ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the specialist imaging items; cameras, filters, field flatteners, focal reducers, autoguiders, focus control, interfacing and software. SLR and mirror-less cameras are both capable for use in astrophotography. Camera RAW files require processing (de-Bayering) to create a color image from the individually filtered sensor values. The individual sensor elements in a CMOS or CCD have a broad color sensitivity that extends from ultraviolet (UV), through visible and includes infrared (IR) light. A camera's color sensor is also sensitive to visible light-pollution. Although light-pollution filters block the principal street-lamp colors and reduce the background light intensity, they also reduce star intensity at the same time. The focus module suppliers normally provide a stand-alone focus control application and a driver, to run with the focus applications. Autoguider software may be a stand-alone program or incorporated into the imaging software, of which Maxim DL and TheSkyX are the best known.
