Understanding Camera Specs

Do you want to learn what every little spec is about for your DSLR, Mirrorless, or Astro camera and why they matter? Join us as Mack Murdoc from OPT breaks down each spec and simplifies it for you! This video will help you find the perfect gear by showing you all the details of what goes into buying a camera.
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[@ChucksAstrophotography]

Woohoo!!! I saw my pic of the Heart Nebula in this video, thanks!

[@CathrinMachinArt]

It was a great photo too Chuck!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

@@CathrinMachinArt Thanks Cat!

[@astrotherapist]

Chuck. You're the best!

[@johnadastra1754]

Chuck - your pics are everywhere! APODs, Wikipedia, different articles... Congrats!

[@ChucksAstrophotography]

@@astrotherapist Hey, thanks Paulette!

[@scuttlebum]

Concise, precise, and substantive information. Little amazed how easy to follow and absorb this all was. Nice work!

[@Hughejazshole]

Very well done! Thank you

[@Arcteek]

Excellent video!

[@jeffreyvictor3678]

WOW!! Info overload!!

[@davidh6727]

Excellent video! Tons of info and plenty of entertainment! Absolutely top notch.

[@garycwikla6385]

Concise and easy to understand. As an astrophotography beginner I found it a really helpful video. Thanks

[@yervantparnagian5999]

Great explanation of all the features of an Astrocam.

[@michaeledmonds3027]

An excellent overview to study and digest. Now I need to factor in light pollution and seeing conditions. I've heard that both affect what pixel size is best, which is what most real-world astrophotography encounters. I'll look through your video catalog. Thanks again, Michael

[@benhelm6212]

This has to be the easiest guide to understand so thank you and great job. Glad I found this channel.

[@spacecadetesther1671]

Awesome video!!

[@markdalati2282]

Wow, best info man .. thanx

[@countdowncityproductions653]

great video!

[@universemaps]

Great info! Liked and saved for later reference.

[@terryc47]

Mack you smashed it. Great informative guide, especially for this astro greenhorn. Keep these videos coming

[@markybarretts]

Very well explained, thank you 🙂

[@CathrinMachinArt]

Dude this is amazing I actually understand so well now. Thanks for this Mack / Raf / OPT

[@OPTTelescopes]

Its absolutely our pleasure Cat! Really hoped this helps!

[@dmb2951]

Best concise summary I've seen on the subject. Very helpful, thanks!

[@OPTTelescopes]

You're very welcome!

[@francoisblateyron]

Well done guys, very clear overview! Thanks.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Our pleasure!

[@paulnaquet]

Great video as usual Mack thank you guys!

[@OPTTelescopes]

Our pleasure!

[@saskgrass]

So great to have entertaining and informative videos! I now know what to look for in my next camera.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Thanks David, we're glad you found it helpful!

[@AstroExploring]

Great video guys :) really well broken down into concise, easy to understand chunks!

[@OPTTelescopes]

YAY! We tried to make it as simple to understand as we could since its already so complicated to begin with

[@Guido_XL]

Yes, this is a nice summary of spec properties. What might have been handy to add is the way in which we can easily calculate the pixel to arc ratio, or, the size of an image of a celestial object on the camera sensor, which amounts to the same thing. Just an example here: let's take my Sky-Watcher 120/600 refractor. The focal length is 600 mm. If I image the Moon, which has an angle diameter of about half a degree in the sky, the image of the Moon on my camera sensor in prime focus will be: 600 x tan(0.5°) = 5.2 mm So, I can predict as to how large or small my image will become, and, whether the object will snugly fit or not, depending on the size of my camera sensor. The same information applies to the arc-seconds per pixel in this way. In my little lunar example here, the 5.2 mm of the Moon's disk are distributed along many pixels. One arc-second relates to 600 x tan(0.00056°) = 5.8 μm. So, if your camera sensor would happen to have 5.8 μm pixels, each pixel would correspond with one arc-second in the sky, if your telescope had a 600 mm focal distance.

[@CrazyAsian1]

This video was so helpful for me choosing a camera:) Thanks

[@RaysAstrophotography]

Good Job Mac! Put together very well!

[@OPTTelescopes]

Glad you liked it!

