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NightHawk · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 37 Location: Dalgety Bay

I'm disappointed with myself by not attending a meeting yet. I always seem to be distracted by something else and now worried about attending now after such a long time!

I have a £25 gift certificate for amazon uk.

I understand that toucam webcams by philips are popular.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_...tronics&field-keywords=toucam

I can't choose. Can somebody recommend me a webcam or camera that will work well with minimal fuss. I am looking for a colour camera.

I will be willing to spend £15 on top of the £25 gift certificate (40 squid total)

Any advice appreciated. I look forward to your replies.

Neil

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Telescope: Meade ETX 80 AT-TC

pbholmes · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 141 Location: Dalgety Bay

Hi Neil,

Don't worry about coming along - we've had new faces every time we've met.

As for webcams, there's a list at
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/molyned/web-cameras.htm

It's linked to from QCUIAG - the QuickCam and Unconventional Imaging Astronomy Group at http://www.qcuiag.co.uk/.

My webcam is a Logitech Quickcam Pro 3000, which I bought before I knew it was good for astrophotography. There is a long-exposure mod that can be done on it - I haven't done that yet, but I might.

Paul.

adt175 · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 96 Location: Edinburgh

Whatever you get remember to get an adapter (unscrew the camera lens and fit the adapter). Also a IR Block filter will help prevent red saturation.
Welcome to the world of astro imaging, starts with a webcam and ends with a massive scope and a huge credit card balance Rolling Eyes

Andy
PS I'm a Toucam man, if you're getting one of them make sure it's a Pro version as they have ccd rather than cmos sensors - model numbers 740k, 840k, spc900nc

bwh · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 103 Location: Dalgety Bay

Hiya, first post.. sooo excited.

Webcams... a hah! a while back i had cottage industry in dalgety bay, selling these over ebay... you could pick them up in the webcam sections for £30 and sell in the telelscope section for £100... then the chinese entered market.... doh!

As andy says, Philips Toucam II is very well recognised - got one myself. But these now out-of-stock and so ebay best place to look (£30-£60), also need plastic adapter when replaces lens and fits into scope focuser (£10). Note as andy said must be the x40 models, or you dont get CCD camera, and get chip 10 times less sensitive to light... eek

You can get new spc900nc, plus adapter - only difference it 90 frame a second, 840k (60 frames a second), 740k (30 frames/s).... note for scope work you use 5 or 10 frames per second

You can get spc900nc new, but dont recommend these, the lens screw is on motherboard, so one turn to many and you lose the motherboard, on the 840k screw on body of the cover.... Smile

Would suggest watch ebay and hope to catch a bargain, many sell 840k toucam, and lots of chinese sellers for £30 (watch deliver charges). or 740k (in case that looks like zippy ... note different apadter but still £10).

Note: the toucam acts like a 4mm eyepiece, but with lots of free software you can get 500-1000 images of saturn, looking dull and grainy, align and stack to add 1-2 inch to effective scope mirror size. So you may want a focal reducer (£50) to take this to a 8mm eyepeice - far easier to get saturn in view etc

Also the toucam 850k can be altered for long exposure... lots of details on web.

Any questions Smile

bwh
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bwh

Meade 8inch (228mm) LX5 Smidt-Cassegrain fl=2000
Skywatcher 5inch (120mm) Refractor fl=1000m - For Sale
Meade DSI Pro
Toucam Pro II 840k

adt175 · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 96 Location: Edinburgh

Try this for size:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Philips-ToU...categoryZ4616QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

bwh · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 103 Location: Dalgety Bay

Note the earlier 740k series is also fine, and has lower value... percieved

as both it and the 850v toucam II run at 5-10 frames per second for astrphotos... so they identical in operation.....

needs own adapter,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Philips-ToU...PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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bwh

Meade 8inch (228mm) LX5 Smidt-Cassegrain fl=2000
Skywatcher 5inch (120mm) Refractor fl=1000m - For Sale
Meade DSI Pro
Toucam Pro II 840k

NightHawk · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 37 Location: Dalgety Bay

Thank you for your replies.

I have been trying to bid on UK toucams. 840k toucam pro 2 specifically.

They sell high I tell you!

I might try to get any CCD webcam which has a webcam adapter purposely designed for it.

I very much dislike CMOS cameras after the nasty webcams/phones I have had in the past.

Will keep searching for toucam's. I see philips are mainly producing compact little webcams now.
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Telescope: Meade ETX 80 AT-TC

bwh · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 103 Location: Dalgety Bay

while they do sell high (£30) etc keep watch for the 740k its older, but identical.

The CCD is 10times (10x) more senstive.... and you need as much sensitivity as you can find. Keep the faith its worth the wait.....

Note the 740/840k toucams can also be modified for long exposures....

Alternative similar CCD devices like Meade MP1 $200-$300 quid and it takes 1 photo.

of you get a toucam for £30-£50 its a bargain believe me....

Also would say have more thaqn 6inch mirror.... i am seriously struggling at 5inch to get decent picture to take (small image, vs 4mm focus.....)

Hope to be at next meeting - though in corydon at 6am... so it may be difficult and will bring my toucam......

regards

B
_________________
bwh

Meade 8inch (228mm) LX5 Smidt-Cassegrain fl=2000
Skywatcher 5inch (120mm) Refractor fl=1000m - For Sale
Meade DSI Pro
Toucam Pro II 840k

bwh · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 103 Location: Dalgety Bay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Philips-ToU...PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Currently £21 quid, now this deemed less value than 840k but to an astrophotographer its identical to 840k as only difference is frame per second 30 vs 60 and you will never set it more than 10 for astronomy

best wishes
_________________
bwh

Meade 8inch (228mm) LX5 Smidt-Cassegrain fl=2000
Skywatcher 5inch (120mm) Refractor fl=1000m - For Sale
Meade DSI Pro
Toucam Pro II 840k