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  #21  
Old 27-07-2005, 02:25 PM
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ballaratdragons (Ken)
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That's no good then. I was under the impression by other posters that they are the same thing just in a different shell & packaging. Oh well! Sounds like Toucam is the way to go for DSO!
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  #22  
Old 27-07-2005, 02:30 PM
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ving (David)
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unless you mod the neximage thingy
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  #23  
Old 27-07-2005, 02:33 PM
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Hi Ken,

toucam out of the box and the next image out of the box are the same i gather, the $140 modification that the boys at telescope and astronomy do is what adds the long exposure. Without mod, out of the box, it looks like you can get exposure times of 5 frames a second. Mind you my toucam is only 24 hours old and i have not taken it off auto mode yet!
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  #24  
Old 27-07-2005, 02:41 PM
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ballaratdragons (Ken)
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Thanks Dave,

From pics I have seen, the Toucam appears to cream the NexImage. The NexImage website shows Planetary pics taken with their product and they aren't all that good! Strange seeing as they are trying to sell the product! Whereas in here, almost all Toucam shots by IIS members are better than the NexImage website samples.

Looks like Toucam must be the way to go.
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  #25  
Old 27-07-2005, 03:14 PM
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Looks like your the guinea pig Dave
Soon as your scope arrives we want pics, lots of pics. ....Is it there yet?
The DSLRs are out of my range for now, this would be the answer to that if it does a reasonable job.
Youve got me wondering.
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  #26  
Old 27-07-2005, 03:24 PM
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ballaratdragons (Ken)
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Yeah! Come on Dave, where's the scope. We've been waiting for the new thread 'IT'S ARRIVED, PARTY TIME!!!'
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  #27  
Old 27-07-2005, 03:34 PM
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Scope unloaded from boat in a container this morning at Devonport, transferred to another container during the day to drive the 1hr down the road to launceston. This little black duck will be pestering the tpt company first thing in the morning.

Soon as it arrives, I will start testing. The beauty of the toucam mod is that with both parallel and usb cables plugged in at same time, i can take different shots one after the other to compare.

No eq mount, but i will do the best i can.
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  #28  
Old 27-07-2005, 04:03 PM
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acropolite (Phil)
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David, suggest you take some dark frames of the same exposure time to subtract.
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  #29  
Old 27-07-2005, 04:09 PM
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saw that term "dark frames" in the software obviously subtracting will take out background. Do you find a starless piece of sky to make a dark frame?
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  #30  
Old 27-07-2005, 04:24 PM
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asimov (John)
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May I also suggest Before worrying about taking pics...Make sure the collimation is correct..Dont want you to get frustrated Dave by not doing things in the correct order?
Remember the cool down time for the scope too. That's all after learning how to use the thing first...lol...Cant do everything in one night I would suggest!
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  #31  
Old 27-07-2005, 04:26 PM
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Nope, just put a cap on the front, and make sure the temperature, and exposure time are the same or similar. Shoot about a dozen, and stack/combine them. This gives you a "Master Dark Frame", and you subtract that from the "noisy" images you have.
White mans magic.
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  #32  
Old 27-07-2005, 04:39 PM
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Loupy31 (Peter)
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ToUcam Mods

Hi guys,
I have done a few ToUcam 740 and Logitech 3000/4000 mods and I would have to say it is worth doing, Its a cheap way to get into good, time exposure DSO pics.

Peter

Last edited by Loupy31; 27-07-2005 at 04:42 PM.
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  #33  
Old 27-07-2005, 04:53 PM
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thanks mate, yes, i shall be doing everything that i know in the right order, star test , collimation, but i will take shots all the way through. i want to be able to record shots that from a scope that may be out of collimation etc. So that newbies can see what may be wrong etc
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  #34  
Old 27-07-2005, 05:01 PM
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my sister in law is from new zealand, so i won't admit to her that you helped me, but thanks a heap. I will try it as soon as possible!
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  #35  
Old 27-07-2005, 05:31 PM
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asimov (John)
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Funny you mention that. Seeing I recommended you for writing up an EXCELLENT review for the GSO dob in another thread, That sounds really good ie: photographing out of collimation scope if it turns up that way. I know you want to post all info as it happens, but for a review to 'stick' may I suggest you write the article up...with pics of course, then submit it to Mike?
So it sound's like the scope may turn up tomorrow?? Hope it doe's....After all, were all just as excited as you are mate! WOOOO-HOOOO!

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>To contribute a review, follow these easy steps:
  1. Write your review. Be descriptive, as technical as is relevant, include pictures, links etc. Reviews are a personal opinion but please be as objective as possible, especially when describing what you consider the positive and negative aspects.
  2. Sign up to the IceInSpace Forums (it'll only take 30 seconds!)
  3. Contact me (via email is probably best) to submit your review, and I'll load it up onto the site!
</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www.iceinspace.com.au/img/leer.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%" background=picture/bg_bottom.jpg colSpan=2 height=1>http://www.iceinspace.com.au/img/leer.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www.iceinspace.com.au/img/leer.gif</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Last edited by asimov; 27-07-2005 at 05:49 PM. Reason: adding review guidelines
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  #36  
Old 27-07-2005, 06:18 PM
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iceman (Mike)
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Quote:
Hi guys,
I have done a few ToUcam 740 and Logitech 3000/4000 mods and I would have to say it is worth doing, Its a cheap way to get into good, time exposure DSO pics.

Peter
Hi Peter.
Do you have any images taken thru a modded Toucam or logitech webcam?
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  #37  
Old 27-07-2005, 06:29 PM
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Striker (Tony)
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intersting thread......I spose the next step if you wanted something a little better then a modded Toucam is something like the Stellacam or SAC/Minitron with a Sony 1/2 ex-view monochrome chip..... for $399 USD... go to products then down to the sac minitron.

hmm...may buy 1 just for the hell of it.

http://www.sac-imaging.com/main.html
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  #38  
Old 27-07-2005, 08:13 PM
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ballaratdragons (Ken)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Striker
SAC/Minitron with a Sony 1/2 ex-view monochrome chip..... for $399 USD... go to products then down to the sac minitron.

hmm...may buy 1 just for the hell of it.

http://www.sac-imaging.com/main.html
It's actually $499 US dollars. Plus currency conversion plus international freight plus Oz taxes.

Doesn't end up very cheap!
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  #39  
Old 27-07-2005, 08:41 PM
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Striker (Tony)
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Oh yeah......I did see one for sale for $399...must of been astromart....oh well.
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  #40  
Old 27-07-2005, 09:00 PM
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ballaratdragons (Ken)
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Apart from the price Tony, are the Minitrons better than Toucams?
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