john
sage
Reged: 01/01/04
Posts: 310
Loc: ont,canada
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I wish to buy a ccd camera for imaging planets. I have found ...... 1) phillips TOUCAM 740K used 2) meade LPI
question : which would give me be better results as they are both being offered to me for the same price.
Thanks
John
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Get the ToUcam! From my experience it takes great photos even when seeing/stability is poor, and picks up detail your eye can't see. I heard the LPI doesn't use a CCD but instead another type of chip setup.
I recently ToUcammed Uranus. I have some other photos of the other planets & Sun/moon to on my website.
http://www.geocities.com/greenlightsblueskies/outr_limits.html
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Blueshark928
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 2853
Loc: Crownsville, MD
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Quote:
I recently ToUcammed Uranus
(yes, i still think its funny!)
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John
SV-102APO
SV-80/9d
Losmandy G11
HX-916
Edited by Blueshark928 (06/21/04 12:15 PM)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I guess I had better either call it the seventh planet or go to a board that is a little more mature.
Can't believe this still makes grown men/women break out in uncontrollable laughter.
Didn't you get tired of that joke in the 3rd grade btw? :-)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Pronounced "Yur-in-us" by the way............
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Blueshark928
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 2853
Loc: Crownsville, MD
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No
Good job on capturing it in the first place.
--------------------
John
SV-102APO
SV-80/9d
Losmandy G11
HX-916
Edited by Blueshark928 (06/21/04 12:24 PM)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Back to the thread at hand, what's your take?
ToUcam or LPI?
Some on the Meade boards say the LPI is easier to use, and indeed ToUcam has a lot of things to get used to at first: adjusting camera settings, proper focus, etc., but I think ToUcam takes pretty decent images when post-image stacked in RegiStax. Also it has a sensitive CCD chip, while the LPI has a less sensitive CMOS.
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Suk Lee
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 4319
Loc: Pleasanton, CA
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The TouCam is FAR superior to the LPI for planetary imaging.
Check out the lab report on Cloudy Nights.
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http://www.siliconvalleyskies.com
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Suk Lee
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 4319
Loc: Pleasanton, CA
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PS, I never get tired of the Uranus joke either, but my kids sure are now...
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http://www.siliconvalleyskies.com
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conus
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/12/03
Posts: 2980
Loc: OC, Calif
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The other day I noticed that Russell Croman, who probably has better equipment than most universities, also uses a ToUcam.
http://www.rc-astro.com/
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Steve R.
12" Orion XTi
Fujinon 10x42
Oberwerk 12x60
Garrett Optical 15x70
My toUcam Images
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john
sage
Reged: 01/01/04
Posts: 310
Loc: ont,canada
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is there any difference between the TOUCAM 740 and the 840?
is one just as good as the other ?
John
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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they are internally 99% the same (the 840 might have newer production series of the ccd in)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Is there any difference between the:
1. Philips ToUcam Pro 840k
and
2. Philips ToUcam Pro 840k II
Thanks!
---Slickmm---
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Blueshark928
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 2853
Loc: Crownsville, MD
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ToUcam all the way! If you cant find one, the Logitech QC4000 is a close 2nd and they are readily available at Best Buy. The Logitech driver allow a min. 1/5 sec exposures. The ToUcam is limited by its driver to 1/25 sec.
As an aside, had anyone used the Orange Micro iBOT Firewire webcam? Its alleged to do 30fps uncompressed and it costs the same as a QC4000?
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John
SV-102APO
SV-80/9d
Losmandy G11
HX-916
Edited by Blueshark928 (06/21/04 04:35 PM)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I haven't seen any LPI images that compare with the web cams. I have a Vesta Pro and I think it is the best. You get longer exposures with the LPI. But for planetary work that is irrelevent. And the CMOS sensor doesn't compare to the CCD of the web cam.
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trever
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 2699
Loc: North Alabama
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I wished they sold a long exposure modified Toucam pro II somewhere. I would be afraid to kill mine if I messed with it. besides, no point trying for deep sky when I can't get the planets right...lol
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Trever
Coronado PST Solar Telescope
Vixen A80MF 80mm Refractor with Porta Mount
Orange Celestron 8 inch SCT on AS-GT mount
Zhumell 20x80 Astronomical Binoculars
Orion Paragon HD-F2 Tripod
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synner
sage
Reged: 01/13/04
Posts: 215
Loc: Harrow, UK
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Have you seen the Perseu website and the Atik cameras?
That's exactly what they are :-)
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http://www.synner.co.uk
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gazerjim
Postmaster
Reged: 02/12/04
Posts: 7778
Loc: About where I thought I was......
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No comparison: the Toucam by far.
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Jim Fisher
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.
Henry J. Tillman
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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After reading the CN lab report on the Toucam v. LPI, i knew i made the right decision in getting the Toucam. Get it and you won't regret it.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Yes that's right, inside they are basically the same.
I think the 840 looks "cooler" than the older molder personally, so major difference may be cosmetic.
Also, I heard the cord on the 840 is a little shorter.
Since it wasn't intended for outside use with telescopes, short USB cord length can be a minor problem.
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