NexImage Astro Imager

[ballaratdragons]

I am just wondering if anyone knows anything about this product.

Does it work well on a Dobbie? Can it do any of the brighter DSO's (Orion & Tarantula Nebs, Big Globs etc.)

Anyone got any pics taken with one?

I like the price compared with buying an expensive camera. AUD$265.00
Ad is on page 4 of Aust Sky & Tel. or on this site:

http://www.celestron.com/neximage/index.htm

P.S. I know I need a computer to use it! I just want to know if it is any good.

[davidpretorius]

looks pretty good, would also be interested in what people have to say about it first hand

[mick pinner]

hi Ken, one of my mates has one and they are almost identical in the capturing of astro photos as the Meade LPI

[[1ponders]]

Its a ToUcam with a different shell Ken. And yes mick apparently the program they use captures and processes similarly to the LPI but you can still use it with K3ccdtools if you just want to capture the avi. You can use almost any avi capture program if you want and then use Registax. You'll notice that they include registax 2 in the collection of image processing programs on the disc.

[Orion]

What difference would there be between the LPI, Toucam and the Astro Imager? All I know is that it is easier to do imaging with a dob which has tracking.

[ballaratdragons]

OK Guys. Call me dumb but I've gotta ask. (probably the only one game enough to)

What is a Meade LPI?
What is a TouCam?
What are K3ccdtools?
What is an avi?

Mick, if they are almost identical in the capturing of astro photos as the Meade LPI, what's the Meade LPI like? Coz I don't know what one is, I can't compare it.

I know these things are mentioned in here daily, but no-one ever says what they are, you all just say that you use them.

Sorry for my Dumbness, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to know.

[[1ponders]]

From what I remember Ed the ToUcam has a smaller chip for the same number of pixels. The LPI is about 1.25 times as large in each dimension. After having both and using both as Avi capture devices the ToUcam gave much better resolution. Mind you I never used the LPI as it was meant to be used, found it too frustrating though the results others here show what great shots can be taken with it

[Orion]

Ken the LPI is an imaging camera something like the Astro Imager. The Toucam is a web cam that is modified for astrophotography.
K3ccdtools is a software program to see the and sort out the avi's
And the AVI's are the images of the planets moon ext.. that the camera takes.

[mick pinner]

ok Ken, no expert but here goes, an LPI is a lunar and planetry imager that uses a CCD chip to download images onto either a desk top or lap top computer, apparently can be used on some bright deep space objects but personally have had no real luck, it has the ability to do long exposures in the 15 min range and down to a few 1/10's of a second. When it comes to the world of CCD imaging they honestly are at the lower end although a cost effective entry point, the images l am getting are not great but getting better as l learn how to adjust the settings for different objects and conditions it has a provision to draw a tracking box around the object you are following to keep it in the centre of the CCD chip but unless you are as proficent as Iceman at nudging a dob you should have a mount with tracking. You also need your computer or lap top near the scope because the LPI downloads it's images via a USB cable and anything over a 5m cable will give you a dramatic loss of image. The NexStar is the same principal, the Toucam is basically a web cam camera modified to take astro photos and does a better job from the photos l have seen posted on the forum, the next step is a dedicated CCD camers from probably $800 up, secondhand, all the way to whatever you want to pay, hope this helps a little bit Ken.

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Ed and Mick, so which one is better for around that price (or less)? LPI, NexImage or TouCam?

[[1ponders]]

Here ya go Ken. ToUcam Versus LPI
http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/meadelpi2.pdf

Mind you I've seen better images here than this guy produced with the LPI

Warning its 27 pages long and will take a while to load as its a pdf file.

[[1ponders]]

and here
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=Imaging&Number=506459&Forum=All_Forums&Words=Neximage&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=506459&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=w&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post506459

And the final word which seems to cover all bases
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=ccd&Number=462885&Forum=,,,,All_Forums,,,,&Words=Neximage&Searchpage=4&Limit=25&Main=462885&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post462885

[mick pinner]

this is an image downloaded with the LPI as l said l've only started but this is a single image with no stacking or processing so it will give you some idea of what to expect. With processing software they will only get better.

[Orion]

I am planning on getting the Toucam soon because from what Iv'e heard it's the best.
This is the quote I got from telescopes-astronomy in SA,
Toucam $145.00
1.25" Eyepiece Adapter $45.00
IR Filter $80.00
Postage $12.00

TOTAL: $282.00AUD
telescopes@bigpond.com

[[1ponders]]

There is one advantage of the Neximage over the ToUcam. It already comes with the 1.25" adapter, whereas you have to buy that extra with for the ToUcam. Mind you you I'm not sure you get the IR filter with the Neximage. And if you do its probably that horrible blue one that I never use.

