Match Camera Sampling to the Telescope and Target Type
Enter focal length and aperture to estimate F-ratio, theoretical resolution, sampling, and field-of-view suitability for deep-sky, planetary, or wide-field imaging.
Sampling Calculator
Enter telescope parameters and get matched camera suggestions.
How the Matching Works
Sampling
Sampling = 206.265 × pixel size (μm) / focal length (mm)
- Deep-sky imaging: 1.5–2.5 arcsec/pixel is ideal
- Planetary imaging: 0.5–1.0 arcsec/pixel is ideal
- Wide-field: 3–5 arcsec/pixel is acceptable
Field of View
FOV = sensor size / focal length × 57.3°
- Wide FOV: large nebulae, Milky Way, and mosaics
- Medium FOV: most deep-sky targets
- Narrow FOV: planets, Moon, and small galaxies
F-Ratio
F-ratio = focal length / aperture
- F/4–F/6: fast deep-sky systems
- F/7–F/9: balanced all-round performance
- F/10+: slower systems for planetary and small targets
Popular Telescope Pairings
| Telescope | Focal Length / Aperture | F-Ratio | Suggested Deep-Sky Cameras | Suggested Planetary Cameras | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOPE D60 | 280mm / 60mm | F/4.66 | ATR2600, SkyEye62 | G3M678C | Large nebulae, Milky Way, wide-field |
| 80mm APO Refractor | 600mm / 80mm | F/7.5 | ATR294C, ATR585C | G3M678C, G3M664C | Medium deep-sky targets |
| 102mm APO Refractor | 714mm / 102mm | F/7.0 | ATR2600, ATR585C, SkyEye24AC | G3M664C, G3M678C | All-round deep-sky subjects |
| 150mm Newtonian | 750mm / 150mm | F/5.0 | ATR294C, ATR533C, ATR2600 | G3M678C, G3M664C | Galaxies and planetary nebulae |
| C8 SCT | 2032mm / 203mm | F/10 | ATR585C | G3M678C | Small galaxies, planets, lunar detail |
| RC8 | 1624mm / 203mm | F/8 | ATR294C, ATR585C | G3M664C, G3M678C | Small deep-sky targets, planetary |