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

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini Pro Pack

$470.00

Ideal for wide-field photography, or lightweight celestial viewing.
Free SAM console app for total control of the Star Adventurer Mini
Customizable speeds, including sidereal, solar and lunar
Polar finderscope with illuminator for easy alignment with Polaris
DSLR camera interface with automatic shutter control
V-style dovetail saddle, with ability to mount ball head for easier camera movement
Save $95.00

Quick view

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro Pack 2i

Regular Price: $520.00

Special Price $425.00

3 Review(s)

Ideal for wide-field photography, or lightweight celestial viewing
Multiple preprogramed speeds, including sidereal, solar and lunar
Illuminated polar finderscope for easy alignment with Polaris
DSLR camera interface with automatic shutter control
Built in Auto-guider port (ST-4)
V-style dovetail saddle, with ability to mount ball head for easier camera movement
Quick view

Celestron RASA 8 Camera Adapter of Canon Mirrorless Cameras

$59.95

The perfect adapter to connect your Canon Mirrorless camera to your RASA 8
Quick view

Celestron RASA 8 Camera Adapter for Sony Mirrorless Camera

$59.95

The perfect adapter to connect your Sony Mirrorless camera to your RASA 8
Quick view

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini Dec Bracket S20560

$48.00

If you want to hook a counterweight, or an Optical Tube Assembly, up to your new Star Adventurer Mini, you have to buy this part.
Quick view

Sky-Watcher 0.85x Focal Reducer/Corrector for Pro 80 ED APO Telescope

$370.00

1 Review(s)

.85x Reduction For Your Sky-Watcher Pro 80 ED APO Refractor Helps Correct Distortion Out to the Edge of the Field Requires a 48mm T-Ring
Save $49.90

Quick view

ZWO ASI174MM USB3.0 Monochrome Astronomy Imaging Camera

Regular Price: $499.00

Special Price $449.10

The ZWO ASI174MM is the first ZWO camera designed with Solar and Lunar imaging in mind. The great news is that it can do way more than that...
Quick view

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Ball Head Adapter

$16.00

Ball head adapter for Star Adventurer mount.
Save $69.90

Quick view

ZWO ASI183MM USB3.0 Monochrome Astronomy Imaging Camera

Regular Price: $699.00

Special Price $629.10

The ZWO ASI183MM is the most sensitive ZWO camera currently available. What a great piece of gear for planetary deep space imaging!
Save $69.90

Quick view

ZWO ASI294MC COLOR CMOS ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY CAMERA

Regular Price: $699.00

Special Price $629.10

The ZWO ASI294MC is a great 4/3 format color camera to get you into imaging without breaking the bank.