xbox live cam autoguide

[Atreta]

hi,

looks like the adapter to turn the 9x50 finder into a guider arrived at the store.

will the xbox live cam be able to guide with it? i don't want to spend so much right now with a proper guide camera because i'm saving

up for an LP filter and coma corrector.

thanks again.

Frank

[glowingturnip]

i spent some time trying to guide with a Meade LPI or a Phillips SPC900 - it's hard, but is possible. 

Problem is that the sensitivity of these cameras is a lot less than something like a QHY5L, so it can be hard to find good guide stars and the SNR is poor, you may need to move the guidescope around a bit to find a bright star to lock on to.  It is possible though.

To be honest, I never really looked back once i got my QHY5l for guiding.

[Pompey Monkey]

hi,

looks like the adapter to turn the 9x50 finder into a guider arrived at the store.

will the xbox live cam be able to guide with it? i don't want to spend so much right now with a proper guide camera because i'm saving

up for an LP filter and coma corrector.

thanks again.

Frank

Try the X-box camera, but if it is not sensitive enough I would recommend buying a second-hand guide camera like the QHY5 (I or II) before the coma corrector.

It will be about the same price and is a far more important item in your AP arsenal than a corrector.

[Scott]

guiding is possibly the biggest single improvement anyone can make for dso imaging. Talk to 100 imagers and 99 of them will say that is when their imaging really took off. By all means, try the xbox cam, It's a cheap option and if it works, it may be all you need.

Best of luck sir.

[toxic]

i found the microsoft lifecam 300 hd much more sensitive than the xbox webcam and i still use it. i dont own a dedicated guide camera

[Atreta]

auspon, yes, guidind will be my next step.

thaks for the comment. 

i spent some time trying to guide with a Meade LPI or a Phillips SPC900 - it's hard, but is possible. 

Problem is that the sensitivity of these cameras is a lot less than something like a QHY5L, so it can be hard to find good guide stars and the SNR is poor, you may need to move the guidescope around a bit to find a bright star to lock on to.  It is possible though.

To be honest, I never really looked back once i got my QHY5l for guiding.

thanks for the reply, i read the topic you created, but was wondering if it was possible with the one i already had, i'm considering the possibily of maybe postpone the acquisition of the coma corrector as pompey monkey sugested and get the qhy5 camera you guys said.

[Atreta]

i found the microsoft lifecam 300 hd much more sensitive than the xbox webcam and i still use it. i dont own a dedicated guide camera

is it the lifecam 3000hd or 300 hd? i can't find anything about the 300.

if i can find one for a good price here it would be great.

thanks

Frank

[Garethr]

Atreta

Buying a second hand QHY5 was the best move I made to get guiding.

I also have 2 planetary cameras and the equivilent to an sp9000 none of which match the QHY5 for picking up detail and stars.

Only mounted on my 9x50 finderscope but when guiding I can often see the "fuzzy" I'm imaging on the PHD screen the difference is outstanding

Next problem for me is to smooth out the graph and improve processing but hey ho one step at a time.

I would certainly put the first savings towards the guide cam.

Gareth

[toxic]

is it the lifecam 3000hd or 300 hd? i can't find anything about the 300.

if i can find one for a good price here it would be great.

thanks

Frank

this id the one i use    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-LifeCam-HD-3000-Retail-Packaging/dp/B0099XD1PU  sorry i missed a 0 from the model name lol

[glowingturnip]

yeah, you'll not go wrong with the qhy5.  the asi zwo is good too, depending which one's more available for you