Video Finderscope/Guidescope

[avandonk]

Some nights I find it takes to long to get dark adapted to find and frame the next target for astrophotography. So I put together a low light B&W video camera and 2 1/2" LCD screen. The video feed also goes into my laptop via a USB TV tuner.
The camera is a GSTAR-EX with a 6 to 60mm zoom CCTV lens. The sensitivity is amazing.
When I get the suitable adapter I will mount a Tokina 24 to 200mm so it can also be used for autoguiding.

Here is a small video
http://users.bigpond.net.au/avandonk/OCtoCRUX.wmv

The following pictures I hope are self explanatory. All the screen pictures are what you see in real time.
The third picture is the actual 2.5" lcd screen.
The last two were through a 100ED.

[h0ughy]

do tell where you got the camera and the cost, looks very interesting

[ballaratdragons]

Geez Bert, you were right about it. It works great.

Amazing how many faint stars show up. Great set-up :thumbsup:

[avandonk]

From here hOughy

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/guides/gstar.htm

For the performance the cost is quite reasonable. The sensor is 6.4x4.8mm and 768x576 pixels.

The mini lcd screen here.
http://www.coolpc.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=128_113&products_id=617



Bert

[h0ughy]

thanks Bert

[iceman]

That's a great setup, well done Bert. That will save heaps of time while framing your shot.

[avandonk]

Managed to get a Mogg adapter for C-mount to Canon EOS.
Here is a zoom of a Canon 18 to 55 mm kit lens. The center of the screen is the Jewel Box in Crux of course.
The integration is set at X12 it can go up to 128X.
1.6MB
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~avandonk1/Zoom.wmv

And a slow move from Corvus to Carina 3.4 MB

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~avandonk1/Video0529-1831(CVBS).wmv

This makes finding things without dark adaption so easy.
Works great as a guidescope as well

Bert

[Astroman]

WOW that is soooo cool, I want one. Awesome display Bert, you should be a salesman.

[h0ughy]

awesome, Steve got you on retainer?

[avandonk]

Which Steve are we talking about hOughy?

Bert

[h0ughy]

steve massey

[avandonk]

I was confused because there is Steve Mogg and Steve from Myastroshop
and a few Steves here. No I am not on any retainer I will give credit when a product works as well as advertised especially if it is better than advertised.
Who is Steve Massey?

Bert

[ballaratdragons]

Steve Massey, owner of MyAstroShop, and a member in here. :thumbsup:

[avandonk]

I must be really thick or totally innocent of all charges your worship or is that your honour?

Bert

[ballaratdragons]

:lol: guilty as charged, Bert.

Geez those Videos come up clear! :eyepop:

[Striker]

Love the set up Bert.

The camera looks similar to the Sac Mintron with the same chip.

Would have been nice if it could do longer exposure then just 1/50 second.

[33South]

Extract from Steve's (Massey) Gstar-Ex users newsletter

GSTAR-EX images page - Includes a picture of Berts video finder.
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/guides/gstar/customer/userimages.htm

"Steve Quirk (Frog Rock Observatory) in Mudgee NSW has been taking advantage of his dark sky location to produce some very nice results achieving magnitude 18 with the GSTAR-EX and his 12-inch Newtonian."

[avandonk]

Here is a similar or modded camera available in B&W and colour and most probably more expensive.

http://mallincam.tripod.com/

Bert