NexImage/Meade LPI/QHY5V

[Lemmy]

I was all set to buy the Celestron Neximage camera but then I read the S @ N review which placed the Meade LPI above it. Now I'm not so sure.

The NexImage also has a reducer lens available which would be useful but the LPI is cheaper.

First I want to use it on my ETX125PE but I am also considering buying an Orion Optics Europa 200 f6 or maybe a Europa 250 f4.8 so that I can go deep sky better than the ETX.

The review also mentioned the QHY5V but the lack of dedicated software is a concern. As for the DFK21AU04.AS I really don't want to spend that much money so that is out of the equation.

Question: Bearing in mind the S @ N review, what are the experiences and recommendations of those of you who have used 3 cameras concerned?

[riklaunim]

NexImage uses ICX098BQ ccd sensor, which you will find also in:

* DFK 21 AU04.AS Imaging Source

* DBK 21 AU04.AS Imaging Source

* Philips ToUcam Pro (PCVC-740K): webcam

* Philips ToUcam Pro 3D (PCVC-750K): webcam

* Philips ToUcam Pro II (PCVC-840K): webcam

* Philips SPC900NC: webcam

* Unibrain Fire-i Digital Camera: webcam

* I-Tec iCam Tracer: webcam

Old webcams are cheaper, I-Tec iCam are sold by few astro shops, and there are tutorials, and 1,25" extensions for Philips webcams. And you can record AVI with software like lucam recorder, krccd etc.

This CCD is for lunary and planetary astrophotography. For deep space you need bigger and better CCD - either big color or big/medium monochrome sensor, and 16 bit conversion (those webcams above have 8 bit). And they aren't cheap

QHY5 and LPI have CMOS sensor, which isn't good for darker objects. It could be good or better than CCD on moon (you get high resolution big CMOS for the same price as small 1/4 CCD from webcams), but it will lack sensitivity on darker objects (even planets).

[brianb]

I've had a SPC900NC and a Neximage - in performance they're very similar but the capture software that comes with the Neximage is way better than the Philips product, which is aimed at general use not astro work. You also have to obtain a nosepiece for the SPC & remove the "general purpose" lens, whereas the Neximage is ready to use from the box.

The SPC900NC has been replaced by consumer products that are much less suited to astronomy, so the question may be moot anyway.

The LPI is definitely not as good ....

... As for the reducer, what do you want it for? For lunar / planetary work you'll usually want to be working at around f/20, maybe more if the seeing is good ... the only use for a reducer is to fit the whole Moon onto the chip, when working with a very small scope. About the only thing that's good about the Neximage reducer is its price - it doesn't fit anything else, but you can get 0.5x reducers which fit 1.25" EP filter threads & so can be used with just about any camera.

I'm now working with DMK (mono) camera, this is a definite step up in performance, even though it comes with a significantly larger price tag & needs a colour seperation filter set & wheel plus extra processing time to make colour images. Eventually you have to bite the bullet & move on to something more complex, and small increments in performance cost more money as you work your way up, but the SPC900NC or Neximage are a good starting point. The Meade LPI (which I admit I haven't personally used) may be fun to mess with but you rarely if ever see good images made with it.

For long exposure you really need a specialist camera. Long exposure mod & dark frame calibration is possible but even with the Imaging Source cameras (which have the long exposure mod built in) you tend to struggle a bit.

[Jupiter Martin]

I was thinking about this too as riklaunim said all the cams in the S@N review are mainly for planetry imaging. If Deep sky is your passion I think you will need to go for CCD and more bucks. Thats what I am going to do

[SteveL]

I believe the LPI is also only USB 1.1, so the frame rate for planetary is very slow compared to the USB 2.0 webcams.

[Jupiter Martin]

Thats right Steve it is 1.1 USB

[inapottingshed]

Don't forget the V-Gear TalkCam Tracer (Sony ICX098, and USB 2.0), some of the QuickCam 4000's have the ICX098 also (others use Sharp CCD's), and the iBot Firewire Webcam (scarce) also uses the ICX098.

I have an iBot, and a DFK 21... but Firewire is not available now on Netbooks, and many Notebooks - so I only use them when in reach of my 'desktop' and not out in the field.

[BlueAstra]

I have a Neximage, and find it very useful for planet and moon video capture with wxAstrocapture, and subsequent processing with Registax. There is also a software mod for RAW colour video download.

You can do a hardware mod for single shot long exposure, but it is quite involved. I would recommend a DSLR for initial long exposure work to learn the basics if you want to go that way. If its not for you then at least you have a nice camera for other use! I have a Canon 1000D which isn't too expensive, easy to get scope adapters and has great software support right out of the box.

[MartinB]

The S@N review was looking specifically at colour cams. I have had lots of fun with a Toucam and it performs amazingly well. You can get images to feel very pleased with on nights of good seeing. The Neximage is basically a Toucam. The software package with the QHY5v is a concern but shouldn't make you dismiss it since in all other respects it probably fits the bill perfectly. Try pming jsg001 who has a QHY5v up and running http://stargazerslounge.com/equipment-reviews/91621-qhy5v-first-light.html.

It has been mentioned that the chips on these cameras are too small for deep sky imaging. As someone who cut his deep sky imaging teeth with a modded web cam I don't really agree. I had lots of fun imaging with an Atik 2HS which has this same diddy chip. With a QHY5v you could start off with lunar and planetary and then have a go getting started with DSOs. They work best at short focal lengths so it is true that you would be restricted with the scopes you are talking about but you could get great shots of M1 M27 Horsehead, M51, globular clusters etc etc.

Here's a link to the Atik 2HS section of my web site. I learnt a great deal taking these pics - framing, focusing, gear set up, exposure times and processing. If you go to the solar system section you can have a look at some results with a Toucam

Atik 2HS images

A mono chip would serve you much better for DSOs but colour has a nice simplicity when it comes to planetary

[Lemmy]

Thanks all for the inputs. I have tried lunar imaging with my Canon 400D at prime focus but:

1. Its an awful lot of weight hanging out the back of the ETX and I understand that the ETX mechanics are fairly fragile and don't really like the extra weight/leverage

2. I understand that the ETX drive isn't best suited for long exposure

I think that I may investigate the QHY5V a little further