Orion StarShoot Solar System Colour Imager IV

[Baz6170]

Hi all

Anyone used an Orion StarShoot Solar System Colour Imager IV? I'd like to try some basic lunar and planetary webcam work (the usual stuff, lunar 'fly-bys', stacking frames to get more detailed single images etc) and wondered if the Orion would be comparable to the Philips SPC900NC, which no-one seems to have stock of any longer.

If you haven't used the Orion but have recommendations for other alternative webcams, I'd be interested to hear them!

Cheers

Baz

[ccdscopeman]

Hi Baz,

I asked the same question, no one has responded yet so I went ahead and bought one out of curiosity as it was quite cheap. It arrived yesterday, I plan to use it just to image through my ST80, but the weather has been awful. So I have been trying it out indoors today through the little refractor and I was pleasantly surprise. Good colour in day light, nice sharp images on the laptop.

You get a disc with the camera control software, as I remember it is better than that which came with the Philips webcam when I had one. Coupled with Registax and it is a nice little package, ideal for lunar imaging and jupiter, possibly Saturn too. It's just nice to be able to put it on the scope and not really have to worry about hundreds of parameters as with a ccd camera, just the focusing and away you go.

Andy

[ccdscopeman]

Baz, just to let you know that a Philips Toucam Pro II (SPC900NC) with scope adapter has just come up on UK Astronomy Buy and Sell for £68.

Andy

[Baz6170]

Hi Andy

Thanks for your posts, and sorry I've taken a while to respond. It's good to have your thoughts on the Orion - you'll have to post some pics once the weather's cleared and you've had a chance to grab some images!

I managed to get myself a SPC900NC in the end (below the 'going price' I'm happy to say!) and after a double-disaster with Scopes n Skies re a UV/IR filter I've just ordered a Baader filter from FLO to finish the setup, so with any luck that'll arrive in the next few days and then it's just a case of getting a break in the weather to grab some first images! I've been spending these bad weather days setting up my laptop with the CCD software, Registax etc, and doing a bit of processing practice on other people's footage : )

Cheers

Baz

[ccdscopeman]

Hi Baz,

Still no break in the weather I'm afraid. Yes Registax is an excellent piece of software, have you tried processing using the wavelets yet?

Andy

[Baz6170]

Hi Andy

Yeah this weather sucks doesn't it! Re Registax, yes I've watched a couple of good 'how-to's' that outline the basic steps of alignment and processing including the wavelets, and have practiced with other people's AVIs, so I'm quite confident that once I can get some source material of my own, I can turn out a half-decent result.

Now we just need to find the rain-dancers and ask them to do something else instead ; )

Baz