Bowmoreman
Clear enough skies
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 9062
Loc: Bolton, MA
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There have been multiple threads on the wonders of, and pictures from, the Mallincam Color Hyper Plus Camera.
I *love* mine (as you can tell from my comments on those threads).
I thought it would be useful to have a thread that simply lists your "known good cause it works for YOU" configuration for use of your Mallicam Color Hyper Plus. Also note any "doesn't work" configurations. Hopefully we can build a knowledge base that will speed others enjoyment!
I propose 4 categories: Mount/Scope, Diagonal(s), Focal Reducer(s) and Extenders, and finally Monitor(s).
I'll start:
1) Scope and Mount: Vixen ED100Sf (100mm f9) on Vixen Sphinx
2) Diagonals: Works with Vixen Flip Mirror in straight through mode. Does not come to focus (lacks about 3/8" backfocus) with Van Slyke Slider 1/2. - still researching/fiddling
3) Focal Reducers and Extenders: Works with, and without MFR3 with any combination of 5mm and 10mm Extenders from Mallincam
4) Monitor(s): Works well with Proton M905 NTSC Monitor (dating from 1983!) using composite Video. Works OK with Toshiba portable 9" DVD player (lacks contrast/brightness adjustments).
Other general comments:
I plan to test it out on my Orion XT10i and on a RoundTablePlatform (EQ) as soon as we get some clear skies.
clear skies
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Dave
MI250 SBS mounted: C11Hyperstar,FSQ106ED,TOA130NFB;Lunt60THaB1200FT/DS50
Visual:DM6, XT10i w/ZambutoMirror,RTP
EP: 31T5, Ethos (21,17,13&8),10XW,5XW,3.5XW; Paracorr T1
MallincamColorHyper+,QSI583WS,QHY8
SBIG STV eFinder
Denk II: (2x24Pan,2x10XW)
Gerbings Heated clothes, Wilder Skies Observatory (BYO#90), Speco9"Monitor
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jayscheuerle
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 4675
Loc: S. Philadelphia, PA
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Dave,
I've suggested to the mods that an additional forum be added under "Astrophotography and Sketching" that would be called "Video Astronomy" since a lot of momentum seems to be building around these devices.
Also, the Yahoo Mallincam group is a great resource for this kind of information. - 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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Bowmoreman
Clear enough skies
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 9062
Loc: Bolton, MA
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I like the idea of a separate forum for this... (instead of "equipment"). This will only be more necessary over time as more and more of us join in the Mallincam and StellaCam "frontier"...
I'm also a member of the Yahoo MC group; but I thought that many here would also benefit. And that the larger CN community might make for a larger pool, etc... We sorta have this information in the files/databases section over on MC Yahoo group, though not in this format...
Clear skies
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Dave
MI250 SBS mounted: C11Hyperstar,FSQ106ED,TOA130NFB;Lunt60THaB1200FT/DS50
Visual:DM6, XT10i w/ZambutoMirror,RTP
EP: 31T5, Ethos (21,17,13&8),10XW,5XW,3.5XW; Paracorr T1
MallincamColorHyper+,QSI583WS,QHY8
SBIG STV eFinder
Denk II: (2x24Pan,2x10XW)
Gerbings Heated clothes, Wilder Skies Observatory (BYO#90), Speco9"Monitor
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smokin oakum
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/24/07
Posts: 1529
Loc: Wilmington, NC
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Quote:
I like the idea of a separate forum for this... (instead of "equipment"). This will only be more necessary over time as more and more of us join in the Mallincam and StellaCam "frontier"...
I'm also a member of the Yahoo MC group; but I thought that many here would also benefit. And that the larger CN community might make for a larger pool, etc... We sorta have this information in the files/databases section over on MC Yahoo group, though not in this format...
Clear skies
I second this idea. That way people will be able to NOT have a debate on wether this type of viewing is astonomy ir not. If your not into this type of viewing the you wouldn't be on that forum, right!
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Broadcasting live views of the night sky @
Sparkcast
C11 CGE / Hyperstar
MallinCam Hyper Plus Color
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
MoonLite Focuser
Round Table Platform
12" Parralax rings
Cape Fear Astronomy Club
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rolandlinda3
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/06
Posts: 3140
Loc: Crozet VA 22932
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I have suggested a separate forum at least twice and had some correspondence with Tom Trusock about the need for one. I could not get the moderators to do it...they still considered the astro video area a very small area. While the numbers of sold items would suggest otherwise, I could not convince the powers to be to either adjust the imaging groups to include astrovideo specifically or start a separate forum. However, that said, the numbers of users continue to increase and perhaps the climate to find a home on CN has also increased. If someone feels strongly about this, you might send a PM to a moderator or two. They pretty much know how I feel about it, but it never hurts to try again. These latest threads have gotten a lot more readership and response than my threads from a year ago. Go for it.
Another thing to do is write articles that present your setups, results, etc. Comparisons using different scopes but same camera, different cameras are all possibilities. A decently written article is always of service to CN -- and can bring attention to these outstanding tools.
