From: "Steve Childers" <schilders@triad.rr.com>

Date: April 6, 2006 10:23:25 AM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Fire-i vs. DBK 21AF04

Hi, everyone:

I'm a new member looking for some information about webcam choices.  First, some 

background.  I've been imaging DSO's from my back deck with a Digital Rebel on my mac for 

over a year (thanks to iAstrophoto).  I'm very happy with this setup, but I'd like to do 

planetary and lunar imaging with a webcam for those bright moonlit nights.  Also, in the 

summer, we have a lot of nights with good seeing but lousy transparency because of high 

humidity.

In reading over the many choices for firewire cameras, it looks like the Unibrain Fire-i may be 

a reasonable low-end choice, while the DBK 21AF04 may be a better upgrade.  Can someone 

reiterate the advantages of each?  Since I'm strictly interested in lunar/planetary imaging, I 

really don't have a need for long exposures, but I would guess that low noise would be a 

good priority.  I also notice that there does not seem to be a commercial scope adapter for 

the Fire-i; is there a workable adapter for the DBK 21AF04?  

Many thanks.  I'm delighted to see another group of mac astronomers out there.

Steve