Question regardinf DFK41 camera image source

[gribovik]

Hi I have recently decided to go into lunar probably planets imaging.

And bought a DFK41 firewire version of ebay, 

No wires with it and no nosepiece, but with some complect of extensions.  ( 10mm 20 mm 40mm , diamet less then 1.25")

So what is the piece needed to atach camera to the Eyepiece holder - and what are the connection options to the scope ?)

Any advice on firewire to pc conection.

Is it better to buy mainboard extension to add firewire port to pc - or just use the firewire/usb conection?

Thank you for the attention.

Alex

[gribovik]

Really sorry about the english corectness. My hands preceeded my grammar sense.

[gribovik]

Regarding the eyepiece- found that it is called c mount nosepiece. So Fine that was easy.

Any expirience with firewire to usb conectivity ?

Have anyone tried this ?

[Oddsocks]

Hello Alex

I used to operate a firewire DMK 31 camera with a laptop but it is not straight forward since the DMK firewire cameras need more power to operate than is supplied by the laptop host.

Here is a link to a pdf document that tells you most that you need to know:

http://www.opticstar.com/download/Astro/Doc/imagers/IS/Firewire-help.pdf

Basically if your computer host, laptop or desktop uses a 6 pin firewire port then the host may provide sufficient power to run the camera but it depends on the specification of the motherboard.

If your computer host uses a four pin firewire port then no power is provided to the camera at all and this is also the case when using a USB to firewire converter, the USB interface will not supply sufficient power for the camera.

There are possible solutions for this, the most reliable if using a laptop is to use a firewire PCMCIA extender card, similar to the one linked to here :

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/firewire-3-port-pcmcia-laptop-card-a84fa

Or an Express Cardbus Firewire card like this one:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/firewire-2-ports-express-cardbus-a58hh

These type of cards have a power supply input socket next to the six pin firewire ports and you need to connect an external power supply of 12V DC at 1A to the card which is then routed to the camera via the six pin firewire cable.

If you want to try a USB to Firewire converter you would need to buy or make up a special "Y" type 6 pin Firewire cable, similar to the one in the help document, with the part number CA-1394-64/PJ/2, this is a four pin mini to 6 pin normal Firewire cable with a break out flying socket that is used to provide power to the camera, you would need to source or make a six pin version of this that you could use with the USB to firewire converter.

I know of one person at the astro club I visit that tried this but he was unable to get communication to the camera using the USB to Firewire converter and the image source's IC capture software, he had to use the laptop PCMCIA extender card the same that I used.

If you are using a desktop computer then the easiest is to use a normal internal firewire card with six-pin ports as this will supply the 12V DC @ 1A required for the camera, similar to this one:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/firewire-1-internal-and-3-external-ports-pci-host-card-tj65v

Visit the downloads page at the Imaging Source to find the camera drivers and IC capture software: 

http://www.theimagingsource.com/en_US/support/downloads/

I still have my DMK 31 Firewire camera but have not used it for a while, I upgraded last year to a USB ZWO ASI 120 camera since it was a lot simpler than having to carry around laptop cards and extra power supplies etc.

Hope the above is of use.

William.

[gribovik]

Thank you William.

That was the kind of answer i needed.

I think i will go with extension card option. So life is going into planning  direction.

Thank you again. 

Alex.