JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser.
You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website.

CCD & Photographic

A CCD camera is essentially an electronic version of a 35mm camera for astrophotography that saves the images in your computer, rather than on a roll of film. A CCD camera can take snapshots of the Moon and planets and long exposure photos of deep sky nebulas, galaxies, and star clusters. Because the CCD camera has to store up the faint light of deep space objects before it can display an image, just as a 35mm film camera does, a CCD can't give you real-time or instant images of deep space objects.

Because a CCD camera is more sensitive than 35mm film or your eye, it can store up more information during an exposure. Software supplied with the camera, or available separately, allows you to manipulate the image later to bring out details that would be washed out or invisible in a 35mm negative or while observing visually. CCD cameras are surprisingly unaffected by city light pollution, allowing deep sky photography from even heavily light polluted sites.

CCD cameras typically vary in price according to their image size, with large cameras running into the multiple thousands of dollars. Even at their largest, however, their image covers less of the sky than a 35mm film camera on the same scope. CCDs are best at recording small and very faint objects rather than large and bright objects, although excellent images of large objects can be recorded by taking multiple overlapping images and combining them in the computer.

It has been said that CCD cameras on amateur-size telescopes can record fainter objects than the 200" scope at Mt. Palomar could record only 10 or 15 years ago with conventional film cameras. By some measures, CCD cameras can be said to have an effective film speed (ASA or ISO rating) of 20,000, making them ideal for recording very faint objects.

Some CCD cameras can act as autoguiders to take the tedium out of guiding long exposure 35mm photos. Some CCD cameras have their own autoguider built in for recording images automatically and untended; others come with separate guiders or have them available as an option.

Shop By Category

Quick view

Astro-Tech 20mm T-thread spacer ring for DSLR and CCD imaging with 42mm Threads

$9.95

This Astro-Tech 20mm T-thread spacer ring can help provide the necessary spacing between a DSLR or CCD camera's focal plane and a reducer, field flattener, or other imaging accessory in prime focus astrophotography.
$Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT130EDT triplet apo refractor Version II$ $Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT130EDT triplet apo refractor Version II$

Quick view

Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT130EDT triplet apo refractor Version II

$199.95

1 Review(s)

This economical 0.8x focal reducer and field flattener is designed specifically for astrophotography with the Astro-Tech AT130EDT 130mm f/7 triplet apo refractor.
$0.8x reducer/field flattener for f/6 refractors$ $Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for f/6 refractors Used$

Quick view

Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for f/6 refractors Used

$149.95

This economical Astro-Tech 2" 0.8x reducer/field flattener is designed for astrophotography with f/6 focal ratio refractors, but will also work well with refractors in the f/5.5 to f/7 range . . .
$Astro-Tech 2" Field flattener for imaging with Astro-Tech and TMB refractors$

Quick view

Astro-Tech 2" Field flattener for imaging with Astro-Tech and TMB refractors

$149.95

22 Review(s)

The Sky & Telescope Hot Product for 2010 Astro-Tech 2" photographic field flattener improves the image sharpness at the corners of the field with Astro-Tech and TMB apo refractors, but will also work well with any other brand of f/6 to f/8 refractor, as well as Astro-Tech Ritchey-Chrétiens . . .
Quick view

Astro-Tech 10mm T-thread spacer ring for DSLR and CCD imaging with 42mm Threads

$9.95

This Astro-Tech 10mm T-thread spacer ring can help provide the necessary spacing between a DSLR or CCD camera's focal plane and a reducer, field flattener, or other imaging accessory in prime focus astrophotography.
Quick view

Astro-Tech .8x Reducer Field Flattener For the 60ED Optical Tubes

$139.95

1 Review(s)

Looking to make your Astro-Tech (or variant) scope faster and flatter for photography? Then the .8x reducer/flattener is exactly what your are looking for.
Save $70.00
$Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT102EDL Doublet apo refractor$ $Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT102EDL Doublet apo refractor$

Quick view

Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT102EDL Doublet apo refractor

Regular Price: $199.95

Special Price $129.95

1 Review(s)

This 0.8x focal reducer and field flattener is designed specifically for astrophotography with the Astro-Tech AT102EDL f/7 apo refractor.
Quick view

Astro-Tech Schmidt-Cassegrain f/6.3 Focal Reducer Field Flattener

$89.95

4 Review(s)

This combination f/6.3 focal reducer/corrector lens reduces the focal ratio of all Celestron 5" through 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, as well as all Meade 8" through 16" SCTs . . .