Roland Beard
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Roland
Blog: www.rolandlinda3.wordpress.com
Older sketches in Members Galleries (rolandlinda3)
For other sketches/inspirational stories: contact me via PM for information
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jayscheuerle
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 4675
Loc: S. Philadelphia, PA
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I've found the Yahoo group tough to navigate, and sometimes putting a picture within a post is essential to conveying information. The photo organization has no context other than ownership, so it's a relatively useless resource.
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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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firestar
Born to be Mild
Reged: 10/18/06
Posts: 3942
Loc: Cleveland Ohio USA
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Quote:
I have suggested a separate forum at least twice and had some correspondence with Tom Trusock about the need for one. I could not get the moderators to do it...they still considered the astro video area a very small area. While the numbers of sold items would suggest otherwise, I could not convince the powers to be to either adjust the imaging groups to include astrovideo specifically or start a separate forum. However, that said, the numbers of users continue to increase and perhaps the climate to find a home on CN has also increased. If someone feels strongly about this, you might send a PM to a moderator or two. They pretty much know how I feel about it, but it never hurts to try again. These latest threads have gotten a lot more readership and response than my threads from a year ago. Go for it.
Another thing to do is write articles that present your setups, results, etc. Comparisons using different scopes but same camera, different cameras are all possibilities. A decently written article is always of service to CN -- and can bring attention to these outstanding tools.
Roland Beard
I guess if we can get more than 105 posts we could get past the mysky/skyscout membership.
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Eastlake Ohio
Lots of cheap Asian glass  
Antares 12" Dob,Antares 8" Dob
Meade 8" SCT, Celestron C8 SCT
Zhumell 152 mm F8,Antares 127 mm f9.4
Orion short tube 90 F5.6,Celestron 80 ED F7.5
Imaging Source DMK 21AU04 ccd camera
Stellarvue bv3's with 32,26,23,21,9 mm pairs
Olivon 42,35,28mm,siebert 21,12.5,7mm,GSO superview 20mm,Meade swa 13.8mm,Hyperion 13mm
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smokin oakum
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/24/07
Posts: 1529
Loc: Wilmington, NC
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Broadcasting live views of the night sky @
Sparkcast
C11 CGE / Hyperstar
MallinCam Hyper Plus Color
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
MoonLite Focuser
Round Table Platform
12" Parralax rings
Cape Fear Astronomy Club
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firestar
Born to be Mild
Reged: 10/18/06
Posts: 3942
Loc: Cleveland Ohio USA
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It's a fair question,don't you think?
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Eastlake Ohio
Lots of cheap Asian glass
Antares 12" Dob,Antares 8" Dob
Meade 8" SCT, Celestron C8 SCT
Zhumell 152 mm F8,Antares 127 mm f9.4
Orion short tube 90 F5.6,Celestron 80 ED F7.5
Imaging Source DMK 21AU04 ccd camera
Stellarvue bv3's with 32,26,23,21,9 mm pairs
Olivon 42,35,28mm,siebert 21,12.5,7mm,GSO superview 20mm,Meade swa 13.8mm,Hyperion 13mm
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smokin oakum
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/24/07
Posts: 1529
Loc: Wilmington, NC
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Quote:
Quote:
It's a fair question don't you think?
No question about it!!! This technology, to me is a different tool for astronomy, and deserves it's own classification. If anything, just the fact that it's a powerfull outreach tool for younger kids and such, makes it worthy.
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Broadcasting live views of the night sky @
Sparkcast
C11 CGE / Hyperstar
MallinCam Hyper Plus Color
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
MoonLite Focuser
Round Table Platform
12" Parralax rings
Cape Fear Astronomy Club
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Bowmoreman
Clear enough skies
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 9062
Loc: Bolton, MA
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Well, my post ALONE had 110 response postings in less than 2 weeks, and just since I posted my post, there have been several others, with a total of over 270 postings - in about 10 days... Lemme noodle this one over, and think about the best way to maybe proceed with the Mods.
I understand the *general* reluctance to add other forums, willy-nilly, but, truthfully, if the Meade/Celestron SkyPointer doohickies have their own thread, I sure would have some challenges understanding why Video astronomy (as distinct from DSLR or CCD, or beginning imaging) would NOT have its own...
In the meantime, to un-hijack my own post  Lets list the configurations that we know work and don't work here to build this repository.
I view this post/thread as an "outreach to the outreachers" - because I agree that this technology is possibly the most significant outreach technology to-date.
clear skies
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Dave
MI250 SBS mounted: C11Hyperstar,FSQ106ED,TOA130NFB;Lunt60THaB1200FT/DS50
Visual:DM6, XT10i w/ZambutoMirror,RTP
EP: 31T5, Ethos (21,17,13&8),10XW,5XW,3.5XW; Paracorr T1
MallincamColorHyper+,QSI583WS,QHY8
SBIG STV eFinder
Denk II: (2x24Pan,2x10XW)
Gerbings Heated clothes, Wilder Skies Observatory (BYO#90), Speco9"Monitor
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jayscheuerle
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/16/06
Posts: 4675
Loc: S. Philadelphia, PA
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Bombard the feedback section then!
I'll get the pitchforks and torches...
