ROI choices and Player One Neptune C IMX178

[AstroTupelo]

Since apparently the Svbony Sv305 no longer works with current versions of Sharpcap, I am considering purchasing a Player One Neptune C with IMX178 sensor. I am wondering if I will have ROI choices so that I can choose one smaller than the sensor size to increase frame rate. Is the ROI adjustment a feature of the camera itself or of the capture software and what options are available for that camera?

Also I would welcome any advise from anyone that has experience with that camera. I am imaging with an 8" SCT f10 2000 focal length and I realize that most theory/advise says that would be over sampled with that sensor. I already have a ZWO ASI533MC that I mainly use for deep space but have also used for planetary with ok results. I have wonder if smaller pixels would give a more detailed sharp picture though for planetary. Since I am looking to replace the Sv305 with a 1920 x 1080 size that I might as well try a larger sensor in the IMX178 of 3072 x 2048 since I sometimes have difficulty getting on target and also thought I might as well try a slightly smaller pixel size of 2.4um for the Neptune C vs the 2.9um pixel size of the Sv305. I have read posts in astrophotography forums that say that even though it doesn't agree with theory or what the advice of astronomy tool calculators would tell you, that when using for planetary, the smaller pixel size resulted in sharp detailed images even on SCT's similar to mine vs using larger pixels of 3.7um and above.

I would appreciate any thoughts and advice. Thanks, Ken

[admin]

Hi,

yes, you will get full control of a PlayerOne camera, including the use of smaller capture areas (both a set of pre-defined ones and the option to create custom ones too). The frame rate will increase based largely on the height of the capture area - the smaller the height, the faster the frame rate can go. Width of capture area has practically no effect.

As to the 178 version - one thing I will mention is that the IMX178 sensor is now quite old (as such things go) - probably getting on for a decade old. Newer generation sensors have tended to improve on the older generations in terms of sensitivity, read noise, etc, so it may be worth looking at other models with newer sensors that fit the same 'small pixel' need. That being said, you can get great images with the 178, and many of the improvements have more relevance for deep sky than planetary.

Small pixels do have a useful role to play in planetary imaging. Imagine that you have two cameras available to you - one with 2.9 micron pixels and another with 1.4 micron pixels. To get a good size image of a planet, you might use the 2.9 micron camera with a 2x barlow. However, the 1.4 micron pixel camera will get the same size (pixels height/width) image of the planet *without* needing the barlow lens. It doesn't matter how much money you spend on your barlow lens, it will still transmit less than 100% of the light and introduce some distortion/scattering, so the 1.4 micron pixel camera should give a theoretically better image.

cheers,

Robin

[AstroTupelo]

Thank you for the response and information. I now have a better understanding of the ROI feature. I also appreciate your thoughts on the IMX178 sensor and on pixel size considerations. I was already looking at other camera options and this information will definitely help me make a final decision. Since I couldn't get Sv305 to work with newer Sharpcap versions, I have used my ASI533MC for planetary live stacking, but would prefer to use a camera with smaller pixels than the 533 for planetary.

Thank you Robin for all the work you do with Sharpcap and for all the new outstanding features that result from that effort. I am very impressed with the results I have gotten with the planetary live stacking using my ASI533MC. Sharpcap is just an awesome tool and Sharpcap Pro is the best value in astrophotography.

Thank you, Ken

[admin]

Hi,

glad to hear that you are enjoying the results of the planetary live stacking

Did you find any further info (perhaps from the log) regarding the SV305 not showing up? I have good contacts with SVBony, so if we can't get any results directly from testing with SharpCap we could ask them for some suggestions.

cheers,

Robin