Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidTrap
I have an Orion Star Shoot Autoguider that I am happy with for guiding, so am not interested in using a new camera for guiding.
I don't have a parallel port on my computer (MacBook running Windows XP), so a modified ToUcam is a problem - I thought it might be, and am glad I you have confirmed this.
I can buy a new DSI II Pro for around $500, which is cheaper than the DMK. I'm not looking for this as an imaging chip - my long-term plan is to persevere with my DLSR for another year or two and then upgrade to a proper CCD (I look at this as cheaper than buying a good quality DSLR and modifying it - I also have Nikon gear, so the Canon-Nikon debate is on my mind too)
I have seen a couple of recent DSIs sold on the web, and they aren't much cheaper than new - I understand the DSI prices dropped recently.
Last weekend I tried a drift alignment technique using the DSLR. I was happy with the results, but it required me getting into some rather strange positions to focus and align stars through the DSLR - a DSI might be kinder on my neck.
So many things to consider...
DT
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Whoa - stay calm and don't give up listening to what Paul's saying - he really knows this stuff. I have a ToUcam I bought 2nd hand from IIS classifieds and an Orion SSAG. I've tried all sorts of things to get the SSAG going with K3 JUST for drift aligning with no success. Having a ToUcam on hand is worth it just to be able to use K3 for drift aligning in the field (I very rarely both at home having marked the tiles out in the back yard for the tripod legs). It also makes a very useful and relatively cheap planetary camera.
You definitely DON'T need a modified webcam - that's only for long exposure shots - you're much better off using a DSLR or CCD camera, so no need for parallel port.
There are many other software solutions for polar alignment. Many swear by Alignmaster. The graph and numerical readout in K3 are just so intuitive though - best software I've even been able to find after trying many. You could use the SSAG with any guiding program and manually monitor the star on the screen, but a graph and readout are SO much nicer.
Final thought - to get really nice astrophotographs you need to visit a dark sky site. The ground is nearly always uneven, you don't know exactly where S is, ITS REALLY DARK, and everything that can go wrong always does! So anything that makes drift aligning fast and easy is a godsend.
+1 for K3, ToUcam and flip mirror
(whew, I'm getting emotional - must be all those times it took me 2 hours in the dark to get drift aligned....
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