Why can't select shutter speed in K3ccd tools?

[mbaddah]

Hi,

Hooked up my SPC900NC last night and wanted to take some shots of Saturn. Upon entering K3ccd for the 1st time i realise there's no option for me to select shutter speed? Using Windows Vista so not sure if theres some compatibility issues there? Thanks. :)

[Omaroo]

Hi Moh :)

Shutter speed? Are you trying to use the webcam as a still camera?

You really want to take a series of exposures in the form of an AVI movie - not a single still. Get hold of a copy of Philips Video Lounge software which will capture movies for you. You then open the resultant movie file with your preferred stacking program, such as Registax, to process the stream of frames into a stacked image. The movie length is up to you - they are pretty disk-hungry so maybe start with a 500-frame burst. With a Dob mount, you want to start exposing the planet (Saturn in your case I believe) as is comes into the field of view. Keep watching your monitor and then stop the exposure as the planet moves and approaches the opposite side of your FOV - don't let iany part exit that FOV. Registax can work with this, and will track the planets movement frame by frame as it progresses. I can show you how this all works on Saturday night if you want to bring it to Stargard. Are you coming?

There's plenty on it in here :)

[mbaddah]

Thanks Chris for the response...

I did record an avi but i the shots were coming out slightly overexposed, hence the reason why wanted to reduce shutter speed.

[Omaroo]

Moh - try fiddling with the gain/exposure controls within the capture software. It's not like a still camera where you are exposing one frame in one exposure run for a variable amount of time. You need to adjust these so that you get a steady image on your screen as it's running. Your video is constantly exposing, but only when you select "capture to file" will it write a file to disk. Set it exposing and then fiddle with the settings to get the best picture on-screen. It's dynamic - you adjust while you watch. Once you have the best image you can muster then capture to file. I really do recommend Philips Video Lounge rather than K3ccd at your stage. It's far less complex and easier to use.

[erick]

I'd like to use Philips Video Lounge for a Logitech cam. (I cannot find exposure control in the Logitech software.) Apparently the Lounge will drive it:-

http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/board/message?board.id=quickcam_software&message.id=2469

but my friend Google cannot locate a download site for me :sadeyes: Can anyone point me in the right direction :help: (Do I have to buy a Toucam to get the CD :P )