[Aavso-photometry] OPT Corp DSI

[Wolfgang Renz]

At OPT they are currently at:
DSI I Color                  Price: $99.00    List Price: $449.00
DSI I Pro                    Price: $129.00   List Price: $599.00
DSI I Pro with RGB Filter    Price: $229.00   List Price: $749.00
DSI II Color                 Price: $599.00   List Price: $899.00
DSI II Pro                   Price: $599.00   List Price: $899.00
DSI II Pro with RGB Filter   Price: $699.00   List Price: $1,049.00
Others (like Anacortes) might be 4-8% cheaper on the DSI I s.


The open slide filter drawer of the DSI Pros with RGB filters and
the one from Lumicon might be usable, but these are prone to dust,
finger prints, fogging and maybe even to scatted light.
There are other solutions like single filter drawers (Atik, Astronomik,
True Technology, ...) and manual wheels (Atik, ...). A motorized filter
wheel is of course the best solution for multi-color photometry. Optec
has also a closed motorized filter slider.

The Meade RGB filters are not NUV+NIR-blocked and have an inferior
transmission. They are for sure nothing a pretty picture imager would
spend much money for (if they didn't change them in the mean while
again). See:
http://www.astrodon.com/oldsite/Color%20Filters.html
Version 1:
http://www.astrodon.com/oldsite/meadeDSIPro1.jpg
http://www.astrodon.com/oldsite/MeadeDSIPro2.jpg
Version 2:
http://www.astrodon.com/oldsite/meadeDSIPro4.jpg
http://www.astrodon.com/oldsite/MeadeDSIPro3.jpg
At least the NUV+NIR-blocking filter should be replaced by a better
one to get a higher transmission. But using two interference/dichroic
filters might give some issues. So using a NUV+NIR-blocked RGB
filter set without a NUV+NIR-blocking filter is advisable.
http://www.astronomik.com/english/eng_fischub.html

There exists also additional more or less useful equipment:
Manual shutter for taking darks
http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_dsib.htm
Low Profile Adapter Plate with T-threads and 1.25" Filter Threads
http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_dsif.htm
0.33x, 0.36x, 0.5x and 0.63x Focal Reducer
Adaptation on Camera Lenses with camera tripod mount
http://www.teleskop-service.se/produkter/eng/atik/start/atikstart.html
DSI Fan
http://www.meade.com/dsi/dsi_accessories.html


Jeff Hopkins
http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/Astro.html
Astronomical Photoelectric Photometry
http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/PEP.html
(PMT/PC) PEP Manual
http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/PEPManual/Manual.html
CCD Photometry with AutoStar and a DSI Pro
http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/AutoStar/AutoStar.html
Enhanced AutoStar and a DSI Pro Book
http://www.hposoft.com/ASCCD.html

Clear skies
 Wolfgang

-- 
Wolfgang Renz, Karlsruhe, Germany
Rz.BAV = WRe.vsnet = RWG.AAVSO



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rumrill, Donald M (US SSA)" <donald.m.rumrill at baesystems.com>
To: "Jeff Hopkins" <phxjeff at hposoft.com>; <aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Aavso-photometry] OPT Corp DSI


> Thanks Jeff, I didn't pick up on that, but have now changed my order to
> the DSI PRO with the filter pack (for photos) and will start saving my
> pennies for some BVRI filters.
> 
> Don
> 
> Don Rumrill
> Components Engineering
> BAE Systems Electronics and Integrated Solutions
> 600 Main St., M/S S18
> Johnson City, NY 13790
> 607-770-3590
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Hopkins [mailto:phxjeff at hposoft.com] 
> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 2:48 PM
> To: Rumrill, Donald M (US SSA); aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org
> Subject: Re: [Aavso-photometry] OPT Corp DSI
> 
> Hello Don,
> 
> The $99 dollar one is the color camera and if you want to do Variable 
> star work  you will need the MonoCchrome version (DSI Pro).
> 
> The Color DSI could be used as a guide camera, however.
> 
> I use a modified DSI Pro camera with ATIK filter wheel and BVRI 
> filters and it works well. You might want to check my book that 
> describes in detail how to use it for photometry.
> 
> See
> <http://www.hposoft.com/ASCCD.html>http://www.hposoft.com/ASCCD.html
> 
> Let me know if you have any other questions.
> 
> Jeff
> 
> 
> At 11:38 -0700 07/19/2007, Rumrill, Donald M \(US SSA\) wrote:
>>Thanks for the tip Jeff, they've lowered their price to $99 including
>>delivery.  I've ordered one for at least the camera utility.  Can this
>>camera be used for variable star data?  The question of filters of
>>course pops up; it doesn't seem to have the capacity to mount filters,
>>but, one would assume that it could be modified to use them.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>Don
>>
>>Don Rumrill
>>Components Engineering
>>BAE Systems Electronics and Integrated Solutions
>>600 Main St., M/S S18
>>Johnson City, NY 13790
>>607-770-3590
> 
> -- 
> Jeff Hopkins
> HPO SOFT
> Counting Photons
> http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html
> Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
> 7812 West Clayton Drive
> Phoenix, Arizona 85033-2439 U.S.A.
> (623)849-5889
> (623) 247-1190 (Fax)
> www.hposoft.com
> 
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