Hi everyone, This post is for the members to discuss and come back to me with a decision :)
As we have discussed many times before the reducer on Pier-14 is struggling with the 6200's 3.76um pixels when combined with the full frame 35mm sensor. This combined with the tilt inherent in all larger ZWO cameras has led to funky corner stars and obvious colour fringing.
On the next visit we intend to deal with this:
first off we have a new jig for ZWO cameras to improve sensor tilt.
Secondly this leaves us with two options which I will outline below with merits etc.
Option-1
- Remove the 0.73x reducer so scope is working at F5
- This will result in higher resolution imaging
- Flatten exciting ZWO 6200 sensor with jig
- Smaller FOV
- impact on imaging times (to be calculated)
- Corners will be much better
Option-2
- Leave the 0.73x reducer in place
- Change camera to 2600MM pro APS-c
- Flatten ZWO sensor with jig
- less resource hungry downloads/stacking due to smaller files sizes
- FOV decrease
- Same resolution as you currently have
- No change to imaging sub times
- Corner will be much better
I have attached an image below showing fields of view with both options, you will see that option 2 has a slightly smaller FOV than option 1 but it is minimal. I will not lie and say I don't already personally believe option 2 is far better with only a minimal compromise on FOV whilst maintaining good star shapes and a fast F/3.6 telescope :)
If anybody needs it, I can share a data file from Pier 6 which has the same sensor albeit OSC fitted as option-2. This sensor has not been jig flattened as yet as we had not built the jig when it was installed. You can then make an informed decision with what I hope is the data evidence, FOV image and the other points I have made here.
I have added a poll below to make life easier for me tracking what you all want.
Steve