From: "Milton Aupperle" <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: September 11, 2005 12:30:17 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Astro IIDC Site updated..


Hi Folks;


I just updated the Astro IIDC page


http://www.outcastsoft.com/ASCASTROIIDC.html


with new inf and a revisted camera listing. The new listing indicates

what "published" video sizes the cameras support and added some new

larger format "The Imaging Source" cameras too. I have also removed

all of ProSilica's cameras for several non compliance issues with the

IIDC specification. Also, some how the old 2.01.00 version site was

being loaded up (I'm not sure how that happened) and I've restored it

to the 2.02.00 site from backups.


On a side note, for any of you who have ordered Point Grey Research

color cameras, you may want to consider this before you take delivery.


The IR filter on the Flea and Scorpion cameras are "fixed" in place

(glued) and can not be easily removed at all without completely

disassembling the camera and boards. For terrestrial, lunar/solar/ +/-

planetary imaging, a IR filter is a "good thing", but for DSO's  it

will remove light.  From past experience, I know that most IR filters

exclude a considerable amount (10 to 30%) of incoming  light,

depending on their quality and cut off characteristics. With an

external filter, you can  decide when you want to use or not use IR

filters, but if it's fixed in place then you have no choice at all.


So I had a conversation with some of the tech support people at Point

Grey Research on Friday about this issue and was told that people can

ask for the filter to be removed on their undelivered cameras. This

will be offered in the future as an option when you order the camera.


For people that have already gotten their cameras (i.e. me), they

suggested that it would be best to return the camera to Point Grey

Research with an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number and

they would remove the Filter for you. I'm not sure what this will

cost, but it's the route I'm leaning towards as the Flea is not the

sort of camera I want to disassemble.


Hope that helps...


Milton Aupperle