1. COMPARISON OF MINTRON PD 2385c-EX WITH COLOUR VIDEO CAMERA

The two images below (taken in a darkened room) show that the PD2385C-EX needs just 0.08 second exposure to match the colour video camera's 4 second exposure.
The Mintron PD will go 64x more sensitive, and still the exposure will be just 5 seconds - still good for live TV.
The colour video camera can't match this, and will go just 10x more sensitive, as noisy images prevent exposures in excess of 40 seconds. And waiting that long for images is hardly "Live TV".

Imaging Source DBK 21AU04.AS Exposure: 4 seconds	Mintron PD Camera at just 4X integration Exposure 0.08 second

2. COMPARISON OF MINTRON PD 2385C-EX WITH TYPICAL CCD CAMERA

Below is a table comparing the Mintron PD to a typical CCD camera. You will see that the Mintron camera's real strength is its inherent speed, the brightness of its live video images. this makes it far easier to use, and better suited to a range of uses, such as educational use, stargazing, meteor and artificial satellite tracking, etc. Even if you already have a CCD camera, you would not regret buying a Mintron PD. Easy to use, the Mintron PD will bring the "fun" back into astronomy. Click here for more details.

COMPARISON OF MINTRON PD CAMERA WITH CCD CAMERA :-
	MINTRON PD2385-EX	CCD CAMERA
Cost	£269	£550 +
Imaging device	1/3" SONY Ex-View CCD	1/2" SONY Ex-View CCD
Image Pixels	752(H) x 582(V)	752(H) x 582(V)
Picture Element	Monochrome (B/W) extended Infra-red sensitivity	B/W or colour
Ease of Set up	Simple - just connect to TV set But also works with PC	PC only Complex set up procedures must be learnt
Live TV Image?	YES Picture automatically refreshes every 5.2 secs or less	NO. The camera is essentially blind, until image is exposed and downloaded. Live "video" may be possible, but shows bright objects only.
Sensitivity	0.00005 lux at f1.4	-
Live Image Magnitude Limit (with 8" Scope)	16+ magnitude	No live picture
Capture images to PC?	YES	YES
Captured Image Magnitude Limit (8" scope)	17 magnitude (using capture device and the free Registax to stack frames)	18 magnitude in 10 secs exposure Longer exposures possible, but only if camera has cooling system (more expensive)
Typical Uses	Live observations of Deep Sky and other objects Suitable educational use Comet searching Tracking meteors and artificial satellites Use as deep sky finder/tracking device for CCD imaging Live observation of nocturnal wildlife possible	Imaging of Deep-sky objects over long integration times
Sharing Astronomy with friends/ Educational Use	An exciting "live" experience for groups of observers - no waiting for images to download, or taking turns at the eyepiece Live observations of Deep Sky and other objects	No real "live" experience
Ease of Use	Bright live images Pointing of the telescope very easy Focussing very easy No setup required for live observations Can be used with ordinary tripods Accurate tracking mount is not required	Live images are less bright Pointing telescope difficult Focussing camera difficult Set up required: Scope mount must be carefully aligned Accurate tracking system required
Picture Quality	All video and CCD cameras will display wonderful images, taking the viewer deeper into the universe. All such super-sensitive cameras will show evidence of artefacts in their live/raw images, such as dead pixels (which show as dark or bright spots) or unevenness in the background.
Live TV	Great Live TV!	No Live TV images
Captured to PC	Clean image digital processing (dark frame) provides clean image.	Dark frame subtraction provides good clean image.
To sum up	Astonishing live viewing of deepsky objects Also suitable for lunar/planetary use So many different uses Useful functions such as Mirror (horizontal and vertical flip), Enhance, Zoom. Supplied with 12.5mm or 16mm lens	Superb Recorded images but high cost, lengthy set-up procedure, and long wait for images to download.
	Mintron PD2385-EX	CCD camera