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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 Standard Electronic Automatic Focuser (EAF) 5V

$199.00

A great solution for your focusing needs.
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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 ASI294MC PRO COOLED COLOR CMOS ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY CAMERA

$999.00

The ZWO ASI294MC Pro is a great 4/3 format camera to get you headed down your imaging path.
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ZWO ASI2600MC PRO USB 3.0 COOLED COLOR ASTRONOMY IMAGING CAMERA

$1,799.00

The ZWO ASI2600MC 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 ASI1600MM Pro MONOCHROME Cooled CMOS Imaging CAMERA

$1,280.00

The ZWO ASI1600MM Pro provides the imager in us all with excellent performance for astrophotography.
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ZWO ASI1600MM MONOCHROME CMOS Imaging CAMERA

$999.00

The ZWO ASI1600MM was ZWO's first entry into deep space imaging. Don't let that fool you as it handles planetary imaging as well.
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ZWO 12V 5A AC to DC adapter for cooled cameras American Standard

$29.00

This is required for cooling your ZWO camera American Standard Sockets AC to DC 12 Volts at 5 Amps
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Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini Latitude (EQ) Base

$80.00

1 Review(s)

If you don't have a ball head mount on your current photo tripod, this "wedge" will fit the bill nicely.
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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.
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Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Counterweight Kit S20540

$33.50

If you picked up the Star Adventurer Dec Bracket (#S20560) and are looking for the counterweight kit to help you reach balance, then you have come to the right place.