Agent Webcam

[Glenhuon]

A while ago I started playing around with an Agent webcam I bought on Ebay. Later I bought one of the colour DSI's and the webcam got put aside. The DSI has so far been a pain in the behind, so back to the webcam. After a bit of hacking and dismantling I ended up with the body and a bare CCD chip. Yesterday I managed to graft on an IR filter to replace the built in one which was removed with the lens holder, and with a polarizing filter stacked on top these are the results so far. The software with the cam also gives some control over brightness, contrast, exposure, gamma etc. Still playing with these settings.

All 3 are avi's reduced to individual bitmaps and stacked in registax and given minimal processing in Paintshop Pro 7.
The first two are slightly different settings on the polarizing filter I used, the third is with a little tweaking of the software settings as well.
All video files were around 200 frames. Scope was 80mm SurplusShed ATM refractor at prime focus.

[Omaroo]

Don't know why I didn't see this post before Bill.

Great stuff. I like looking for alternatives too. It's what drives me I guess.

Does the eBay shop you bought this webcam from display its characteristics? It looks like it's reasonably light sensitive, and like many cameras available now should perform well down below 1 lux. I'm looking at a Logitech Fusion right now and I can have one from Trickie Dickies, today, for about $90 - which is less that the venerable ToUcam once the ebay seller adds their transport cost.

It's be interesting to see how you go with barlow too.... :thumbsup:

Cheers
Chris

[Omaroo]

LOL! I just put a $50 max bid on eBay for the aGent. Let's see..... 7 hours to go.

[Glenhuon]

Best of luck Chris:thumbsup:
I managed to jag mine for $45.

Bill

[GTB_an_Owl]

would the cheaper one without the 4x zoom be a better choice ?

who cares that it's not vista compatible

geoff

[Glenhuon]

When I bought mine it was supposed to be the cheaper one, but when it arrived it had the zoom and a built in mic (about as much use as udders on a bull for what I wanted it for :)) Yep, who cares about the Vista bit, tried it once for 24hrs and went back to XP, have enough software problems now without looking for more . :D
They are a bit tricky to take apart without doing damage, you have to push the cable in a little and pull on the end cap and bit by bit the whole plastic body slips out of the tube. I ended up carefully cutting through the plastic just aft of the end cap with a junior hacksaw till it comes off and reveals the lens tube. The inner body is split and comes apart to leave a bare circuit board. The lens holder is only held on by 2 small screws on the back side of the circuit board. Handle carefully, the wires are pretty thin.


Bill

[Omaroo]

Just won it - AU$26.00 plus AU$14.00 freight from Melbourne. All up - AU$40.00! :)

Bill - what was the diameter of the unit as it is?

Cheers
Chris

[Glenhuon]

Good catch :)

Its 31mm, 40 thou under the diameter of an 1 1/4 eyepiece (32mm). I just stuck a bit of 0.5mm brass shim into the focuser to make up the difference :)

Cheers
Bill

[Omaroo]

Brilliant! Better slightly too small than too big... :)

[mill]

Geez you paid wayyyyyy too much for that.
I only paid the starting bid of $19.95
Patience pays off :)
It is a good camera and fits straight in a 1.25" eyepiece holder.

[mill]

Just took it apart and $%#$^#&#$ snapped some wires off because it came out too easy.
Has anyone a pic of how the wires go?
Will be eternally gratefull.
With some i mean all :(

[ballaratdragons]

FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY:



:lol: Yep, it sounds like a great camera ;)

[mill]

S happens Ken :(
Ill just hope someone can help me.

[ballaratdragons]

It sounds like a scarey thing to happen, Martin! Hope you find a wiring diagram.

[citivolus]

For another $19.95 you can get a very good wiring diagram :rofl:

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[mill]

:(:(:help:

[Omaroo]

Why'd you take it apart Martin? Do you plan to cool the chip?

I'm going to get back to my cooled & modified ToUcam soon, and see how these two compare.

[mill]

Had to get the lens assy off for guiding.
All of a sudden it came out way too easy :(

[Glenhuon]

Pic coming shortly Mill
Here it is. Starting at the legs of the metal can (Cap or crystal, not sure which), from left to right it's Red, White, Green Black.

[mill]

Whoohoo!!
Thank you very much :thumbsup:

[Glenhuon]

YVW
Hope you got a good magnifying glass and a steady hand :)

Bill

[mill]

Didn't have a drink yet :P
Thank you again :)
Soldering iron is heating up now and will post the results shortly.

[mill]

Hmm your camera is different than mine.
On my camera the wires go on the left hand side of the cristal.

[mill]

Working again :)
White and green had to be swapped on mine.

[Glenhuon]

Good on yer :)
Must be a different model.

[Glenhuon]

Been busy here too, just finished hooking up my solar powered stereo on the patio. Playing some oldies, entertaining the Mrs and the neighbours :)

[mill]

Solar powered is good :)
We need that for our equipment at night.
Star powered?

[Glenhuon]

Star powered, I wish :D
Have a little 3 watt one thats earmarked for charging batteries for field work. (planning ahead)

[Glenhuon]

Time to shut down, that thunderclap was almost overhead :eyepop:

Cheers
Bill

[Omaroo]

OK - mine arrived in the post today. Works well on both the PC's and the Macs at home. I like the focus adjustment - very sharp at full resolution.

Anyways - time to get the lens assembly off. I'll leave the rest in the original case because it is such a good fit into a 1.25" focuser as it is.

Cheers
Chris

[kljucd1]

Hi,

I am waiting on mine to arrive, should be fun modding it at least. Seems to take decent pics as well.

Daniel...

[Glenhuon]

You'll find there's a great range of adjustment in the filter controls too, supplied software is very good.
Have fun guys :)

Bill

[Mark]

Just put my bid in.

[snowyskiesau]

Well hope these Agent webcams are OK, just won mine - $33.95 including postage..
Now to see if the laptop still works.

[Mark]

Got mine yesterday.

Now to butcher it.....

[snowyskiesau]

Picked mine up from the post office today.
Now to work out HOW to butcher it - and still have it work afterward.

[Mark]

Mine came apart easy-peasy. A bit of wriggling with a wee screwdriver and the whole assembly slid out. A gentle nudge to release the blob of goop holding the circuit board to the shell, and the split shell came apart and the focusing 'ring' / lens assembly was out. Toss over left shoulder.

Reassembly was somewhat more difficult as apparently three hands are required. Plug back in to test...all working. Now a dust cover to prevent blobs on ccd. Aha! Lens pops out of focusing assembly, so just screw it back in.

Cool!