Charlie Hein
Postmaster
Reged: 11/02/03
Posts: 6579
Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
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cnstarz asks:
Quote:
I 've got two webcams, A meade Usb color cam from the Walmart AZ-70 scope and A Celestron Neximage w/ focal reducer. The Amcap and Meade software appear to conflict, I can use the meade software for both cameras and the Celestron software seems to lock up periodicly. They don't seem to respond very well anyway can't get a good preview screen to focus with and capture parameters are clumsy. Who has the best capture software available, Free and Nonfree for webcams?
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Charlie Hein
Postmaster
Reged: 11/02/03
Posts: 6579
Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
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Here are some links to a few good programs to try:
Shareware:
K3CCDTools
Astrosnap
Freeware:
QCFocus (Download program)
QCFocus (English documentation)
wxAstroCapture
I've tried nearly all of these and they all work well enough to do the job. I personally like K3CCDTools and wxAstroCapture the best out of the lot. Hopefully some folks can chime in with more links and/or their experiences with various software...
Charlie
PS - I'm having problems finding much documentation on the Meade USB camera you have. Hopefully it will work with the usual software for webcams. CH
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Weston CSC:
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cnstarz
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/22/07
Posts: 538
Loc: Kentucky, USA
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Thanks, I didn't know about wxAstroCapture. I have a Debian Linux partition on my laptop so I will give it a try. If anyone knows of any other software like this please post a link. 
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Matt
Apogee 50mm BB scope
ETX-60 BB
Meade 70-az
5" DIY Newt (wip)
C6-N on CG-4 GEM
Gallery
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Chris_H
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/24/03
Posts: 2858
Loc: Norway
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Another free one is VirtualDub. Its more advanced then the others but not too hard to use once you get used to it 
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Chris
"Big Papa Smurf" (254mm f/4.7 Sky-Watcher Newt)
Custom Orion Optics 150mm f/8 reflektor "Planet Killer" (On its way!!!)
SPC900
Canon Powershot A610 (CHDK modded)
Canon 10D (modded)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L
My Website
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serambin
super member
Reged: 12/11/07
Posts: 171
Loc: Shreveport, LA
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Just looked at VirtualDub. It looks very good and works with the ImageSource cameras.
Thanks.
Stan
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 4966
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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here are a few i ran across.not all for webcams but some are.
astronomy software
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Seymour Solar filter
Backyard Observatory
 -Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3578
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Ok,I got one of the Phillips webcams, SPC900NC, I downloaded wxAstroCapture, including the Microsoft redistributable piece. But, I can't get the AstroCapture to find the webcam. I select connect and it says "no camera selected WDM disconnected" across the bottom. I can't find anywhere that allows me to select the camera. Eventhough the webcam is plugged into my USB port and makes the beep when I plug it in, it doesn't show on my list of connected devices. I didn't load any of the software that came in the box with the camera.
What am I doing wrong?
Aren't you glad that they pick such a highly qualified individual to be a moderator in this forum. I'm like the before example of a beginner.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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John Carruthers
Skiprat
Reged: 02/02/07
Posts: 1701
Loc: Kent, UK
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I would load the drivers that came with the cam and see if any software recognises the cam then.
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Jc
ATM 10" F6.1, 1/25th wave spec (max wavefront error +/- 1/12.6 in zone 4 of 6, sodium light )
6" F7 spec
127mm F9.4 Refractor
10 x 50 bin
ETX80 (finder)
Canon 20D
and a curious mind
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 4966
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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macam
Keith's image stacker
Keith's astroimager
these are all very nice and are for mac. 
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Seymour Solar filter
Backyard Observatory
-Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3578
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Quote:
I would load the drivers that came with the cam and see if any software recognises the cam then.
Well, that took care of the problem nicely.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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Nils_Lars
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 982
Loc: Santa Cruz Mountains , CA
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Is there a free program that will capture from webcams in Vista?
I tried a version of AMcap I found but its a demo and it makes all the videos very dark even with gamma and brightness all the way up.
