Re: Step up from Toucam ?


"dylan" <no@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dsn7lo$js9$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Roger,

Thanks for all the great info, lots for me to work on.

I agree the Toucam 2 is a great camera for planets, and excellent value,
and possibly the ideal would be something similar with more pixels and a
bit less noise.
On planetary images, noise should not be objectionable on such a camera.
More pixels,implies slower downloads, so you are back into this 'catch'.
The M8C, has a new controller card 'coming' (don't think it is out yet),
which will massively speed the downloads, bringing them to a speed limited
by the ADC, and if a small subframe is selected (so you are only pulling
down as many pixels as the webcam), should be able to get download rates
of perhaps 10+ frames/second, which then makes it a good potential
planetary imager. However remember you will need a lot of focal length
with any CCD for planetary images. I use 10m+.

For DSO's I'm considering a 80ED APO , (I'm currently using a skwatcher
80 / Canon 400 f5.6 L), and using it as a guider for an LX10, hopefully
to be replaced soon (or supplemented) with a CPC1100 or similar
Of all the SCT's, the Celestron 11", is just about my favourite. However
you need to reflect, that with this scope, even if you add a *.63 reducer,
with a much larger CCD, like the ST2000, you are still only talking a
'frame width' covering 23 arc minutes of the sky.

As you can see lots of things are in the pipeline and I'm hoping to take
this opportunity of a trip to the US to 'invest' in a good CCD camera.
Another poster has said to look at the SBIG units, and for a C11,
something like the ST2000, or even better the ST10, is much more the sort
of camera that would give worthwhile results...
Remember also, that though the prices look much better stateside, and many
people do manage to bring kit back OK, if you have no VAT receipt, it can
latter be a problem if you want to sell second hand, and also, that many
people do get caught by Customs. A camera,is not small... Technically,
make sure your invoice says 'CCD astronomical imager'. This attracts 0%
duty (other instrument and apparatus using optical radiation), as Taric
code 9027 50 where 'astronomical accessory', or 'unclassified electronic
equipment', or cinematographic camera (which is what it'll otherwise be
classed as), attract anything up to 4.5%. Given that VAT is charged, on
the total plus duty, this can make a 5% difference to the total price!.
Though you are obviously considering guiding with a seperate scope,
remember that SCT's, will show mirror shift (even the Meade units with
mirror locks, do...). Off axis guiding, while less convenient, is much
more likely to give really round star shapes for longer exposures.

Best Wishes


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Toucam webcam or LPI or digital camera mount?
    ... >stars than i can via holding my 2mp camera up to the eye piece! ... be the Toucam for the Moon and planets. ... the webcam 1.25" eyepiece adapters I recall. ... Capture movies will also tend to be quite large ...
    (uk.sci.astronomy)
  • Re: Astro photography and field of view
    ... For planets this is probably quite important ... I would like to add that if you get a short tubed Barlow, you can use a star diagonal to increase it's magnification by simply putting the diagonal between the Barlow and the camera. ... sun and moon imaging is using a web camera. ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: Photography.
    ... I fear that my Tesco Disposable isn't up to scratch. ... You could in principle take afocal pictures through a telescope using your Tesco disposable camera and get decent results, but you would need to make a cunning jig to align it. ... A relatively cheap webcam with the right software can get fantastic results on the planets. ...
    (uk.sci.astronomy)
  • Re: CCD Astrophotography Advice
    ... one thing I want to eventually do is CCD astrophotography. ... looking for in terms of scope, software, and camera. ... good on the deep sky and vice versa. ... For planets, look at Celestron's ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: true magnification of Televue 3x?
    ... This camera's CCD is the ICX424 which covers a larger ... > the filter wheel and Lum camera were added, the total length came to the ... > 50mm greater distance between the camera and modified barlow, ... saying, is that you found the image scale was smaller, because of the ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)