I think I'd rather go monochrome to be honest, though this limits my options even more. My old DSI II pro was mono and even though it was more work I really liked it.
I went through buying a ccd (1st from dslr) last year about this time. Since I didn't have 10+k to spend, specific #'s didn't matter much to me (except chip sz.). Mostly budget was the main factor and I used word of mouth and pics taken w/similar setups as mine as a guide. I ruled out Orion, not based on anything about the quality, more that I didn't feel (from exp.) their tec support would be any good if I needed it. Oh to mention, I was shooting for $1500. So I looked at the qhy9c. I knew some people who had it and were happy w/it. So when I started looking at them the feeling I got from the website (s) was I'm not sure this company is going to be around in a year (still are I think). Then I went to sbig st8300c (add another $500). I got the clearance from cfo/wife and attempted to purchase one (couldn't find one) but Woodland had some mono's. So back to the cfo and got (as a compromise) it and an Orion manual filter wheel and rgb filts (more$), knowing I would upgrade to the sbig whl and baader filts at some point, which I did, and will sell the Orion setup. Funny how the $'s keep creeping up. I had (originally) been leaning towards the osc, but I kept seeing people with them either buying monos or saying they wished they had. It is more work and I'm still a ways off from feeling real comfortable w/the processing, but I enjoy it. Marc
I know what you mean, the $$$ figure can go up soooo quickly. I'm trying to keep it from going over $1000 but the more Iook, the harder it's becoming!!! I do know what you mean about the osc... A friend of mine had the DSI II Pro color and I had the mono and the mono always produced better images, though it was more work. I think it's a combination of better resolution and higher efficiency. I may end up for the time being grab that $500 Orion camera (it's the same chip as the DSI II pro was) and just wait till next year and get a nice camera in the 2-3k range. :)
Kevin Galka
I think I'd rather go monochrome to be honest, though this limits my options even more. My old DSI II pro was mono and even though it was more work I really liked it.
Jan 12, 2012
Marc Basti
I went through buying a ccd (1st from dslr) last year about this time. Since I didn't have 10+k to spend, specific #'s didn't matter much to me (except chip sz.). Mostly budget was the main factor and I used word of mouth and pics taken w/similar setups as mine as a guide. I ruled out Orion, not based on anything about the quality, more that I didn't feel (from exp.) their tec support would be any good if I needed it. Oh to mention, I was shooting for $1500. So I looked at the qhy9c. I knew some people who had it and were happy w/it. So when I started looking at them the feeling I got from the website (s) was I'm not sure this
company is going to be around in a year (still are I think). Then I went to sbig st8300c (add another $500). I got the clearance from cfo/wife and attempted to purchase one (couldn't find one) but Woodland had some mono's. So back to the cfo and got (as a compromise) it and an Orion manual filter wheel and rgb filts (more$), knowing I would upgrade to the sbig whl and baader filts at some point, which I did, and will sell the Orion setup. Funny how the $'s keep creeping up. I had (originally) been leaning towards the osc, but I kept seeing people with them either buying monos or saying they wished they had. It is more work and I'm still a ways off from feeling real comfortable w/the processing, but I enjoy it. Marc
Jan 12, 2012
Kevin Galka
I know what you mean, the $$$ figure can go up soooo quickly. I'm trying to keep it from going over $1000 but the more Iook, the harder it's becoming!!! I do know what you mean about the osc... A friend of mine had the DSI II Pro color and I had the mono and the mono always produced better images, though it was more work. I think it's a combination of better resolution and higher efficiency. I may end up for the time being grab that $500 Orion camera (it's the same chip as the DSI II pro was) and just wait till next year and get a nice camera in the 2-3k range. :)
Jan 12, 2012