Camera Upgrade

[JamesF]

What do you mean? How would I practice when I haven't got it yet!

It's a hypothetical question. If you had the camera, would you have time to practice at home? It's going to take a while to get the hang of things, so not being reliant upon someone driving you somewhere would be helpful. Views of solar system objects aren't as affected by LP as DSOs, so if you have a reasonable view of the sky from home you should be able to get some practice in.

James

[JamesF]

So I can do webcam imaging of the moon?

My intention is to, one day, get onto imaging the planets. Since The moon doesn't need tracking then what about the Sun? I presume I can film the sun through my Mercury707 just as I would the moon through my dob?

You can image the moon and sun with a webcam, though I'm really not sure the Mercury is the right scope for it. You might do better with the dob. You almost certainly won't get the entire moon or sun in the frame at once though.

James

[Stargazer Jack]

Just to make sure, you will also need to buy some solar film for your 'scope to stop you damaging your eyes or telescope! Very important to remember this.

[Ganymede12]

Just to make sure, you will also need to buy some solar film for your 'scope to stop you damaging your eyes or telescope! Very important to remember this.

Already done this! Some of my digital camera solar pics are in my gallery.

Jupiter is getting higher so I'll be able to get practice in from home.

[Ganymede12]

I went on Sharpcap's website and in the gallery I found images of DSO's!

http://www.sharpcap.co.uk/sharpcap/gallery

Does this mean I could take DSO images?

[JamesF]

http://www.sharpcap....harpcap/gallery

Does this mean I could take DSO images?

Not without an equatorial mount, I don't think. And only if the camera you buy has the LX mod. But given the LX mod and an EQ mount then yes, it should be possible.

James

[Ganymede12]

So what's the LX mod?

I am intrigued!

Also, you said an EQ mount. Would an EQ platform not suffice?

[JamesF]

The LX mod is a modification to add some electronics that allows the camera exposure to be extended for (largely) arbitrary periods so that capture of data from DSOs is possible. There's an "amp off" mod that usually goes with it to reduce the amp glow in long exposures.

Not sure about the EQ platform. I've never considered using my dob for imaging so haven't really looked into that sort of thing.

James

[Ags]

How precisely can you polar align an EQ platform? I think this might be an issue.

[Ganymede12]

Turning back to the Classified for a moment, the add says that the webcam has no lens, just a nose piece adaptor.

Will it still work without a lens?

[JamesF]

You don't use it with a lens. The telescope is the lens.

James

[Gina]

It certainly will on a telescope. Just put it where you put an eyepiece. In fact the scope becomes the camera lens.

[Ganymede12]

Thanks, that's good to Know!

[Ganymede12]

I can't get the webcam to work. I turn on Sharpcap, plug it in but then it says that it needs to install driver software that we can't find.

The computer's operating system is Windows Vista.

Where can I get the driver software?

Edit: Problems sorted!

[Ganymede12]

I have another problem. SharpCap isn't showing any image. I plug it in and I can see a small white box where the image should be. There is a light on the webcam so I don't know why it hasn't got an image?

[JamesF]

Might be that the exposure or gain isn't high enough. Or the brightness, possibly.

James

[Ganymede12]

Just after I took my telescope upstairs (having not gotten out with it) my dad managed to sort it out... we think. Colours appeared on the screen when It moved about. I said "Maybe it's because it doesn't have a lens" To which my dad replied "It doesn't have a lens!?" (He wasn't happy that I didn't tell him but then, he didn't ask!)

Hopefully it will work once it's in the scope.

[JamesF]

No no, it's not that it doesn't have a lens. You just didn't have it connected up to the lens. You've had the lens all along

If you're desperate for one though I can post one to you. Or you can buy board camera lenses on that ebay for peanuts. Not that you're ever likely to use it...

James

[Ganymede12]

So the colours will turn into an image once It's looking through the telescope?

[astromerlin]

Hi Ant, Sounds like there's no problem with the cam, they all do the colour thing with no lens in.

When you get a chance to get out with the scope, fit webcam in focuser and align the scope on the moon, being a large bright object it'll be easier to first set up and get practice with the webcam settings. Set the gain and shutter in the webcam properties so the image on the screen is reasonably bright and then play with the scope focuser until you get a sharp image.