Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Wed, 07/27/2022 - 14:07
Thanks to a lot of hard work by Mark Munkacsy and several helpers, the AAVSO Guide to CCD Photometry has been completely updated, revised, and expanded. It is now called The AAVSO Guide to CCD/CMOS Photometry with Monochrome Cameras because it now also covers techniques for using cooled monochrome CMOS cameras.
Many thanks to Mark and everyone who helped with this excellent new version!
- Sara
Excellent!! I've already downloaded and print/bound a copy to begin reading. I use two cooled CCD cameras today, but recognize that in the future a CMOS will be my only avenue to photometry. Scanned many of the pages while printing and noted many improvements over the older CCD guide. Particularly like the addition of a glossary at the end...THANKS!!
JENJ
This sort of sucks because I just getting into photometry and sold my ZWO 2600 to get a CCD for much more. All i read before I jumped into this hobby pointed at CCD being dominant over CMOS for scientific purposes...and now I feel like its obsolete?
No, CCD is not dead. As the new version of the Guide says, both CCD and CMOS make fine photometry tools when used with discipline, patience, and attention to detail. They each have their quirks and some sometimes-subtle advantages and disadvantages. In the Guide we've tried to encourage folks to learn to optimize their systems based on things that they already own.
It is worth noting that camera vendors are emphasizing CMOS cameras today, driven strongly by several of the major semiconductor houses' decisions to exit the CCD market in favor of the CMOS market. That affects both pricing and availability of cameras.
- Mark Munkacsy (MMU)
I think CCD's will be used for a long time.
Thank you all who have contributed to the Guide.
Hi,
Arne Henden, did one comparison in his talk: It's like different cars (like Diesel or Super95 gasoline).
see:
Instrumentation & Equipment: "Focus on CMOS Cameras" Observing Section Webinar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKQKrqoZP8A
As far as I know: CCD's have a good linearity range. And are long approved, for photometry. But are very expensive and have a smaller pixel array, e.g. 1500x1000 pixels... up to 2000x3000 pixels, or a bit more.
The new CMOS, especially the new Sony-Sensor, seems to be a new working horse... with about > 80% Quantum-Efficiency!
CMOS Chip: Sony IMX455 - FULL FRAME 6000*9000 pixels (roughly) but at 3,75 µm size...
CMOS Chip: Sony IMX 571 - APS-C format 4000*6000 pixels (roughly) but at 3,75 µm size...
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/798063-quantum-efficiency-of-the-sony-imx455-in-qhy600-and-imx492-in-qhy294/
Although, these new sensors have an ABG (Anti-Blooming-Gate), with the higher fullwell depht of ~50 000 ADU, it should be no big problem. (I think, one would not find CMOS Sensors without an ABG nowardays.. ?)
e.g.
https://www.astroshop.eu/astronomical-cameras/omegon-camera-vetec-455-m-mono/p,68723
or QHY 600, Touptek, ZWO, Moravian C3 also have the FULL FRAME or the APS-C version.
e.g.: maybe see also some webinars.
CCD vs CMOS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKJFIzDfUNE
AAVSO How-to Hour: How to Start with CCD Photometry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcE7c4CggFM
Instrumentation & Equipment: "Focus on CMOS Cameras" Observing Section Webinar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKQKrqoZP8A
CS Bernhard
This is a great improvement over the older CCD Guide. Thanks so much to everyone that worked on it.