Tolucam imager instructions

[Dennis G]

Three Cheers I've manage to get here!
Reading a forum that I found on Google while looking for info regarding the Neximage I read Mike's comments suggesting the Toucam was the way to go and the Telescope and Astronomy email attached introduced me to Matthew Lovell whose friendly reply has ended in an order for the 840 plus the 1.25 mm adaptor. Thanks Mike.
I have down-loaded and read the Registax instructions but what I would like is some instructions for using the Toucam imager when it arrives. Reading the review for the Meade imager in Sky and Tele, the writer suggested getting the feel by photographing the landscape in daylight. Can some kind member who is familier with the Toucame fill me in?
To have the laptop beside the scope in the night air, I assume some sort of cover would be needed. Any suggestions?

[Escortitis]

Hello fellow 'Groper",

I don't know much about the camera, but I do know that 'K3CCD tools' is some great software to drive it. I ended up with a V-Gear tracer ccd (unfortunately before i read Mikes' comparison) but this software is far better than the stock software.

Finally a use for a distant street light, practice on it. I learnt heaps about shutter speed, gamma and gain control (or lack of it in my case) by trying to image such a light, and putting them into Registax. I'm waiting for my 'scope so this is all through a 300mm film camera lens, same difference!

I would welcome you to the site but i just got here myself!!:lol:

Regards,
:D George.

[swannies1983]

Good to hear a familiar name in Matthew Lovell. He lives about 10mins away and have purchased many items from him (including the Toucam 840).

I pretty much went straight to work with the Toucam. At the time I purchased it, I was using it to take images through my 8" Dob. I used the article by Mike Salway to give me a helping hand about settings. Here is a link:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,201,0,0,1,0

Or this one:

http://www.astro.shoregalaxy.com/webcam_astro.htm

Or this one:

http://www.astro-imaging.de/astro/webcam_imaging_1.html

Imaging with a Dob using a webcam can be frustrating as you tend to use high magnification which means the planet drifts pretty quickly across the FOV. Trying to position the scope, press record, reposition, press record etc. isn't much fun! Plus, you only tend to get about 200 single images per AVI file...not really the best when it comes to the stacking part!

Anyways, those few links will get you off to a good start. In terms of recording software, I use Phillips VRecord (which came on the software disk with the Toucam).

Oh, and I don't use any covers for the laptop. The heat from the computer keeps the dew at bay :)

Daniel