filter wheel manual or electric?

[I_Mor]

Hi all,
Just ordered the Atik414 mono :) and I've picked out the baader filters but unsure about whether a manual wheel has any practical issues or not,my first jump into ccd imaging...:eyepop: is there a net down there somewhere?

[DavidLJ]

Ian

My experience with a manual filter wheel has been that ambient light inevitably gets into the housing through the slot where one touches the knurled edge of the internal carousel in order to be able to rotate it. This light pollution adversely affects the quality of your images. An electronic filter wheel is a virtually sealed unit and so prevents the ingress of unwanted ambient light.

One can take steps to mitigate the problem with a manual wheel by providing some form of light shroud around the wheel but if you can afford it I strongly suggest that you get an electronic wheel.

David

[Dennis]

If you can manage the additional cost of an electronic FW, I would definitely go that way.

If you have to sit at the ‘scope and push buttons to change filters, you will soon tire of this after a few sessions, especially if the LRGB bug bites and you really want to get into LRGB imaging.

Let the software make the filter changes for you!:)

Cheers

Dennis

[brisen]

I have a 414 mono and started with a manual filter wheel and lasted all of a couple of sessions using it, and fumbling around in the dark trying to change filter positions. I have now purchased an electronic filter wheel now but haven't had a chance to use it because of consistent cloud cover.

[I_Mor]

Thanks guys,sounds like electrics the way to go,I'm leaning towards the zwo model,should do the job hopefully.
How are you going with the 414 Brian? I've read a few good reviews on it,any surprises?

[brisen]

Hi Ian

From the little bit I have had a chance to do with the 414 I am very happy with it. I was surprised at the sensitivity for the price and the depth that it picks up even in 3 min subs. It is easy to use with the supplied software, although the supplied software wont integrate an electric focuser other than an Atik one from what I can see. I have just purchased Sequence Generator Pro to run the XAGYL filter wheel I have, I went with the 8 space one as I have both LRGB and NB filters so this one holds all of them in one go and I don't have to worry about changing filters or filter wheels.

Looks like it will be a good night for imaging here tonight so I am going to try some imaging and see how it goes with NB filters if I can get a good polar alignment from the driveway to take some longer exposures.

Brian