The sensitivity of the CCTV cameras made by Mintron and Watec shall be compared using the globular cluster M13 as an example. The topmost image was taken with the Watec WAT 120-N and 10 seconds per frame. The image underneath was taken under the same conditions but with 2.5 seconds per frame. The image at the bottom was taken with the Mintron 12V1C-EX with 2,5 seconds per frame, too. The higher sensitivity of the EX-type CCD sensor in the Mintron camera compared to the standard HAD sensor in the Watec camera is clearly visible. It is a pity that the Mintron camera suffers from an uneven background and an illumination of the left edge of the image caused by the amplifier glow, the electroluminiscence radiation of the amplifier. It is amazing how much is gained by increasing the exposure time by a factor of 4. (Images are cropped.)
Date: 28.05.04, 23:45h CEST
Optics: f=1480 mm f/6,3
Guiding: none
Exposure time: 24 minutes (Each frame 10 seonds)
Camera: Watec WAT 120-N
(Cropped image)
Date: 29.05.04, 00:20h CEST
Optics: f=1480 mm f/6,3
Guiding: none
Exposure time: 9 minutes (Each frame 2.54 seconds)
Camera: Watec WAT 120-N
(Cropped image)
Date: 20.09.03, 22:10h CEST
Optics: f=1480 mm f/6,3
Guiding: none
Exposure time: 25 minutes (Each frame 2.54 seconds)
Camera: Mintron 12V1C-EX