From: tjp314@pacbell.net

Date: March 29, 2017 8:47:17 PM MDT

To: <Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com>

Subject: "new" camera purchases

Reply-To: tjp314@pacbell.net

Hi all:

It's been quite a while since I've logged in here.  Been busy on Mars lately (Opportunity is still driving after more than 14 years on the ground, and Curiosity is over 4 1/2 years in!).  

Today I bid on and won the auction for 3 firewire cameras with cmount lenses.  Ad says "untested", but I got them for a decent enough price that even if only one works, with the lenses I don't think I did too badly, and I wouldn't be surprised if all three work fine.

They're all color cameras, which is my default preference since I prefer not to mess with filter wheels on planets.  Too much hurrying!  

1.  Pt Grey Grasshopper 50S5C

2.  Pt Grey Scorpion SCOR-20SOC  (I have the monochrome version already)

3.  Allied Vision Pike F421C

I've wanted to try one of the Pikes with the 1.2" ONSemi chip in it for some time now, but they were always a bit pricey even on ebay.  

I keep using my Golden Key to install Astro IIDC on my macs as I upgrade over the years.  Thankfully, it still appears to work fine on the latest OS.  Mostly I use it on my 2011 Macbook Pro (16gb RAM and 500GB SSD), and occasionally I'll still light up my 2004 G4 Macbook (since it has both Firewire 400 and 800 ports, though it's slow).  My 2011 Macbook has the oddest graphics card problem, that cropped up after the warranty for having the guts replaced by Apple ran out, natch.  Currently, it works fine so long as I don't turn it off.  If I do, it will crash within a few seconds of starting, and stay on progressively longer until after about the 30th restart, when it will stay on for weeks without issues!

-Tim.