CCTV camera

[Hawkeye]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question as to if anyone has tried using a CCTV camera for imaging through a telescope before..

Most of them seem to have a 1/3 Sony or Sharp CCD camera installed (which must be better than a CMOS type chip)

The only problem I can see at present is getting the Output from the camera to the PC / Laptop...

Cheers

Paul

[SteveNickolls]

Hi, I have a Mintron cctv with a 1/2 sensor ( http://www.astrophoto.co.uk/mintron.htm) which I have used for wide sky video work and have been happy with the results. This year I will go and use it with my 'scopes. The camera came with the harware and software to view on a pc or tv. I have however come across an alladins cave of cameras (really the choice is massive)-

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/index.php?cat=c16_Astro-Imaging----Cameras----CCD.html&sort=&XTCsid=sq71598agbb5r0abki3pqvtfhuuugs66&filter_id=47

You might want to look around over price as one camera I particualrly liked was over £100 cheaper at FLO so do your homework.

The Mintron uses C-type lenses although you can get adapters to fit M!2 board type lenses.

Cheers,

Steve

[murphy]

Does it have manual control of gain,exposure, shutter?

I've seen some cctv cameras with Sony exview sensors for very reasonable prices but I have wondered how controllable they are and how you control them with only a composite connection to the computer?

[sgazer]

I used to use the Mintron 12V6 as a very sensitive guide camera until I sold that setup. Now I sometimes use the Samsung SDC-435 colour integrating camera (much cheaper than the Mintron) which works wonderfully with a 120mm c-mount lens and I even fitted a little 1.25" LP filter inside. I use a cheap video to USB convertor to view the live feed on my laptop. The kids love it as they can see stuff instantly. I just mount it on the SLT mount, click on CDC on the laptop what I want to see and in a few seconds it's appearing on the screen.

[Stargazing_Cliff]

Think lot use that samsung cctv camera for the very high exposure wish i had one them.

[Stu]

Have a look in the Video Astronomy section on the forum which is under Science. Plenty of discussion on these cameras in there

Stu

[nytecam]

_{A decade ago I successfully use a B&W B&Q CCTV cam on moon and planets. Today beginners use Samsung 'box' CCTV cam but there's another newcomer with sense-up too in LNtech-320-11673 @ ~£40 PP from China. Mallincam is tops for astro-video and priced to match}

[tingting44]

i have this one i got on special offer for £20!!! will this be worth a try?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/colour-mini-indoor-ccd-cctv-dome-camera-225102

[The Sailor]

I have a CV-M50 .5" CCD, will be using it attached to a 9x50 finderscope, photo in my link, needs 12v supply and has BNC connections. I used it the other day and it blanked out, I made a cover for the finderscope and found I had to keep lowering the size of the hole until it was almost a pinhole and then it worked well, it's sensitivity to light might bode well.

Jim

[Hawkeye]

I have a CV-M50 .5" CCD, will be using it attached to a 9x50 finderscope, photo in my link, needs 12v supply and has BNC connections. I used it the other day and it blanked out, I made a cover for the finderscope and found I had to keep lowering the size of the hole until it was almost a pinhole and then it worked well, it's sensitivity to light might bode well.

Jim

Jim, is that connected directly to the finderscope or do you have a lense on the front of the camera?

Looks very smart too

Cheers

Paul

[The Sailor]

Paul, thank you, it is connected with a C mount adapter, got that from Modern Astronomy, hope to use it next time out.

Jim

[Hawkeye]

Well I hope the clouds go away so you can show some pictures of how well it works