[Orion]

They have actually upgraded the filter there is an IR filter for $60.00 but the quality isn't as good as the Baadar IR filter which works really well.

[[1ponders]]

I'm glad of that for all the other purchasers. Mike and I bought ours around the same time and we both bought the $40 IR filter. I used it once and never again. And I think Mike swapped his for the $80 one. Don't know if he uses it though? Mine puts a horrid blue cast to the image. ...though....now that I know how to remove casts like that using PS maybe its time to give it another go before Jupiter disappears.

[ballaratdragons]

Say I got a TouCam and Adaptor for $190 + $12 postage, won't I need a program to run it. The nexImage shows a CDrom with theirs.

[Orion]

Yeh Mike told me all about the problems he had with his filter and that is why I inquired about the difference in price.

[[1ponders]]

Download K3ccdtools Ken. Its free, you just have to download a new key every 45 -50 days. Unless you decide you want to by it, in that case buy K3ccdtoos V2. (For when you finally EQ mount your dob. :D .) It can capture and process with the same program or you can just capture with it.

Or you can use the image capture program that comes with the ToUcam and then do your processing in registax which is free.

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Paul,
It sounds like I am going to need tracking of some sort.

[[1ponders]]

Go for the tracking Ken. I think Mike put himself through enough Masochism for all of us. Mind you he does an extremely fine job of it as you can see by his images

[Orion]

You can use K3ccdtools for capturing the avi's and then Registax for aligning and stacking. You can try these programs out when you get your camera.

http://www.pk3.org/K3CCDTools/

http://registax.astronomy.net/index.html

[ballaratdragons]

Can I go to any Computer store to get a TouCam? or does someone specialise in them.

[[1ponders]]

You can get the camera from computer stores but getting the 1.25 adapter is a different story. You can get both or just the adapter if you can get the ToUcam cheaper here...http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/

[Orion]

I dont think you can go to any computer place and pick them up.

[[1ponders]]

You're certainly right there Ed. Just did a bit of a search and only came up with half a dozen outlets that weren't astronomy related. And the couple of them I checked weren't any cheaper than the above link.

[Orion]

I think astronomy and telescopes are the way to go.

[ballaratdragons]

Their Area Code is 08. I wonder where they are. Probably selling online only as I couldn't find an address.

[Orion]

South Austraila, that's all I know.

[[1ponders]]

You need to email them Ken here telescopes@adam.com.au

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Paul & Ed. I'll have to ring them on the number they give. I can't use my email.

[asimov]

I was going down this road 2 days ago ken. My biggest problem was getting my computer to the darn telescope! I just cant imagine me lumping my desk top puter out side in the dew every time I wanna take photo's! Cant afford a lap top so I had to forget all about that idea. Oh well.

[asimov]

So what does everyone do to take pics with this kind of camera??

Take your desktop puter outside?

Buy a second desktop puter?

Buy a laptop?
Now if you could just take the pics using it's own power supply & THEN take the camera in to the puter & download the pics.....I'd BE IN IT!

[iceman]

The ToUcam and NexImage are almost identical, so it's up to you which one you get. You will still need a capture program like k3ccdtools, and a processing program like registax.

Telescopes-astronomy is the best place to get the ToUcam + adapter. I'd ring rather than email, cause he gets very busy. If you get the NexImage, just get it from the cheapest place you find.

If you plan on using your dob, you'd better read my article, Astrophotography with a dob (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,201,0,0,1,0), and be prepared for some frustration and steep learning curve. If you've got tracking, the frustration is much less but there's still a lot to learn about capturing and processing. My article deals with both and can be useful even if you do have tracking.

You will need a laptop, or drag your desktop outside. Unless you have perfect polar alignment and goto, with a motorised focuser that you can control remotely, and can leave your scope unattended, then you need to be next to your telescope and you need to be next to your computer.

Final note, these webcams (NexImage/ToUcam/LPI etc) will not work on DSO's, and do not brighten dim objects for you to view. They work only for planets and the moon and bright stars. You won't be able to use it for DSOs at all.

Hope that helps.

[Orion]

[QUOTE=iceman]
Final note, these webcams (NexImage/ToUcam/LPI etc) will not work on DSO's, and do not brighten dim objects for you to view. They work only for planets and the moon and bright stars. You won't be able to use it for DSOs at all.QUOTE]



The Toucam can be modified to do long exposures but at a extra cost.

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Mike. That helps a bit more. Tough decisions to make.