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  #1  
Old 30-01-2006, 08:10 AM
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davidpretorius
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Phillips new PSC900NC webcam - further info

http://www.home.zonnet.nl/m.m.j.meij...Y/spc900nc.htm

I know we were a bit upset with the lack of usb2.0, but having read this article, there is a new codec that allows more info to be transferred when shooting an avi.

It looks ok for long exposure modding as well.

The interesting thing is that the driver allows for better manipulation of things like contrast etc.

The thing I want to try out is the ability to load the 900nc firmware into your 840k chip. I will give this a go to see if the 840k can take advantage of the new codec, faster rates and more flexible drivers ie contrast manipulation?

I have had very good success with jupiter recently in raw mode, but this only allows 600 odd frames in the 120 seconds available. It will be interesting to check the new codec detail with higher frame rates against the raw mode ini the 840k (TOucam Pro II)

I will keep you updated
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  #2  
Old 30-01-2006, 08:36 AM
Dennis
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Hi Dave

Go you ToUcam tweaker...go and tell us of your adventures exploring under the bonnet. That way, if you break yours, mine will be safe!!

Cheers

Dennis
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  #3  
Old 30-01-2006, 08:00 PM
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looking good so far

I have downloaded the 900nc driver, loaded the binaries into the toucam pro II 840K via wrmac

and i have a pseudo 900nc.

The best bit is that i have a compression codec that is less harsh and hence i should be able to capture more detail. Also I have a better control of the camera ie contrast, There are a few new toys ie digital zoom and picture quality.

Here are some screen shots.

I will try and few different settings tonight on say saturn.

It has some possibilities to squeeze a bit more out of the toucam.

What i have done can damage a toucam, so please ask lots of questions and read all disclaimers. I have had no problems, but the authors do warn you!!!
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  #4  
Old 30-01-2006, 08:05 PM
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asimov (John)
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Geez! Your game....Hope it works out for you.
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  #5  
Old 30-01-2006, 09:06 PM
Dennis
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Hi Dave

Look forward to seeing your results from your first light with the modded cam - you're a brave fella!!!

Cheers

Dennis
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  #6  
Old 30-01-2006, 11:22 PM
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time for giggles.


the jetstream is bad, so the seeing is bad!!!

saturn was jumping around and the rings were dancing.

but i got to play with the zoom feature. I will need a decent night seeing so i can test whether this mod to make the 840k work like a 900nc is going to work for astro!

anyway here is the zoomed image scale, dumped straight into registax and rather hard wavelets
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Old 31-01-2006, 07:47 AM
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iceman (Mike)
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Is it doing a digital zoom?
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Old 31-01-2006, 07:48 AM
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it looks like it

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...achmentid=9032

has a picture enhancer and digital zoom slider
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  #9  
Old 31-01-2006, 07:51 AM
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i have been thinking about your comment re wanting to get more image scale, i am about to ask steve (mogg adapter) to see if he can knock anything up cheaply, but at the same time, will be keen to see if i can get the conditions to maybe digitally zoom say 1.2 or 1.5x the normal 5x - 7.7x (whatver the powermate is giving me depending on the ccd distance)
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  #10  
Old 31-01-2006, 07:55 AM
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great stuff DP, it through the efforts and enthusiasm of tweakers like yourself that we can all progress
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  #11  
Old 31-01-2006, 07:59 AM
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thanks rob,

yes it is fun until it ends in tears when someone loses an eye!
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  #12  
Old 31-01-2006, 12:58 PM
bird (Anthony Wesley)
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If it's a digital zoom then it might not be any better than resampling in registax? And you have the penalty of transferring and storing larger images...

Not sure, just thinking aloud here...

Bird
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  #13  
Old 31-01-2006, 01:41 PM
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i tend to agree bird, the larger analogue image from an extension tube will be better than the digital zoom.

what length is your extension tube that goes with your 5x powermate?
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  #14  
Old 31-01-2006, 06:01 PM
rumples riot
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From a purely photographic point of view, glass is always better than digital zoom.

An extension tube will give you better results when combined with your barlow. Just bear in mind not to use a 2.5x with an extension. It does not work, it will make the image smaller.

That said, have you noticed an increase in image quality for higher frame rate? What is the effect of the new driver?

Paul
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  #15  
Old 31-01-2006, 08:45 PM
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it does not look i can boost it up to say 20 fps or 30fps. the chip may be the same, but other on board stuff still keeps the rate down. i really need at least an 5 or 6 /10 night just to be able to compare a few settings etc

i am pretty much resigned to a extension tube
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  #16  
Old 31-01-2006, 09:48 PM
rumples riot
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Yeah, I would stick with the Raw colour mod. I found that this really gets the best out of this little cam. The AVI's are smoother and lend themselves to better control over the waveletts in Registax.

Still, some experimentation is worth the gamble and it does not seem to have caused any damage to the camera.

Yeah an extension is probably the way. At the Camp you will get to compare the size of your Jupiter on your screen to that on my screen. This is the only time (IMO) that having a much longer focal length is an advantage. Although I had considered getting another 3x televue and an extension or maybe even a 4x powermate. The 5 times as you will see is just too much magnification for my scope and requires very good seeing to be of use. In your case the 5x and extension may produce very large image scale. However Jupiter will get much larger in the coming months. It is still a long way from opposition. At opposition you will not need an extension.
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  #17  
Old 01-02-2006, 06:45 AM
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rumples,

have you tried saturn with the raw mod??

mars went well, jupiter and stars, but saturn turns out a peachy colour when i have tried it in raw mode? maybe colour adjustment is the way to go, but it seems so way of to start with.
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  #18  
Old 01-02-2006, 07:43 AM
bird (Anthony Wesley)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidpretorius
i tend to agree bird, the larger analogue image from an extension tube will be better than the digital zoom.

what length is your extension tube that goes with your 5x powermate?
My extension tube is actually a set of tubes of different lengths, and I change the length to suit by adding or removing some of the bits. On mars I used all the parts and it was about 10cm long, giving me 8x on the powermate.

With the new scope that may be too much, so I've shortened it to about half that length, now all I need is some clear skies...

regards, Bird
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  #19  
Old 01-02-2006, 07:46 AM
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did you make that yourself, or can you buy it from somewhere.

5 x 2cm increments may be quite good???
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  #20  
Old 01-02-2006, 07:53 AM
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iceman (Mike)
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Couldn't you just use some 1.25" PVC pipe? I'm in the market for an extension tube as well and if I can't find a DIY solution then Moggy may be the way to go.

Although picking up a cheap old barlow and taking the lens out would be good too - how do you calculate the length vs magnification?
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