS50THa Pressure Tuned with B600 filter & Moonlite Focuser, Daystar Quark Chromosphere
MOUNTS: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro & Skywatcher Star Adventurer
CAMERA: Player One Neptune-M & Flea3 1.3 MP Mono USB3
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Re: Worthy upgrade from a Flea?

Post by 04Stefan07 »

Just purchased the Neptune-M as it has the same sensor as the ZWO plus it has the tilt built in which was the selling point.

Once I receive it I will get it on the Lunt and report back with some photos!

Thank you all :)


SOLAR SCOPES: Lunt LS50THa Pressure Tuned with B600 filter & Moonlite Focuser, Daystar Quark Chromosphere
MOUNTS: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro & Skywatcher Star Adventurer
CAMERA: Player One Neptune-M & Flea3 1.3 MP Mono USB3
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