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Erik
Orion ED 80
Orion Atlas GOTO mount
Williams Optics reducer
Various eyepieces and other gear
Baytronix 80mm guidescope
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
PHD guide
Canon 400D (unmodded)
Stilleto Focuser
Tamron 75-300mm&28-80mm lenses
NexImage webcam
http://home.comcast.net/~eriknlarsen/site/?/photos/
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groz
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/14/07
Posts: 541
Loc: Duncan, BC
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Quote:
Is there a free program that will capture from webcams in Vista?
I tried a version of AMcap I found but its a demo and it makes all the videos very dark even with gamma and brightness all the way up.
You can download amcap from the Celestron website in the software for the NexImage. I've used it here on XP and on Vista. It works with all the webcam variations I have here.
AmCap originates from a Microsoft software development kit, it's one of the example programs, intended as an example of how to write code that'll interface with a WDM camera. I've compiled it here in the past. I've also downloaded some of the variations available online. In most cases, the only real difference I've seen, the folks re-compiling and re-packaging it seem to take the time to change the copyright notice and insert thier own. In at least one instance of a 'demo version' I downloaded, that appeared to be the only change they made to it.
Edited by groz (05/14/08 10:05 AM)
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mischief
member
Reged: 04/26/08
Posts: 10
Loc: Northern California
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Thanks John for info on Mac WebCam software. I checked them out, but couldn't tell exactly whether or not I could use them. Right now I am just getting started; I am thinking about getting the Celestron NextImage camera; it has good reports from some books I've read (Star Ware); it has the same CCD chip that the Philips TouCam has. However, the software that comes with it only runs on Windows. I have an Intel Mac, OS 10.5 so I could run Windows if I had too, I'd rather not. So do you or anyone else have suggestions about Mac software that could be used for capturing images with the Celestron NextImage. I have Photoshop and Fits so don't know if I need imaging software; if so, any suggestions on that for Macs gratefully appreciated. Thanks very much.
Orion ST 80
Orion Mak-Cass 90
Orion StarBlast
Vixen VMC 110
Olympus C765UZ
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2457
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And... does anyone know if the K3CCD, Registax and Phillips SPC900NC webcam software will run on Vista? Thanks for any info-
-sign me-
A rank beginner
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Wes
Atlantic Beach, FL
Some bino’s from Miyauchi 5x32 Binon's up through Garrett 20x110 Signature's,
Some telescopes from a Stellarvue 80mm NHNG up through a couple of 8” reflectors…
And a wonderful 4.25" Delmarva Shiefspiegler!
Some good friends, made here on C/N.
Oh- several cats and a wonderful wife!
Anyone want a cat???? :-O
"When your work speaks for itself- Don't Interrupt" -Gamble Rogers
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Jeffrey Sugden
sage
Reged: 05/04/05
Posts: 260
Loc: Akron, OH
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Vista 32 or 64?
I have Vista 64 and have run the following:
SPC890 (which I understand has the same drivers as the SPC900)
Registax 4
K3CCD, but this has a driver that does run under Vista64. But I think it is only the parallel port driver. Since I don't use K3CCD for guiding, it is not an issue.
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Jeff
WO ZS 80FD (on the way)
Celestron FS80
Celestron FS80WA
Meade SN6
Cave Newt 6" F8 (project)
SAC 8-II
Meade LPI
Philips SPC-890
Orion SSAG
Nikon D40
EQ-6 (SynScan upgrade)
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2457
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O.K.- even a dumber question! How does one determine wether you're running the 32 or 64 bit version of Vista? In follow up to my previous question, I did get my camera loaded onto my lapto this weekend, so that's a start (BIG sigh of relief!). Had to load the software/drivers off the Phillips website... wouldn't load off the disc. I'm gonna get there, just learning as I go! Will try to load K3CDD and Registax this week.
Wes
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Pierre Stromberg
member
Reged: 02/07/08
Posts: 15
Loc: Woodinville, WA
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Wes, hit the Windows icon in the system tray, right click on "Computer", select "Properties" and then examine the field for "System Type". It will reliably tell you if you're running 32 or 64 bit Vista.
P
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2457
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*doh*  Thanks, Pierre-
Appreciate it! I'm totally brain-fried today from working with 3 new computers all weekend long...
Wes
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2457
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Home PC's 64-bit, I should have remembered that due to problems I had with YouTube not playing due to a Flash Player conflict- not being 64-bit capable... like I said- I was fried this weekend! Thanks again...
Wes
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