Quick stupid question

[Alienfox]

I have a converted Logitech webcam attached to my 114 Skywatcher motorised scope, usually used for luna capture, but I was wondering is it worth me trying to capture some Deep sky objects like nebular, or am i just going to be wasting my time?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

It depends a bit on the mod. If the camera supports longer exposure times, you could give some of the brighter DSOs a shot (planetary nebulae with high surface brightness), provided expectations are kept down. I think a DSLR is a better option

[bomberbaz]

I captured the ring nebula with a moded webcam, wasnt brilliant but certainly pleasing enough to be worth the effort.

steve

[Macavity]

There are no stupid questions? But I think a good one might be:

What is the sensitivity of the particular Logitech Webcam? Many of

these devices are OK "Lunar and Planetary" (brighter planet) cams.

I vaguely recall *one* Logitech cam quoted a sensitivity of "0.1 lux"? 

That compared to a full "sense up" VIDEO camera at 0.0000025 lux.

For imaging DSOs in real time (stacking) the latter will be needed. 

Somewhere therein, lies the differing philosophy of VIDEO imagers

and "classical" imagers? But I recently bought a ZWO planetary cam.

If we had a less "grey cloud", I really want to compare sensitivities...

[iMO] maybe the only *true* way to judge is via practical experiment.

Can you SEE any (first magnitude?) stars with a scope / cam combo?

If one "learns something" never really a (complete) waste of time. 

(At last that is the theory)

[stash_old]

The only way to find out is just try it  on the brightest DSO that you can see from your location - 50/50 chance of working    and you have nothing to loose!

[shirva]

You have the camera so nothing to stop you trying. .my own opinion is brilliant on the moon but as macavity says depends on the sensitivity but that's only the half of it the webcam will have a high frame per second rate, to do dso you need it low then even go to longer intregration or sense up mode this would equate to a long exposure on a dslr..few cheap samsung scb2000 cctv cams on ebay that are a better option. .davy

[Alienfox]

Thanks to you all for your help.  Den