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Ideal planetary camera for SCT's (C5 to C9.25)?

ZWO ASI662MC Equipment Planetary Camera Buying Advice Solar System
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GTom avatar
GTom avatar
The planet season is right upon us and at the moment I don't have a color planetary camera. Currently my grab and go scope is a C5, planning to add a c9.25 soon for planetary work. Any recommendations for a planetary camera, to get the most out of these instruments?

So far my three candidates: ASI 662MC, 715MC and 676MC. I sympathize with the 662MC so far, because its dynamic range might come handy for moons. True it has the largest pixels amongst the three - but still about 2x oversampled, according to Rayleigh's rule.
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
ASI662MC
Eddie Bagwell avatar
Eddie Bagwell avatar
I use the 662MC but have limited experience with Planetary. Usually the latest cameras will have the best features and upgrades. I use ZWO cameras and go to their website to compare cameras before I purchase. Also, I have noticed a lot of Player One cameras becoming popular with Planetary Photography.
Tony Gondola avatar
Tony Gondola avatar
662 will give you a very fast frame rate because of the smaller chip. That's a huge advantage in lunar/planetary work.
Well Written
GTom avatar
GTom avatar

 
Tony Gondola:
662 will give you a very fast frame rate because of the smaller chip. That's a huge advantage in lunar/planetary work.

Very good point. On the other hand, I just realized, that 1/2.8" is a bit small in case you are going after the moon. The Jovian system definitely doesn't fit, in case the moons are far out. Still, under the forsaken UK seeing, the superfast frame rate probably outweighs this aspect...
Willem Jan Drijfhout avatar
Willem Jan Drijfhout avatar
Recently faced the same question myself. So many options, hard to choose what is best. After watching a very positive review by Damien, I decided to go for the QHY5III585c. A fairly new camera, same pixel-size as the 662c, but more (8MP), so bigger sensor. Probably not needed for planets, but nice for lunar. Slightly bigger full well capacity. Frame-rate at 8MP is around 40fps, so much lower than the 662c, but when running in ROI mode probably very comparable.
It just came in, so still waiting for a good moment to test it.
Tony Gondola avatar
Tony Gondola avatar

Tony Gondola:
662 will give you a very fast frame rate because of the smaller chip. That's a huge advantage in lunar/planetary work.

Very good point. On the other hand, I just realized, that 1/2.8" is a bit small in case you are going after the moon. The Jovian system definitely doesn't fit, in case the moons are far out. Still, under the forsaken UK seeing, the superfast frame rate probably outweighs this aspect...

If you are at an image scale large enough that you are getting Jupiter and it's moons, any camera will do but to get the best high resolution images of the planet itself, You'll want the frame rate and it's the small sensor that makes it possible. For the best resolution with the moon, you'll be building mosaics anyway, even for full disk images so again, the high frame rate will help you.
Jonny Bravo avatar
Jonny Bravo avatar
I have the 662MC. Here's an image of Jupiter I did a couple years ago:



Jupiter with GRS 21 Sep 2022
GTom avatar
GTom avatar
Willem Jan Drijfhout:
Recently faced the same question myself. So many options, hard to choose what is best. After watching a very positive review by Damien, I decided to go for the QHY5III585c. A fairly new camera, same pixel-size as the 662c, but more (8MP), so bigger sensor. Probably not needed for planets, but nice for lunar. Slightly bigger full well capacity. Frame-rate at 8MP is around 40fps, so much lower than the 662c, but when running in ROI mode probably very comparable.
It just came in, so still waiting for a good moment to test it.

Thank you, I'll look around that sensor as well. There is a Uranus C camera for sale near me (same sensor), no idea how it would fare in ROI mode.
One concern maybe with the larger sensors: I suspect they produce more heat, which is not exactly beneficial...
Well Written
Tony Gondola avatar
Tony Gondola avatar
Willem Jan Drijfhout:
Recently faced the same question myself. So many options, hard to choose what is best. After watching a very positive review by Damien, I decided to go for the QHY5III585c. A fairly new camera, same pixel-size as the 662c, but more (8MP), so bigger sensor. Probably not needed for planets, but nice for lunar. Slightly bigger full well capacity. Frame-rate at 8MP is around 40fps, so much lower than the 662c, but when running in ROI mode probably very comparable.
It just came in, so still waiting for a good moment to test it.

Thank you, I'll look around that sensor as well. There is a Uranus C camera for sale near me (same sensor), no idea how it would fare in ROI mode.
One concern maybe with the larger sensors: I suspect they produce more heat, which is not exactly beneficial...

I have both versions of the 585, cooled and uncooled and am very happy with both.
Well Written
Observatório Astrográfico do Boqueirão avatar
Observatório Astrográfico do Boqueirão avatar
Well.. the ASI 662MC is the perfect candidate. Check also the ASI664MC which seems to be a second choice ;)

Regards,

Cesar