[@sgtokie]

great information, thanks

[@OPTTelescopes]

You're Very Welcome

[@Sweatsox8]

Good topic!

[@etjulien]

Thank you Mack! Chris may have already covered this. However, I would like to see a video on the different types of mounts.

[@terrypowell8900]

Very Well Done!!

[@OPTTelescopes]

Thank you!

[@davidmenkel4411]

Wow, information I didn't know; I needed to know. Nice job!

[@joneslu1377]

This is perhaps too good! Thanks a lot!

[@louboom5711]

A lot of great i formation here, it’s really helping me decide on what to get as my dedicated astro camera. Thanks Nice touch with the Vasquez Rocks background at 1:57, that place has some decently dark skies.

[@Lukas_Hart]

Great Video! One thing is not 100% true though: Bit Depth is not a parameter that defines the Dynamic Range of a sensor's signal. The Dynamic Range is the difference between Full Well Capacity and the Read Noise of the sensor's signal. Basically the range from pure white to where the noise level is. It doesn't matter how fine the range is divided (Bit depth) between those two parameters. The "distance" between the two levels is still the same. You can imagine the Read Noise (also called Noise Floor) is the floor of a room, whereas the Full Well Cap is the ceiling of that room. The number of steps of a stairway or a ladder from floor to ceiling is your Bit Depth. What may lead someone to think Bit Depth corresponds with Dynamic Range: A greater Bit Depth can take your image signal closer to the Read Noise without loosing it in the noise and the image signal can be better stretched apart from the noise signal in post production. Imagine the step size of the ladder is super small and your feet standing on the first step short above the floor but not touching it.

[@CosmuzzAstro]

This was really helpful and explained well. Even my little brain soaked it in. Great video Thanks!

[@rnaganhonarchitects]

great and useful information =)

[@jamesbeisen5620]

I learned a lot now I know what to do

[@toddthalimer]

Totally digging the videos, Mack. Quick question on the full well depth, since there's a bigger bucket/pixel to fill, does that mean exposure times are longer on those types of cameras?

[@JohdagM]

How come I’d never watched your channel? It’s amazing!! Thank you. Liked, subscribed and shared.

[@sylvainfavreau5689]

Great video and very informative.Are there better camera than others for shooting from a city like a sky of 8 or9 ?

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

Good Video! Mack! Very informative video! If watched it all!I would love to try the ZWO Camera ASI 2600 MC Pro Color!

[@manhcuongct05]

Nice Video !

[@OPTTelescopes]

Thanks!

[@Big.Ron1]

Very cool. I am going to have to watch it 2 or 3 more times for my old and slow brain to get all of it. Thank you. When is the next video? I am particularly interested in binning. Thank you.

[@markwiygul6356]

GREAT VIDEO . . this helped more understand more than any other beginner astrophotography camera video yet. my only question is about the color filters used for Mono eyepieces: why was "green" a filter to use, after all the primary colors are Red, YELLOW and Blue (not green) ? ? Well, I cheated and googled the answer. Yes, Yellow is a primary color, but only in art and painting. In reality (physics and astronomy) the 3 primary colors are Red, GREEN and Blue. Now, all I want to understand is why they use Yellow as a primary in art? . . . yep, I mix yellow and blue paint and it sure does come out green

[@zdenatorzdenator2799]

Perfect and amazing video. Yet I have a question. Can I use some camera for assembly Dobson without navigation? Next question. Just connect the camera with a laptop, or another device is needed. Thank you in advance for finding.

[@markbergendahl2651]

👍 Summary of the differences in sensors, pixel sizes and what to use for planetary vs deep sky photography !

[@OPTTelescopes]

Its our pleasure! Thanks for watching

[@johnadastra1754]

Kudos plus on this video! This is info every camera buyer needs to know. Wish I had seen something like this years ago!!

[@OPTTelescopes]

Right! We made it, because its something we wish we knew when we started :)

[@ws5246]

Great video... the only decision I need to make now is OSC or wait a little longer and save a little more for Mono when I upgrade from my DSLR. Given the rarity of clear skies here in the UK I'm leaning towards TEC cooled OSC.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Its a tough choice for sure. Many different things to consider. If you live in the UK with clear skies only a small % of the time, maybe a OSC might be the way to go to take advantage of all the time you have. Maybe even pair it with a Triad Ultra filter for all your narrowband targets.

