I now use three different cameras, one for guiding, one for imaging deep sky objects and one for imaging planets and the moon (I don't guide when imaging the moon or planets).

My main imaging camera is a monochrome Atik 314L (pictured above). As you can see from my deep sky images, they're all in black and white. Many CCD (charge-coupled device) cameras can be bought as monochrome or colour.

Monochrome cameras are more sensitive to light but you have to use filters with it to achieve a colour image. This means more expense, more time and more messing around, but I'm told the monochrome camera with filters can give a better end result than a colour camera. With a colour camera you take your exposures and off you go for processing. With a monochrome camera you first take a number of luminance exposures that provide the brightness for your image, and then you have to take further exposures with red, green and blue filters (exposures with one filter at a time). From what I gather, people normally take the most exposures with luminance and less with the colour filters. Once you've gathered all the luminance, red, green and blue exposures you're ready for aligning and processing. I've not yet experimented with colour filters so I can't tell you any more I'm afraid. If you're really brave there are other filters you can use called Narrow Band Imaging. There are some good reasons for using Narrow Band Imaging (reduces the effects of light pollution for one) and to learn more check this informative site out;-

http://www.imagingtheheavens.co.uk/

Filters and filter wheels aren't exactly cheep so think about the extra expense before you make your decision. Monochrome and colour cameras normally cost the same whereas a manual filter wheel and filters will probably set you back another couple of hundred quid on top of the price of the monochrome camera. An electronic filter wheel costs even more but you don't have to manually move the filters so you're not likely to knock the scope off your imaging target. I bought a monochrome camera and I sometimes think it might have suited me more to get a colour camera as I'd already be taking colour images. I don't yet own a filter wheel although I almost bought the one made by Atik, but I thought it a little flimsy and I've heard of a number of people having problems with them. I would still have bought one though until I saw a prototype from Starlight Xpress at Astrofest 2009 and decided to wait for that one. The only thing is I've now spent the money I'd saved so it looks like it's black and white images only for some time to come.

As for the performance of the Atik 314L, I can't fault it. The camera's built well and the Artemis Capture imaging software is easy to use, stable and provides great results. The camera comes with its own power lead and USB lead. Both leads have to be connected to the camera for operation. I would recommend this camera to anyone thinking of getting one but obviously there are more expensive and cheaper options out there depending on what you want. Is there anything better for the money? I doubt it. All I can compare it to is the Meade DSI II, the Atik is far superior but then it costs a good few times as much, so you'd expect it to be.

I now use the Meade DSI II monochrome as my guide camera. The DSI is quite sensitive and therefore ideal for guiding. On the picture above, the DSI can be seen on the far right with a grey lead plugged into it. You might also be able to see some black tape on it. The monochrome DSI has two rectangular holes in the body that a filter block passes through for colour imaging. I'm not using the filter block and have therefore taped over the holes to stop any unwanted light being picked up by the CCD. In the picture I'm using the DSI as a guide camera looking through the LX200R. The DSI takes all its power through a USB lead and sends the images through it to a computer so you only have one lead and no additional power supply.

I use the DSI in conjunction with a free piece of guiding software called PHD Guiding (you can find a link to PHD Guiding in my section called Software links). It's easy to use, stable and very effective. Although I use the DSI for guiding it's still a good imaging camera in its own right, if you take a look at Meade's own site you'll see some enthusiasts have taken some fantastic images with the DSI .

When imaging the moon and planets I use a Philips SPC900NC colour webcam (pictured above). As with most things in life, it's not quite that simple. The SPC900NC has to be modified slightly. You have to buy an adapter to fit on the webcam that allows it to attach to a telescope's eyepiece holder. For details on how to do this check out this site's step by step guide;-

http://www.robertreeves.com/900NC.htm

A webcam takes a video of whatever length you choose. I use a free to download program on the internet called QCFocus. This allows me to take a video avi file that I then stack and process in another free program called Registax. Registax breaks the video file down into individual frames. You'll find links to both pieces of software in my Software links section.

QCFocus is a French site but on the homepage you'll see a link called English Documentation. Click on that link for further instructions. The Philips SPC900NC is a good little camera for the money although I've not used it as much as I should have. I aim to do a few moon shots when I can.