ScopiumCam ?

[Rob Severn]

Has anyone tried these ? I'm considering one as a budget planetary imager.

[riklaunim]

Which "ScopiumCam" you have in mind? There is Celestron NexImage that is sometimes called like that, and different, USB 2.0 webcam-like camera under that name.

[Rob Severn]

This is the one..

ScopiumCam CCD Planetary Imager [Lac-ScopiumCam] - £98.00 : 365Astronomy: Discovery for every day!

[riklaunim]

That may be the better version, although £98 is for me to much for such a camera. MS LifeCam HD webcams (USB 2.0) are much cheaper

[RogerTheDodger]

Or even the SPC800/900 from Morgans.

[Rob Severn]

I shall check those out, thank you gentlemen.

[Space Cowboy]

This scopium cam looks interesting. If its got the same chip as the spc900 but with USB 2.0 then £98 does not sound too shabby considering the price of a DBK?

Ok a dbk may be better but if this is superior to a spc900 and those 2 images on the advert look excellent certainly better than anything I've seen taken with a lifecam.

I'm very tempted!

[riklaunim]

Well, Lifecams have more sensitive sensor than old ICX098. In the close "future" I'm planning to test the lifecam on Jupiter and Moon to check/showcase max performance of this webcam. Sensitivity then affects exposure time and gain settings and that is they main factor for planetary imaging. Faster camera still working on longer exposures won't make an image better.

[Space Cowboy]

That will be very interesting to see Rik! I've trawled the net for lifecam images and have yet to see any to match the spc900. As you say in theory the lifecam is better but can it be proven?

[RogerTheDodger]

Gary Honis has some lifecam pics here Modified Microsoft Lifecam Cinema HD Webcam - First Light - Jupiter - by Gary Honis

[Space Cowboy]

Thanks Roger I have seen those but for a 20 inch scope they are not that great.

[RogerTheDodger]

Aye, they wern't brilliant