From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>
Date: April 20, 2005 7:21:01 PM MDT
To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] New to Group, shopping for a Firewire camera
Hi Tim and Ernest;
Here's my diatribe on cameras, pricing and other tidbits.
iRez, Orange Micro and ADS Pyro pretty much folded up shop as soon as Apple's iSight was released (you can't compete against Apple on the Mac - you'll get your gonads removed financially). The iSight won't work without you destroying it (it has auto focus so your need to wreck that to expose the CCD) and it won't work with Astro IIDC because it doesn't support bayer formats or any of the firmware modifications I make to provide 1 second exposures.
The only inexpensive Firewire cameras in production (last time I talked to them anyhow) are Unibrain's Fire I Color or Monochrome board level cameras at:
http://www.unibrain.com/1394_products/fire-i_board_cam/fire-i_board_camera.htm
and for pricing check out
http://www.1394store.com/eshop/dept.asp?dept%5Fid=5
They reportedly can't get any more of the plastic cases, so your pretty much out of luck on that end. However it isn't that taxing to buy a cheap plastic electronic project box or even a soup can (the cameras are 2.2" x 2.2" x 1" high) and stick it in their so the electronics doesn't get touched by fingers or rain or snow.
You have two main options to attach the camera to your scope.
Firstly if your cheap, good with epoxy, have a a sharp knife and have access to a Home Hardware etc. place with plastic plumbing parts, you can make your own 1.25" inch adapter for the cameras to fit on an the scope. Also empty 35 mm plastic film canisters fit precisely into a 1.25" eyepiece too. Personally, I prefer attaching the a Pentax M-42 Screw mount lens cap to the camera's mount so I can use cheap a wide variety of things (50,100,200 mm SLR screw mount lenses, M42- 1.25" adapter etc.) to it.
Secondly, the lens mount on the Unibrain cameras uses a standard M12-0.5mm thread and a $20 screw in 1.25" adapter ( UWAS-F or UWAL-F ) can be bought from WebCaddy at:
http://webcaddy.com.au/astro/ProductList.asp?cat=adapter
If your were using a USB web camera previously, then you may already have the above adapter.
I'll get a detailed list on other camera options when I get time to write up the spec sheet for the Version 2.0 of Astro IIDC in a week or so, but basically any FireWire camera that support monochrome or bayer color (8 or 16 bit per pixel), supports format 0,1 or 2 of the IIDC specifcation (frame rates up to 60 fps and size of video from 640x480 to 1600x1200 pixels) and supports the absolute exposure register (allowing exposure times to 20+ minutes) will work. This includes Sony, Basler, Optonics, Marlin, Point Grey Research, PixeLink, The Imaging Source, Allied Technology etc. etc.. Most of these cameras start at about $330 USD and go up from their into the $$$$ range.
A full list of existing FireWire cameras with pricing is available here:
http://www.tele.ucl.ac.be/PEOPLE/DOUXCHAMPS/ieee1394/cameras/
HTH..
PS:
I would really like a "Phantom V9 from Visible Solutions" to image the moon at 1600x1200 pixels at 1000 frames per second, but $84,000USD is a bit "much" - even for Lunar/ planetary imaging.
Milton J. Aupperle
President
ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting
Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist
#1005 - 815 14th Avenue. S.W.
Calgary Alberta Canada T2R0N5
1-(403)-229-9456
milton@outcastsoft.com
www.outcastsoft.com
On 20-Apr-05, at 5:34 PM, Ernest Wright wrote:
I too am ready to buy a FW camera compatible with Milton's program. The wonderful images posted here and elsewhere, Neale's book and other discussions have convinced me that a FW camera and Astro_IIDC is the way to go. I've been searching for a retail source in the States for either the Orange Micro iBot or the FireI webcams but they are just not available. If we have a discussion about which one to buy how about mentioning where to buy as well?
BTW Alan (if you are reading) your picture of Saturn recently posted is stunning! There is no dearth of inspiration available here to would-be astrophotographers. Thank you for sharing it. And yours as well Milton.
I have recently obtained the Mac driver for my Meade LPI and have had some moderate success imaging with it. I discovered that it works fine from within EquinoX. I feel as though I'm still pretty low on the learning curve but having fun at it.
Clear skies,
Ernest
On Apr 20, 2005, at 6:08 PM, Tim wrote:
Okay, Neale's article on Cloudynights got me here (roundabout manner).
I'd be interested in hearing opinions on the various Astro IIDC-compatible webcams
available.
Which are most sensitive to low light?
Which have the best color rendition (or does it matter, considering Astro IIDC processes
the color differently)?
Which cameras are the most readily adaptable for use with a telescope?
What are typical prices for the different cameras?
planetarily,
-Tim.