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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.

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Losmandy 108mm photoguide/camera 3-ring set for Losmandy and Vixen dovetails

$149.00

1 Review(s)

This Losmandy DVR108/66 3-ring photoguide/guider mounting ring set mounts a refractor photoguide scope and an autoguider on an optional Losmandy D-series dovetail plate or Vixen-style dovetail plate.
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Questar T-Ring for Olympus 4/3 format DSLR cameras, for Questar telescopes only

$78.00

For mounting Olympus 4/3 format DSLR cameras on a Questar camera adapter only . . .
$Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT80EDT triplet apo refractor$ $Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT80EDT triplet apo refractor$

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Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT80EDT triplet apo refractor

$169.95

2 Review(s)

This economical 0.8x focal reducer and field flattener is designed specifically for astrophotography with the Astro-Tech AT80EDT 80mm f/6 triplet apo refractor.
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Celestron LPR imaging filter for Celestron RASA 11

$699.00

The Celestron #93617 RASA Light Pollution Imaging Filter was custom-designed for the Celestron RASA Schmidt-Cassegrain astrograph by Astrodon - the world's leading imaging filter company.
$0.8x reducer/field flattener for f/6 refractors$ $Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for f/6 refractors$

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

$149.95

8 Review(s)

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 . . .
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Celestron 0.7x focal reducer for Celestron 14" EdgeHD scopes and optical tubes

$839.00

This Celestron EdgeHD 0.7x focal reducer makes your 14" f/11 EdgeHD telescope into a full f-stop faster f/7.7, increasing your photographic field of view by 43% and cutting your deep space exposure times in half . . .
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Celestron T-Adapter for Celestron 9.25", 11", and 14" EdgeHD telescopes

$69.95

1 Review(s)

This Celestron prime focus T-adapter fits the rear cell of Celestron 9.25", 11', and 14" EdgeHD telescopes only . . .
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Meade 125mm finder/photoguide ring set for Meade Series 5000 dovetails

$159.00

These Meade photoguide rings mount a refractor or small catadioptric scope up to 4.75" in diameter on an optional Meade Series 5000 dovetail plate for use as a finderscope, photoguide, or astrograph on an LX90 or LX200 telescope . . .
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Astro-Tech 2" Extension ring for A-T Ritchey-Chrétien astrographs

$34.95

This Astro-Tech 2" long extension ring, installed between your Astro-Tech Ritchey-Chrétien astrograph and its focuser, helps you match the back focus required for your particular complement of imaging components . . .
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Astro-Tech 1" Extension ring for A-T Ritchey-Chrétien astrographs

$32.95

This Astro-Tech 1" long extension ring, installed between your Astro-Tech Ritchey-Chrétien astrograph and its focuser, helps you match the back focus required for your particular complement of imaging components . . .