Matty P
super member
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 120
Loc: Australia
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I am considering purchasing a Celestron Neximage. My main question is that are the images seen in the advertisements for this product realistic? I have a Celestron 8SE. I understand that the Neximage is a planetary imager and can only take photos of the planets and the moon. However is it possible to image DSO and other objects with it etc?
Also does the Neximage need any additional accessories?
Best regards
Matt
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"The Question is the answer"
Nexstar 8SE
EQ6 Pro
Celestron Eyepieces
Celestron 17amp Power Tank
DMK 21AU04.AS
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Tim in GA
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/06/06
Posts: 1446
Loc: Buford, GA
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I have owned the NexImage and it always produced noisier images than my Philips SPC900NC, even though they use the same CCD. I recommend the Philips, and the only accessory you need is the telescope adapter. For DSO work you can mod the Philips for long-exposure mode (not sure about the NexImage).
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There are some who call me...........Tim
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Canon 5DMKII, 30D
Canon 17-40L, 100 Macro, 70-200L f/2.8 IS II
Zeiss Makro Planar 50 f/2
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http://www.tkephotography.com/
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yg1968
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 1859
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A good barlow 3x or 4x is also recommended. The Neximage can be modified for DSOs. But you are better off buying a Meade DSI on special or a used Orion Starshoot I for DSOs.
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asimov_1
sage
Reged: 06/17/07
Posts: 343
Loc: Bundaberg Queensland Australia
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As Tim in GA said really. Even the 840K will leave the Neximage for dead.
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CS's
Asi
CGE1100XLT - DMK 21AU04.AS USB version
http://southcelestialpole.org.au/forum/index.php
http://asimovjohn5.googlepages.com/home
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jayscheuerle
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 4675
Loc: S. Philadelphia, PA
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The biggest accessory webcam imagers need is excellent seeing.
I sold mine because that accessory wasn't available to me. 
- j
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Fight indignorance!
120ED, 12" f/5 Green Goblin, 6" f/5 Eero2, 4.5" f/8 PortaBowl, 8" f/5 Big Red Ed.
The PortaBowl-a $100 4.5" f/8 ball-scope YOU can build!
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Matty P
super member
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 120
Loc: Australia
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Thanks for the advice.
How much will the Philips SPC900NC cost with all the accessories? 
Best regards
Matt
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"The Question is the answer"
Nexstar 8SE
EQ6 Pro
Celestron Eyepieces
Celestron 17amp Power Tank
DMK 21AU04.AS
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Zoomster
Vendor - Clear Sky Adventures
Reged: 01/30/05
Posts: 1038
Loc: Tampa FL
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I bought mine for 70 US and the adapter for 30 US.
By the way, my icon photo to the left was done with the nexImage...
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Celestron CPC 1100 aka "The Marino"
Moonlite Dual Rate Focuser
WO Dielecric Diagonal
Denkmeier "Big Easy" Binos and assorted eyepieces.
Coranado PST
SPC900NC...not modded...yet. (eh-eh)
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
Epicurus
Edited by Zoomster (11/09/07 04:52 PM)
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JPDeTombe
super member
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 147
Loc: Davenport, IA
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I took the picture in this post last night with my NexImage.
Mars 11-09-07
The only extra I would recommend for a NexImage, as well as any modified webcam imager would be an IR filter.
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John
8" Orion f/5
6" C-150 f/6.7
CG-4 w/dual axis drive
Celestron NexImage
15X70 Zhumell Bino's
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Matty P
super member
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 120
Loc: Australia
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Hi JP,
Awesome pic of Mars! Can you please post some more pics you have taken with your Neximage.
Just wondering what telescope you were using?
I'm still trying to convince my self on which Webcam I should get.
Clear skies
Matt
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"The Question is the answer"
Nexstar 8SE
EQ6 Pro
Celestron Eyepieces
Celestron 17amp Power Tank
DMK 21AU04.AS
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JPDeTombe
super member
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 147
Loc: Davenport, IA
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Matt,
I've only got 3 examples that I've put up online to show. I'm kinda new to imaging myself as I've only been at it since earlier this summer.
Here are my 3 best attempts that I've posted here. The First shot of Jupiter was taken with my Celestron 6" OTA.
Jupiter
The two of Mars were taken with my 8" Orion OTA.
Mars 1
Mars 2
I'm not sure where I heard it, but I think the effective FL of the NexImage is 9mm, so you can figure out what magnification that would be in your scope, and any combination of barlow's you may use. I've generally done my imaging using a minimum of a 3x barlow, and my Mars shots are 2x and 3x combined for 6x.
I use Registax4 for combining all the images and do very little post processing otherwise. Eventually I'll get into that, but for now I'm still working on building solid capture skills.
I've used both my NexImage, as well as modified webcams. I first started out with a cheap $20 webcam that I drilled out the lens over the chip, and then attached a film canister with hotglue to make an eyepiece barrel. The results were good enough that I wanted to go with one that was designed specifically for the application of imaging. I was never sure that my frankenstein work had the chip placed flat to the focal plane. The NexImage is also threaded for filters, and I plan on getting the IR filter one of these days.
John
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John
8" Orion f/5
6" C-150 f/6.7
CG-4 w/dual axis drive
Celestron NexImage
15X70 Zhumell Bino's
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Matty P
super member
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 120
Loc: Australia
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Thanks for the posts,
I'm convinced now I want to purchase the Celestron Neximage. The only thing that is stopping me is the price. Over here in Australia the price is quite steep for a modded up webcam. I've have searched several websites and found some great information on the Neximage and different imagers. Overall the Neximage comes out on top.
Just a question, How does the Neximage work?
