Cheap webcams!!!

Merlin66 (Ken) · #1 15-09-2010, 08:34 PM

Morgan Computers in the UK is selling excess stock of the SPC 880 webcam.
These are physically identical to the SPC900nc model. They can be easily flashed to 900nc firmware.
A bargain at the price.
If you have problems getting them, I can buy some, flash them for you and post to Oz at cost.
PM me if I can help.
http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/sho...CategoryID=522

Oh..they also sell the 1.25" nosepiece to go with it.

renormalised (Carl) · #2 16-09-2010, 10:58 AM

Cheap!!!!...the adapter's worth more than the camera!!!

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #3 16-09-2010, 03:04 PM

Yeah but the price is real cheap to boot.

Nice find Merlin

mental4astro (Alexander) · #4 16-09-2010, 03:34 PM

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is ment by being 'flashed'?

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #5 16-09-2010, 03:41 PM

"flashed" means the firmware (the inbuilt software that the device uses) is uploaded or written to the device.

In this case he is talking about "flashing" the device with Philips SPC900NC firmware so it not only looks but also performs just the same as the 900NC camera.

Why does the camera have different firmware?

Well...its like the QHY Q guider and Orion Starshoot autoguider. They are essentially the same camera but each has different firmware and so behaves slightly differently and are different in price.

mental4astro (Alexander) · #6 16-09-2010, 04:00 PM

The camera I have is a Logitech webcam-to-astrocam conversion which I undertook following the instructions in the article in the Projects & Aritcles section. So, just how much better is this camera that Merlin notes is compared to my cheapie job? I'm not about to undertake serious photography, so something casual is what I'm after, but if it is significantly better, it might be worth upgrading.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #7 16-09-2010, 04:04 PM

Geez, I am sooooo tempted!

I have 2 Toucams now, do I really need some more?

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #8 16-09-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Geez, I am sooooo tempted!

I have 2 Toucams now, do I really need some more?

I was thinking the same!

The SPC900NC is a very good planetary webcam. For that price...its a bargain.

asimov (John) · #9 16-09-2010, 04:51 PM

Yep that's real cheap! Pity I have 2 as well like Ken.

acropolite (Phil) · #10 16-09-2010, 04:54 PM

Thanks for the heads up, I've orered one with adapter, hopefully it will arrive OK.

astroron (Ron) · #11 16-09-2010, 06:10 PM

Would this type of camera be any good to take Comet Images

Merlin66 (Ken) · #12 16-09-2010, 06:20 PM

Ron,
Not really. It's a standard webcam which gives streaming video (AVI) at 1/60 or 1/30 sec exposure. You may be lucky if the Comet was bright enough to be able to use RegistxV5 to stack and enhance. The solution would be a webcam modified for long exposure...this would then allow a, say, 10 sec+ exposure to image faint Comets and DSO's.
The FOV due to the small chip size would also be a factor.

Ken

astroron (Ron) · #13 16-09-2010, 06:59 PM

Thankyou Ken

I didn't think it would , but thought I would ask anyway

astroron (Ron) · #14 16-09-2010, 07:21 PM

Thanks Steve,

It looks like I will just have to be happy looking at them in the 16' Scope or Bino's

By the way I had a few Pints of Guinness last night

for the first time in a very long time

Cheers

Stu Ward · #15 16-09-2010, 07:57 PM

I had a look and i could not work out how to get them to post to Aus ?

Anyone else get it ?

Stu

acropolite (Phil) · #16 16-09-2010, 09:16 PM

I just checked out, took me a while to realise that prices include postage, I'll let them figure it out.

omnivorr · #17 16-09-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu Ward

I had a look and i could not work out how to get them to post to Aus ?

Anyone else get it ?

Stu

add items to cart... add 'overseas shipping' to cart....
give them your address.... make payment.

simple really.

Merlin66 (Ken) · #18 16-09-2010, 10:36 PM

Since I complained to them a few days ago they have added the "Overseas postage" option.
If you still want me to buy, flash and ship these cameras that's still OK with me.
I'll close this offer after the weekend and see how many want to get them this way.
Ken

renormalised (Carl) · #19 16-09-2010, 10:40 PM

Might be the best way to get them, Ken.

How much would you want for them??

Merlin66 (Ken) · #20 16-09-2010, 10:44 PM

Just the normal Morgan's UK price plus postage to Oz at cost. No margins