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webcam imaging on the cheap !


nytecam

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There's no need to pay big bucks to video the sun [with filter!], moon or planets - a USB powered webcam on your scope will do perfectly well for just a few pounds ! 

If in Asda or Sainsburys I scan the Hifi shelves for cheap webcams !  My local Sainsburys currently has HD webcams discounted to £10 but the cam in my montage below cost a silly <£1.50 - I bought two for under £3 in an earlier Asda sale!  

Just strip out the tiny lens+filter, add a 1-1/4" push-fit tube to attached to your scope and capture pics with Sharpcap and tweak the videos in Registax s/w.  Easy ;-)

Here's some videos that show great results....

http://home.freeuk.com/m.gavin/asdacam2.html  = my website for cam conversion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htltT4VEDeY = birds @ feeder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaHFQXmzmwM = Asdacam moonwalk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaHFQXmzmwM = Asdacam moonwalk 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Vc_B96Xy0 = sun in Ha + CaK

Nytecam

post-21003-0-40441100-1443981514.jpg

post-21003-0-90403400-1443981571.jpg

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Many thanks - moonwalk 2 = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou0xBloe-Tk  + https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L9HMEVEbu4

                       

Malc - well spotted but most posters there have vanished - current SGL video folk will find of interest hopefully !

Nytecam

I'm sure a lot of them are still around.  I was simply stating that the use of a cheap ASDA camera for luna / planetary imaging isn't new.  Infact, given the constant development of CMOS sensors, a lot of the cheap cameras could be used, assuming you can adapt them to take a 1 1/4" adaptor.

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I'm sure a lot of them are still around.  I was simply stating that the use of a cheap ASDA camera for luna / planetary imaging isn't new.  Infact, given the constant development of CMOS sensors, a lot of the cheap cameras could be used, assuming you can adapt them to take a 1 1/4" adaptor.

Hopefully Makc most are 'still around' but absent from SGL - my guess is ~18 mths is a typical active period for most posters unless you know otherwise:-)

Nytecam

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...Meade 30cm f/3.7 LX200 astrograph in dome + ETX-70 e-finder/ PHD autoguider, PST Ha+CaK + Orange C8 , Cams: Starlight Xpress SXV-M9 + Lodestar-M + Lodestar-C , Canon 300D + Fuji E550 + Hitachi HD camcorder , Equip: SBIG SGS + DIY spectrographs + OG prisms...


And £1.50 ASDA WebCam :-)

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Just got the Hi resolution Asda webcam of eBay for £0:99p :smiley: . Bought a 32mm black pipe end from screwfix and it dont fit scope, I might have to rub it down a bit. Or any suggestions what else I could use to connect webcam to scope?

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Hi I must admit I was not around 2 years ago so this thread Is very well timed in my case esp as I am trying to find a cheap alternative I started a thread today. I have found an 8mp camera on Amazon at only £2.99 plus postage with has more pixelsthan most of the stuff in the £200 bracket. I hope it works as I I have no idea what kind of neck it has I will by the looks of it have to kill about 6 leds as well as taking the lens etc off.

If anyone is interested here is the link to the amazon page.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/eSecure-Microphone-Windows-Notebooks-Facebook/dp/B0041LK8NI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1445261105&sr=8-2&keywords=laptop+microphone+webcam

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  • 4 weeks later...

Note that most no-name webcams will offer limited settings options and limited quality. So if you want a webcam - pick a good proven model. MS Lifecam Cinema/Studio can do way better on the Moon than those shots ;)

To back this up, here are a couple of images taken with the same scope, same barlow but with an SPC900 web cam and a MS 720HD Lifecam.

mars%2026_03_2012%2022_53_11_g3_b3_ap3.pMars%2001_04_2012.png

Both images stacked  and then stretched in registax 5

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What barlow were you using miac-c?

I used the crummy stock Skywatcher 2x stacked with a 2x revelatoin astro to give an effetive focal ratio of F20.  I dare say the image would be a lot better quality with a good quality 4x barlow rather than two being stacked.

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Good luck with you attempts psychology as I believe the trust has a good chip in it so should give good results.

all the best in your hunt for decent images 130p should give a reasonable field of view.

Geoff

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