Clear skies
Matt
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"The Question is the answer"
Nexstar 8SE
EQ6 Pro
Celestron Eyepieces
Celestron 17amp Power Tank
DMK 21AU04.AS
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JPDeTombe
super member
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 147
Loc: Davenport, IA
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It comes with software called AmCap, easily installed on my windows XP laptop. After that its just plug and play USB. AmCap detects it when plugged in, as well as any other webcams you might use. Center your target using an EP, replace the EP with the Neximage. Then through AmCap, the Neximage takes avi video files. Use the settings to set your framerate and time limit on exposures. I generally do 30 seconds at 15fps to give me 450 images to stack, depending on the target.
The settings I use are anywhere from 15 frames per second, to 5 frames per second. Most of the time I do my focusing at 15fps and switch to 5fps if neccessary (higher image saturation at 5fps than 15).
I generally run about 50% on brightness, 0% on gamma, and 50% on color saturation. Gain is then used to get a good image, to much and the image is washed out, to little and there isn't enough info to capture.
Trial and error has shown me that less is more, especially when taking avi files. When you stack 300 really bright images they tend to be overexposed after being combined.
Other capture programs are available beyond AmCap, CN'rs can fill you in on those. For stacking the images there are several options as well. Registax4 is what I use.
I love my Neximage, but I can't say that it performs any better than a modded webcam would. If the cost is to much, I'd definately go with a much less expensive option first like I did. $20 for a simple webcam can do pretty much everything the Neximage can, and it gets you gong without a large expense. I used my modded one a few times in order to get familiar with how it all works, and I then bought the NexImage when I knew I was interested further and wanted the ability to attach filters (which I couldn't with my modded webcam).
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John
8" Orion f/5
6" C-150 f/6.7
CG-4 w/dual axis drive
Celestron NexImage
15X70 Zhumell Bino's
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JPDeTombe
super member
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 147
Loc: Davenport, IA
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For another example, I just went out and got this about 2 hours ago.
I've done Saturn only 3 times, none of them have been when its really well placed in the sky. But this was the best one so far:
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John
8" Orion f/5
6" C-150 f/6.7
CG-4 w/dual axis drive
Celestron NexImage
15X70 Zhumell Bino's
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Matty P
super member
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 120
Loc: Australia
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Thanks JP,
Nice pic of Saturn, what telescope were you using?
I think the Neximage is well worth the money and will take this hobby to the next level. I just have to find which store has the best price.
So all you really have to is download the software to your laptop and set up the imager and your ready to go.
Have you tried to image the moon?
Best regards
Matt
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"The Question is the answer"
Nexstar 8SE
EQ6 Pro
Celestron Eyepieces
Celestron 17amp Power Tank
DMK 21AU04.AS
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JPDeTombe
super member
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 147
Loc: Davenport, IA
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I use my 8" Orion exclusively now for imaging. AmCap comes with the NexImage on a CD, but I'm sure you can download it as well.
I have tried to image the moon, but with an effective FL of 9mm I can only get small portions at a time (9mm is about 110x in my scope). I will have to pick up a focal reducer in order to get more than just pieces of the moon. I've tried to make composites, but its aloooooot of work trying to paste them all together and getting a constant brightness through all pics.
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John
8" Orion f/5
6" C-150 f/6.7
CG-4 w/dual axis drive
Celestron NexImage
15X70 Zhumell Bino's
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Matty P
super member
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 120
Loc: Australia
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Thanks for everying I really appreciate it. I think when I purchase my Neximage i'm going to get the focal reducer for it.
I can wait. 
Clear skies
Matt
--------------------
"The Question is the answer"
Nexstar 8SE
EQ6 Pro
Celestron Eyepieces
Celestron 17amp Power Tank
DMK 21AU04.AS
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JPDeTombe
super member
Reged: 06/27/07
Posts: 147
Loc: Davenport, IA
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Make sure ya post pics when ya do!
Looking forward to it.
John
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John
8" Orion f/5
6" C-150 f/6.7
CG-4 w/dual axis drive
Celestron NexImage
15X70 Zhumell Bino's
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Matty P
super member
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 120
Loc: Australia
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Hi John,
I have a some questions.
For starters, I probably have asked this question before...
Can you take pictures of stars or star clusters?
When taking images of objects can stop the Neximage to change the filter and then continue your exposure?
When using the Focal Reducer does that interupt the magnification or quality of the picture?
Don't worry if you can't answer these questions every little bit of info helps.
Best Regards
Matt
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"The Question is the answer"
Nexstar 8SE
EQ6 Pro
Celestron Eyepieces
Celestron 17amp Power Tank
DMK 21AU04.AS
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Matty P
super member
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 120
Loc: Australia
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I almost forgot.
I have done some more research about the Neximage. I found a forum somewhere saying that there is another similar webcam, the Meade LPI. There was a review done comparing the Neximage and the Meade LPI. Overall they both have there strengths and weaknesses. However the Meade LPI can take long exposure images. The Neximage has better quality overall and still comes out on top.
Clear skies
Matt
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"The Question is the answer"
Nexstar 8SE
EQ6 Pro
Celestron Eyepieces
Celestron 17amp Power Tank
DMK 21AU04.AS
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asimov_1
sage
Reged: 06/17/07
Posts: 343
Loc: Bundaberg Queensland Australia
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I've used the LPI - neximage - 840K & the 900nc.
As far as taking planet images are concerned, thats the order they run in too IMO.
I'd be going the 900nc if I we're you 
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CS's
Asi
CGE1100XLT - DMK 21AU04.AS USB version
http://southcelestialpole.org.au/forum/index.php
http://asimovjohn5.googlepages.com/home
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