New Starlight Express full size 35mm CCD

[AstroTasmania]

Hello to the CCD Imagers

Any of you in line for one of the new BIG Cooled CCD cameras?

Hi All,

I've now posted the first issue of the SXVF-H35 and H36 web page. It has some camera pictures and specifications, along with an early image to give an impression of the field of view. I hope to have some better sample images in the near future.

http://www.starlight-xpress.co.uk/SXVF-H35-36.htm

Regards,
Terry


Clear skies...

[Radar]

16 megapixels! Awesome.

[h0ughy]

so is it in production? Anyone bought one yet?

[Radar]

This is in production Houghy, but as far as seeing any images from it, I haven't seen any yet. I imagine it takes awesome pictures.

[rogerg]

Their website says it'll be available early May 2007.

I don't like the QE, but I'm obsessed by high QE. 52% would hurt my exposure depth too much.

I'd be more interested in the 10 megepixel version, as it has 9 micron pixels - more compatible with SCT's.

Anyhow, best thing this could do for me is push the price of other CCD's down.

Good to see a new camera from them, hasn't been much activity lately from starlight xpress so I was getting concerned they'd been overcome by chinese imports or something.

[Radar]

Hi Roger, I have some questions -



I don't like the QE, but I'm obsessed by high QE. 52% would hurt my exposure depth too much.

What is a worthwhile QE?



I'd be more interested in the 10 megepixel version, as it has 9 micron pixels - more compatible with SCT's.

How does someone like me work out what micron size is better for their scope?

Cheers

Ray

[rogerg]

Ray,

Sorry for the delay in my reply, I forgot about the thread.

QE doesn't matter to everyone. It is only so important to me because I'm obsessed with finding the faintest galaxies I possibly can. If you are an average astro photography who buy's something like a Meade DSI or DSLR then you probably won't give a hoot - they are around the 50% mark.

Any QE of a digital camera is going to be so uncomparably high compared to film, they are all "good".

Single shot colour cameras typically have lower QE than mono cameras (simplistically they have 3 times as many receivers of light in the same space as a mono might have one). I would consider 60%+ to be good for a single shot colour camera.

It's also not fair to compare just the single value of 50% etc. You need to look at the graph and see at what frequencies they reach the peak, and how wide the peak is. There's no point having 90% QE on a few little bits of the spectrum and 10% on the rest, you might as well aim for 55% over a larger spectrum.

Mono cameras reach 95% QE. Back-illuminated chips easily reach that (flip the chip over, illuminate it from the rear where cell divisions don't impede the light receiving).

As for how to work out what micron is best.... I have to disapear to a meeting so can't elaborate much right now, but long focal length = big micron (9+), short focal length = small micron (or any micron you want). It affects the quality of your resulting images. I will try to remember to add more later.

Roger.

[Radar]

Cheers Rog, that's all good stuff.

[Draig]

Hi Roger,

Just been browsing round your web site. You've got some great photos there :welldone: , even a great explination for polar aligning.

Cheers Colin

[astro-gran]

Hello to the CCD Imagers

Any of you in line for one of the new BIG Cooled CCD cameras?

Hi All,

I've now posted the first issue of the SXVF-H35 and H36 web page. It has some camera pictures and specifications, along with an early image to give an impression of the field of view. I hope to have some better sample images in the near future.

http://www.starlight-xpress.co.uk/SXVF-H35-36.htm

Regards,
Terry


Clear skies...
Nope I don't have one however ONE POWEBALL and I will. :)

astr-gran