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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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ZWO EFW 7x36 Version II

$299.00

This low profile ZWO filter wheel is just what your monochrome camera ordered.
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ZWO ASIAIR MINI WIRELESS IMAGING CONTROLLER

$199.00

The smallest version of the ASIAir is out. Say hello to the ASIAir Mini.
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ZWO ASI183MC USB 3.0 CMOS Color Astronomy Camera

$499.00

The ZWO ASI183MC is a fantastic camera capable of handling all you solar and planetary imaging needs.
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ZWO ASI432MM Monochrome Astrophotography Camera

$599.00

The ASI432MM uses a Sony-IMX432 global shutter CMOS sensor. Its frame size is 1.1″, with large 9.0µm pixels, 1.77 million pixels (1608x1104). In ADC 12-bit mode, it can output 120 frames per second at full resolution and has a read out noise level as low as 2.9e.
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ZWO ASI183MM USB3.0 Monochrome Astronomy Imaging Camera

$699.00

The ZWO ASI183MM is the most sensitive ZWO camera currently available. What a great piece of gear for planetary deep space imaging!
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ZWO ASI183MM PRO COOLED Mono CMOS ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY CAMERA

$999.00

The ZWO ASI183MM Pro is a great camera to get you headed down your imaging path.
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ZWO 30mm f/4 Mini Guide Scope

$99.00

Looking for small guide scope, then look no further. The ZWO Mini Guide Scope is a great choice.
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ZWO ASI2400MC PRO USB 3.0 COOLED Color ASTRONOMY IMAGING CAMERA

$2,999.00

The ZWO ASI2400MC Pro is designed for the astro-photographer that is looking for a high-end camera using a full-frame format sensor.
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ZWO ASI2600MM PRO USB 3.0 COOLED MONOCHROME ASTRONOMY IMAGING CAMERA

$1,999.00

The ZWO ASI2600MM Pro is designed for the astro-photographer that is looking for a high-end camera using an APS-C style sensor.
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ZWO ASI220MM Mini Monochrome CMOS Camera and Guide Camera

$249.00

Welcome to the next generation of guiders from ZWO.