DMK colour v Gstar-ex

[Duncan]

Has anyone out there compared these two cameras. Which one would be better suited to a 12"f5 Dob for short exposure work? I do recall reading something about pixel size in relation to F/ratio. If anyone can shed some light on this for me it would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Duncan

[Radar]

Can't help you with this one Duncan, sorry.

Ray

[Tony Leece]

Can't help you Duncan mate, i have never used any of these cameras mate.
But i did come across this site;

http://www.avertedimagination.com/best_1.htm\\

This bloke uses a DMK camera, perhaps an email to him may help you.
All the best.........
Tony........

[Radar]

Actually, from memory, I think Shev has something on order like this. He may be able to shed some light on what is better for what.

Any ideas Shev?

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Duncan,

The GStar is a B&W analogue interlacing video camera, with a wide shutter speed range which makes it suitable for a wide range of objects. It is B&W so requires a set of tricolour filters, a filter slide or filter wheel to do LRGB imaging if you want colour. To get the images into a computer you need an add-on digitising device, a wide band USB 2.0 for a laptop and/or a plug in card for a desktop. The video image can be viewed on a TV monitor or computer via the capture device. The camera needs a separate 12 Volt DC power supply.

Imaging source cameras are made for the high end scientific/industrial market. They are progressive scan (no interlacing) a big plus, digital cameras available in B&W and colour, in various CCD sizes, 640 480, 1/3" (1024x768) and 1/2" (1280x960). As the image output is already digital, it plugs straight into a firewire port on your laptop or pc, with a single cable & no further digitising is needed.

Just received this link (DMK Camera images of Jupiter)

I have all the video and USB cameras I want so now I am going to try a DMK Firewire Progressive Scan colour in 1/3", with some extra cables around $900. Power to the camera is via the Firewire cable from the PC.

Two very different cameras, so really cannot compare unless one shot the same object through the same scope and looked at the end result and the cost, time and effort to get the final image.

The Imaging Source cameras are becoming very popular as they are now more easily available. Mine should be here this week, so we will have another three months of wet, windy and cloudy weather!! I am still waiting to try out my filter & cooled modded Canon 350D, been sitting on the bence for months now.

I suggest you join the appropriate Yahoo user groups and get a feel for what each camera offers and the pros & cons. Remember, what suits one user may well be a disaster to another!
http://www.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/ericng/20070714-jupier-lrgb-2.jpg Just received this link - check it out.

Clear skies...

Shevill

[Duncan]

Hi Shevill,
Thanks for the reply, i'll wait to see your test on the DMK that you're getting.
As i understand it, colour cameras don't give the same resolution as monochrome, so i'm quite happy to go mono with filter wheel. What i liked about the Gstar is that you can plug into a TV or monitor and actually see more detail than with the eye through the eyepiece. At least this is what is claimed. As yet i don't know if this can be done with the DMK's. Still saving so no rush. Look forward to your test.
Cheers,
Duncan.


Ps. Wonderful viewing last night up here. Tried to find the comet in the north just by scanning with 32mm widefield eyepiece. No luck but saw heaps of Globs and Galaxies. One of the latter filled at least a third of the field of view.
Will find out which it was later. Not to mention all the satellites whizzing through the eyepiece..
Thanks again for all your help.:thumbsupmate:

[clayton]

GStar also offer a colour camera (OSC)
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/guides/gstar/gstar-exclr.htm
which is currently $490 ? I think AU but not sure.
Specs here http://www.myastroshop.com.au/guides/gstar/index.htm#SPECIFICATIONS
Something else you may wish to consider is the interface between camera and computer. The GStar uses Composite (BNC) or S-Video plus RS232 whilst with the DMK I think you have the option of USB or Firewire