Mallincam All sky - Can you buy in the EU?

[swag72]

I am considering an All sky camera but don't feel able to make one. So the choices are the Oculus with a frankly MASSIVE price tag or a Mallincam All Sky camera 

Knowing that the Spanish customs are frankly terrible for taxes. I was wondering if there's any Mallincam dealers in the EU? I will not buy from the US.

[swag72]

Looks like that's a 'No ' then!!! Oh well

[Dave In Vermont]

I'd suggest sending an email to Rock Mallin himself. Perhaps he can tell you a way? Worth a shot:

mallincam@gmail.com

Good luck -

Dave

[swag72]

Done that already thanks Dave - Looks like they're a US company and that they are not usual in the UK

[riklaunim]

you can look for other all-sky cameras in EU, or make one out of a "planetary" camera and C/CS lens.

[swag72]

I don't feel confident to make my own, so that's out. The only other AllSky I can find is the Oculus from SX at a whopping £755 ....... Do you know of any more?

[pete_l]

Looks like that's a 'No ' then!!! Oh well

That was the conclusion I came to. I was considering one of their high-end cameras some years ago, but was met with disinterest when I tried to buy one.

I can't vouch for the camera, the quality or anything else, but Aliexpress   has these for < €50 [ 1.0MP Fisheye CCTV Dome AHD Camera 1/4'' CMOS Sensor Panorama 720P AHD Camera Security 180&360 Degree View,Outdoor Waterproof ]

Worst case: open it up, toss the CMOS and install a decent sensor.

Update: there are 2MPix versions and another one with a networked camera .... someone help me! I'm reaching for my wallet

[swag72]

Go on Pete - Try one !!!!

[beamer3.6m]

I bought the lx100 can off eBay for video astronomy and it worked well.

They also sell all sky cams and are UK based. I think the price is about £120.00.

http://www.astro-video-cameras.co.uk

You could also use the Phil dyer cameras.

[swag72]

This involves me to do something though? I do already have a camera I could use - An Atik GP - But I don't have any technical knowledge or ability to be able to make anything myself. I need an all in one out of the box system I'm afraid.

I basically would like an All Sky to monitor my sky conditions in almost real time..... nothing more!! 

[pete_l]

Go on Pete - Try one !!!!

Well it's seriously tempting, but for one small detail. These cameras aren't "sense up" (integrating) versions. So their sensitivity leaves something to be desired.

I use LN300 cameras which have Sony Exview chips and up to 20s on-board integration and they are seriously fantastic. If I was going to get one of the Aliexpress jobbies, I'd probably go for one of the €40 ones and buy it just for the "waterproof" dome.

[martin_h]

Any good?.......................... http://uk.telescope.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=110023&utm_source=google&utm_medium=comparisonshopping&utm_campaign=UK-googlemerchant&gclid=CKiO28H40ckCFcE_GwodRmUGeA

[swag72]

Thanks Martin - The reason I'm not sure on this is that I want  a complete system and this one looks like I'd need to build something myself!

[martin_h]

Or this?................ http://www.sxccd.com/oculus-all-sky-camera

https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/astronomy-astroimaging-cameras/starlight-xpress-ccd-cameras/starlight-xpress-oculus-all-sky-camera

[swag72]

Or this?................ http://www.sxccd.com/oculus-all-sky-camera

https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/astronomy-astroimaging-cameras/starlight-xpress-ccd-cameras/starlight-xpress-oculus-all-sky-camera

What do you think I am? Made of money? :d 

This is exactly why I am looking for something else, those prices are just too high in my opinion.

[martin_h]

[Dr_Ju_ju]

If all you want to do is a view of the sky, then maybe one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sricam-CCTV-WiFi-Wireless-Night-Vision-PT-Dome-Outdoor-IP-Security-Cam-Camera-UK-/361448175878?hash=item5427fd7906:g:018AAOSw7FRWaBWs

you can then just use a browser to look at the images....   and they aren't too expensive

[swag72]

If all you want to do is a view of the sky, then maybe one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sricam-CCTV-WiFi-Wireless-Night-Vision-PT-Dome-Outdoor-IP-Security-Cam-Camera-UK-/361448175878?hash=item5427fd7906:g:018AAOSw7FRWaBWs

you can then just use a browser to look at the images....   and they aren't too expensive

It's been suggested that a CCTV cam isn't sensitive enough for decent sky views....

I hope you have it sorted anyway ..... but thanks all for your suggestions

[Gedan]

Sara, at astrofest atic were working on one which looked good . There is also a UK supplier of another model which I will have a look for.

[Gedan]

Here you go http://www.siriusobservatoriesuk.com/All%20sky%20camera.html I just had problems trying to contact them and wound up going another route.

[pete_l]

Here you go http://www.siriusobservatoriesuk.com/All%20sky%20camera.html I just had problems trying to contact them and wound up going another route.

Looks like something else has (been) wound up. From the Moonglow website:

The All Sky Cam has been discontinued as of October 2015

[Live_Steam_Mad]

I too am interested in all sky cam's. I found a review of the Occulus which says that the software is the main (and huge) problem with it ;-

https://www.optcorp.com/starlight-xpress-oculus-all-sky-camera.html

The reviews of the Orion all sky cam (MK 1 and 2) are fascinating to read ;-

http://www.telescope.com/Orion-StarShoot-AllSky-Camera/p/100319.uts

http://www.telescope.com/Orion-StarShoot-AllSky-Camera-II/p/101918.uts

...the issues are ;-

1) that the (Lexan ? Acrylic?) dome yellows (or starts to) after 8 months in strong sun which eventually ruins the image, the dew forms at night in areas of heavy dew (like in NW England where I am) 

2) the dew spots cause water marks in the day time when they dry (MK1) or the dew heater is very inadequate for the task (MK2) (maybe use a heater strip around the circumference like on an SCT to solve this ?!)

3) MK1 had no remote control (MK2 does) for adjustment of the menu parameters without climbing ladders etc

...in addition there are problems with some other brands such as, some are black and white at night (the Mallincam one, which also has no remote control via PC either, and no dew heater), some can't cope with going from full Sun to then showing stars (i.e. can't do both) (at least the Mallincam one can, and can even show the Milky Way), and so on.

I like the live view of the Astro-Video All Sky Camera ;-

http://five-roads.co.uk/astro_video_cameras_all_sky_cam.html

http://www.astro-video-cameras.co.uk/products/all_sky_camera/all_sky.html

...apart from the "vertical" smeared looking stars which are annoying (maybe an NTSC unit, NTSC pixels structure leads to this issue).

Regards,

Alistair G. 

[Live_Steam_Mad]

On 10/12/2015 at 11:17, beamer3.6m said:

I bought the lx100 can off eBay for video astronomy and it worked well.

They also sell all sky cams and are UK based. I think the price is about £120.00.

http://www.astro-video-cameras.co.uk

You could also use the Phil dyer cameras.

Has anyone here got one of the Astro-Video All Sky Cameras ?

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[Gina]

I've built my own ASC - see here

[JamesF]

On 10/12/2015 at 07:06, swag72 said:

Done that already thanks Dave - Looks like they're a US company and that they are not usual in the UK

Ooooh, steady!  Some Canadians get most miffed if you call them Americans

James