[@kengarris1046]

Being a "rookie" at this the video was very informative and easy to follow !👍

[@OPTTelescopes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@spaceandsky1829]

what would you recommend as a good all rounder mainly deep sky for celestron 8sct is on an alt az so looking to do EAA or live astronomy?

[@johnbellisario4323]

Excellent video guys, comprehensive but not too complex 👌 keep em' coming

[@OPTTelescopes]

Were just trying to simplify something thats already overly complicated :)

[@dmccallie]

Nice video! One nit-pick - The cooled cameras don’t really depend on the fan for cooling, but rather on thermoelectric (Peltier) devices inside the camera, near the sensor that suck heat away. The fan helps distribute the cooling.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Thanks for the input :)

[@gailforce2000]

I have a celestar 8hd with a wedge. I want to get into astrophotography. Can you tell me what I need to set it up. Camera, etc etc.

[@oq17]

This was beyond excellent ! Thank you I just heard OPT is going out of business and Agena will pick things up . Will you still be making videos ?

[@martynh5410]

That really “guided” me a lot on camera specs!. I’m now realizing that there’s no single camera that’s ideal for both planetary and DSO imaging.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Unfortunately theres not one camera to rule them all. But this should help point you in the direction of what would be best for what youre looking for.

[@ericvanzant5465]

Hey Mack, great video. You talked about USB 3.0, I have wondered for a while as to the where the limitation is that has kept them from moving to USB C with much higher data transfer speeds and higher power capabilities. Are the internals of the camera just not able to send more data. I would love to see a camera that only requires one cord to both power it and the cooling and transfer data. Again thanks for the video,

[@OPTTelescopes]

To be honest, i couldn't tell you. I wish they all had USB C and it doesn't seem like a tough upgrade but on the other hand, I personally don't know what goes into the electronics to be able to do that.

[@theCC87]

Sensor Size 00:55 Pixel Size 02:45 Pixel Array 04:05 Color vs Mono 05:21 Cooled vs Uncooled 06:13 Bit Depth 06:35 Full Well Depth 08:23 Back Illuminated Sensors 09:17 QE 09:40 Frame Rate 10:33 USB 3.0 11:52

[@GuitarKid581]

I'm still so confused on what to buy. I'm pretty set on getting an 8" 800mm focal Newtonian for imaging, which would mean the "sweet spot" pixel size would need to be about 5um. I want to photograph nebula and DSO's and it seems like none of the ZWO cameras that are recommended have over a 3.0um pixel size. Is DSO photography not JUST reliant on pixel size?? Help me out OPT!!!

[@ronstewtsaw]

Oversampling/undersampling?

[@OPTTelescopes]

We feel like that is a whole video in itself for the future :)

[@allancopland1768]

Pixel bending?

[@dw6528]

Can anyone recommend an astro camera which fits the following? 1) Color 2) Maximum cost ~$300 3) Use with an 8" SCT on a tracking EQ mount 4) Predominant object of interest = galaxies 5) EAA only - and absolutely no Astro-Photograhy Sincere thanks!!!

[@JonnyBravo0311]

This is the second video I've watched from you guys where you make the statement that BSI prevents amp glow. That's patently false. Go take a dark frame with a 294MM, which uses the Sony IMX492 sensor (that is BSI) or with a 294MC, which uses the IMX294 sensor (also BSI). I 100% guarantee there's amp glow.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Thank you for your input. we have noted and might have to change up our words. That being said it does greatly reduce amp glow even if it doesn't eliminate it entirely

[@grigoryvidishev1810]

I am first to like!

[@xnamkcor]

65535* Close enough

[@_spineless]

not gonna lie, that bait to press the like was kinda hard to listen to

[@ratatat9790]

Mate cool it with the hand movements, it's distracting.

[@VFX_BUDDY]

why double meaning jokes everywhere??

[@cedricduval1992]

You might wanna take it easy with nintendo characters. Nintendo don't play that shit.

[@rogerrr1012]

its good info, but daaaammmm so anoying to see these videos, half the time wit h subscribe and like button... no way for sure

[@grigoryvidishev1810]

I am first to like!