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Features:- Larger chip - Greater sensitivity - Higher resolution - Dramatically lower thermal noise!
Very steep learning curve, mediocre results for now:
No doubt, there are some amazing pictures people took with this CCD. But if you have no experience with astrophotography, plan to spend many, many hours before you'll get anything reasonable, and pretty much forget taking pictures of moon / planets (in all fairness, it is a Deep Space Imager...). Meade does a very poor job of explaining what some of the controls do (histogram, offset - you can slide them around but what do they actually do? Don't ask the manual). Focusing is still a problem (despite a software focusing assist included - it's pretty much useless). In addition the camera does really poorly in high contrast situations. All in all, it's too late for me to send it back which I'm really sorry about - I kept it too long trying to master it, now I guess I have to :-)
Insert tab "a" into slot "b":
My review is not based on the quality of any photos that I have taken with this CCD camera. It is based on the initial setup and understanding of it. I didn't expect to start taking "amazing" photos the first night that I used the CCD camera, even though I have read reviews and seen the photos of people doing just that. But, I was still surprised at the total lack of documentation and basic guidance that is included with this equipment. They don't even give you the basic information on how to install the filters in the filter holder much less any technical info needed to run the software. Sure trial and error works but you shouldn't have to rely on that especially considering the cost for this product. From what I've read about this CCD camera it is possible to get some great shots with it and I'm sure that I eventually will get them. I just expected a little more initial help from the manufacturer.
DSI Pro II:
Although I understand the frustrations of the other reviewers, this camera really is a great piece of equipment at this price point. Creating colour images by combining Red, Green, Blue and luminance monochrome images takes time and effort, but the results are worth the extra work. Meade also sells a one shot colour version of the DSI II which may be a better choice as a first CCD camera. If you have the patience though, you will get noticeably better images using the monochrome DSI Pro II and filters. I would highly recommend that you pick up a decent image processing package such as Photoshop, Paintshop Pro or similar to get the most out of the final images.
BEWARE!!!!!!!!!:
Be careful before considering buying this unit! The description does not tell you that it is not compatible with many PCs because it requires a so-called "fully powered USB port" even if this is not specified in the description on the Amazon site. I ordered one in May, it did not work on my hardware (even though I tried on several PCs that were supposed to have fully powered ports, even tried on powered USB hubs) and since then I am struggling to get it fixed or refunded: Amazon tells me to contact Optics Planet, Optics Planet tells me to contact Meade, and Meade is simply unreachable. So if you are willing to waste 700$, go ahead!!
| EAN: | 0709942900101 | | MPN: | 04527 | | Package Quantity: | 1 | | Product Type Subcategory: | other-telescope-accessories | | UPC: | 709942900101 |
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