Advice on getting a cam please

[coxie]

I want to start imaging some time soon, can any of you suggest some suitable cams that are cheap as this will be my 1st time doing this I dont want to spend too much at the moment as its just to see what I can do before i fork out for a decent camera. Thanks

[riklaunim]

Look for DMK21 - this is lunary/planetary CCD monochrome camera (DFK21, DBK21 are color, but mono has more advantages). If you have motorized GoTo Alt/Az mount then you can easily image planets or moon with it, and also some of small deep space objects (globular clusters, very bright emission nebulaes) with low focal ratio (it won't be as pretty as from super DS cams, but still very nice).

Stack of ~300 frames, 2 second exposures .

or nice planets:

[coxie]

cant find a dmk21 anywhere

[riklaunim]

Made by Imaging Source, on FLO: Imaging Source Cameras - DMK 21AU04.AS Mono

[coxie]

not looking to spend that much on a cam just yet , must be some cheaper option webcams or something

[riklaunim]

not looking to spend that much on a cam just yet , must be some cheaper option webcams or something

Check the "for sale" forum - in the next 1-2 months there may be some IS cameras, as Atik Titan will be hitting the market, and if it gets good reviews - may kick few IS to the second market (+ possibly Point Grey Flea 3).

Webcams are much cheaper, but it may be very hard to get good result with them.

[BlueAstra]

You could try one of these:

NexImage Solar System Imager | Telescope Accessories | Rother Valley Optics

I have one and is OK for planets and moon. Alternatively you could do what I did at the start, get a cheap webcam, take the lens out, stick an old film tube on it as an eyepiece holder and off you go!

[riklaunim]

NexImage is just a webcam with a nosepiece and Celestron logo

[BlueAstra]

Well, it worked a lot better than my first £10 webcam.

[coxie]

i have looked at a neximage, spc900nc and toucam pro II, are the others similar to these i should look out for especially on the for sale section?