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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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smokin oakum
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/24/07
Posts: 1529
Loc: Wilmington, NC
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Don't forget the tar and feathers.
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Broadcasting live views of the night sky @
Sparkcast
C11 CGE / Hyperstar
MallinCam Hyper Plus Color
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
MoonLite Focuser
Round Table Platform
12" Parralax rings
Cape Fear Astronomy Club
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rolandlinda3
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/06
Posts: 3140
Loc: Crozet VA 22932
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You guys have fun. In the meantime, I will send one PM to a friend and suggest another look. As far as outreach, my wife and I have been using the MC HC about 2/3 of the time in all of our observing for the last year. Of that time, 1/2 is with visitors or outreach; the other half with sketching (see Members Galleries; rolandlinda3 gallery). We use wireless to get to audiences but also direct wire to a weather protected site near the scope. I posted an article about a year ago; another one needs to be done, but I just don't have the time right now. Let me know via PM if you need any statistics on observing, application setup, etc. to support your efforts. Roland Beard
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Roland
Blog: www.rolandlinda3.wordpress.com
Older sketches in Members Galleries (rolandlinda3)
For other sketches/inspirational stories: contact me via PM for information
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johne
sage
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 452
Loc: Prescott, AZ.
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This has been exciting reading. I finally have the MC on order, but they are about one month out at the present.  Although it doesn't really matter at the moment. Its been overcast for over a week and we're now getting ready for our second ice storm in as many days.
Looking forward to receiving mine in January. 
Best regards,
John
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Paramount ME
Takahashi - TOA-150 w/FeatherTouch focuser & MicroTouch focus motor
Takahashi - FSQ106ED F5 Astrograph
CentralDS Cooled Canon EOS 5DMk2 w/SupaSlim USB filter wheel
Hap Griffin modded Canon EOS 50D
Apogee Alta U8300 with 7 position filter wheel
Astrodon MOAG OAG w/Starlight Lodestar guide camera
Stellarvue SVR70ED Raptor w/SBIG SG-4 Autoguider
BackyardEOS
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dvb
different Syndrome.
Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 5487
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Maybe we need to persuade the sponsor, Astronomics, to become a dealer for Mallincam or Stellacam -- that could lead to a forum!
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"The heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruit"
James Joyce (Ulysses)
Home-built Newt:
10" f/4.5 Royce conical primary
Optical Supports Cell
Antares Optics Secondary
1800 Destiny curved spider
MoonLite focuser
Hastings Tube
Parallax and Dauzat rings
Skywatcher NEQ6, Astrotroniks tuned
iEQ45
8" f/4 Skywatcher Quattro CF
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Douglas
Vendor - Night Vision Astronomy
Reged: 05/21/07
Posts: 343
Loc: Pound Ridge, NY
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I agree that Astro Video should be recognized by moderators as worthy of its own forum.
Under an Astro Video forum, MallinCam users and others considering the investment can post. Folks want to know what powers and FOV are possible with their scopes, what extension rings they can achieve focus with, what camera menu settings are best for various targets, what accessories to consider, best monitors, and how the camera performs for Planets vs. DSO vs. Solar, etc.
I think Dave is looking to organize a good thing here and people who may not have joined the Yahoo forum could be exposed to what the revolution is all about!
I used to get bummed when my daughter looked in the EP at a DSO and said, in her polite kinda way, looks nice. I know DSOs didn't have the "wow" factor for her, it was a black and white fuzz ball to her or so faint she said there was nothing there, try explaining averted vision to an 8 year old. It is very satisfying to get the "wow" factor when viewing colorful nebula or detailed galaxies or brilliantly lit globular clusters using the MallinCam. You can turn your friends, family, and kids on with spectacular views and share our hobby in a way that can capture their attention.
- Doug
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Night Vision Astronomy
Stepping Stone Observatory
BIPH Image Intensified Binoviewer
Obsession 12.5" AN/SC
Tak FSQ-106 EDX2 & EM-200 Temma II
QSI 532wsg CCD & SX Lodestar Guide Camera
MallinCam Hyper Plus Color
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smokin oakum
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/24/07
Posts: 1529
Loc: Wilmington, NC
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Well said!!!
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Broadcasting live views of the night sky @
Sparkcast
C11 CGE / Hyperstar
MallinCam Hyper Plus Color
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
MoonLite Focuser
Round Table Platform
12" Parralax rings
Cape Fear Astronomy Club
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bkushner
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 1807
Loc: Audubon New Jersey
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Here here on the special forum.
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Orion XT12i
Meade LX200 ACF
Ioptron Mini Tower
Orion EON80
Mallincam Hyper Plus
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DwightX
member
Reged: 08/13/07
Posts: 60
Loc: Kentucky
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Count me as another vote for a "Video Astronomy" forum.
I'm sincerely interested in acquiring my own personal Mallincam (my club has one for outreach and it is terrific!). I've been lurking the Yahoo group for a couple of months but it is unwieldy, and isn't nearly the well organized format that CN provides.
A central place on CN to read about Mallincam/Stellcam settings, configurations, and other pertinent information would be great.
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Dwight
Orion XT8
Meade LXD55 SC-8
Celestron C4R and 8SE
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