Re: [APML] The End of Tech Pan???

[Sean Walker <vze2c3z8@mail.verizon.net>]

Ok, My 2 cents:
I paid $900 for my first CCD camera (ST-237 including color filter wheel,
used), and thought I'd use it for small stuff on my C-8 and keep using film
for larger objects and Wide field shots. My first CCD was of the Crab nebula
(m-1) that has a few problems- the focus is a bit off, but it still is
better than what i could produce with film on my system, hands down. Matter
of fact, it has higher resolution than what had been taken and shown on this
list with much larger scopes.
I was extremely pleased with this, and it made me try a few more objects.
I also tried the camera on my recently aquired (at the time) TV-85. Again i
was floored by the resolution i could achieve with only 85mm aperture and a
very modest CCD:
http://www201.pair.com/resource/astro.html/regular/products/tele-vue-optics/
sean.walker.html

I decided that Although a wider field is nice, i would rather sacrifice
field for resolution. The only time i've shot astro-images on film in the
past year now is meteor showers and occasional piggyback shots with a 300mm
lens.

Now, if the resolution of Tech pan is what you'll miss, then comparing it to
an FLI 1300 is quite biased towards the film, because of the 24 micron
pixels on that camera. A better comparison would be to the ST-10ME (which
obviously is out of alot of peoples budgets, including mine) that has 6.8
micron pixels. A good affordable hi resolution CCD to think about for small
objects would be the ST-237A, which is reasonable at $1295, and has 7.4
micron pixels. Yes, you sacrifice ALOT of field with this camera, but it's a
better price. especially if you intend to shoot small objects such as Marty.

Lastly, just as Roland mentioned, CCD's can be used right in your backyard
even in heavy light pollution, which will save a bunch of you alot of money
in gas and in wear on your vehicles, not to mention power requirements ( $20
extention chord) and you don't need a laptop shooting at home- you can dig
out that retired desktop system and put it on a rolling cart. factor that in
to your price calculations.

Don't get me wrong, I love the great work this group produces, but the price
restrictions some of you are quoting are self imposed.

Sean Walker


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