Screwdriverone
22-06-2008, 03:35 PM
Hi All,
Well, after 10 days of crap weather I finally got some clear skies to try out the modded Philips ToUcam pro II that I got recently.
After spending many hours fiddling and trying this and that and using about 2GB of memory storage, I had some files that I thought I could process and get some better results than with Afocal technique.
Focussing was very hard to do and it seemed I never was able to get it right. Add to that my confusion as to what to press and select in the K3CCDtools options and it was a confusing and cold effort. I tried to set the exposure for Jupiter to 1/30th sec and 15fps but couldnt find out how to set the shutter speed other than the slider in the camera options way down to the bottom?
I did try to capture using the "Desire" program sent to me by Grahame who sold me the camera but K3 seemed to do a better job and have more options, especially with the long exposure menus.
All in all, I have to treat it as a learning experience as I think the results are nowhere near what I think the setup is capable of, certainly there doesnt seem to be much of an improvement over some of the better afocal efforts I have turned out. It just was easier to set up and capture with the webcam.
Posted below is typical output of the Jupiter AVI's I captured using a 2.5X barlow only (focal length 2.5m + whatever the camera is). I even tried some LX exposures on the Jewel Box and Omega Centauri, but the only one that came out without too much star trailing from inaccurate alignment was the one below, even that is pretty sad and there are a few hot pixels as well but I am not too worried about those for now.
As for the resolution, I may have maxed out what my tiny little 5 inch scope is able to resolve, especially with the 2.5X barlow. Perhaps a bigger and better quality barlow may bring out more? I dunno.
Thanks for looking anyway, its only my first time but any tips would be appreciated.
Cheers
Chris
Well, after 10 days of crap weather I finally got some clear skies to try out the modded Philips ToUcam pro II that I got recently.
After spending many hours fiddling and trying this and that and using about 2GB of memory storage, I had some files that I thought I could process and get some better results than with Afocal technique.
Focussing was very hard to do and it seemed I never was able to get it right. Add to that my confusion as to what to press and select in the K3CCDtools options and it was a confusing and cold effort. I tried to set the exposure for Jupiter to 1/30th sec and 15fps but couldnt find out how to set the shutter speed other than the slider in the camera options way down to the bottom?
I did try to capture using the "Desire" program sent to me by Grahame who sold me the camera but K3 seemed to do a better job and have more options, especially with the long exposure menus.
All in all, I have to treat it as a learning experience as I think the results are nowhere near what I think the setup is capable of, certainly there doesnt seem to be much of an improvement over some of the better afocal efforts I have turned out. It just was easier to set up and capture with the webcam.
Posted below is typical output of the Jupiter AVI's I captured using a 2.5X barlow only (focal length 2.5m + whatever the camera is). I even tried some LX exposures on the Jewel Box and Omega Centauri, but the only one that came out without too much star trailing from inaccurate alignment was the one below, even that is pretty sad and there are a few hot pixels as well but I am not too worried about those for now.
As for the resolution, I may have maxed out what my tiny little 5 inch scope is able to resolve, especially with the 2.5X barlow. Perhaps a bigger and better quality barlow may bring out more? I dunno.
Thanks for looking anyway, its only my first time but any tips would be appreciated.
Cheers
Chris