Quote:
Originally Posted by dannat
In regards to seeing stuff in color, I don't know you'll see a great deal, I've seen a colour gstar produce next to no colour on orion neb, the malincam might show more colour, though you don't see much colour at the eyepiece, it takes exposures of 5 mins to show good colour, these cameras are still using short enposures.
Hopefully ken will chime in, he's the video astro moderator on CN
|
Thanks Daniel,
The Gstar-Ex Colour camera does show colour and quite nicely. Obviously it isn't as spectacular as a $1200 Mallincam but that is the same with any Astro gear.
If you want top results, you have to pay more.
And yes, the Mallincam shows lots more colour. I am currently using the Mallincam Xtreme and I am still blown away by the lovely colours it shows on objects.
Trifid is beautiful pink and blue, Lagoon a nice red/pink, NGC 253 Galaxy had a fantastic yellow core with light blue arms, etc etc.
The Mallincam Xtreme takes far more than 5 min integrations. It goes up to 99 hours! Not that anyone will ever go that far
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonybarry
Colour video cameras require Big Glass (12" or better) to produce useful results on dim objects.
|
Absolutely wrong.
A popular myth.
I do some of my best AstroVideo and Astrocasting (internet Astro broadcasting) through an ED80 and often blow away the guys using big SCT's and Reflectors.
Many others also use ED80's, WO 110's, 4" reflectors, and many other small scopes.
It comes more down to focal length with Video, not so much aperture.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonybarry
Mallincams will integrate to around 56 seconds (i.e. your scope must track the object passably well for a minute or the integration will smear). This is not really real-time, but the Mallincam people seem to think it is OK.
Regards,
Tony Barry
|
Again, Mallincams integrate up to 99 hours.
Gstar-Ex, Mintrons, Watec's etc around 5 seconds. Some only do 2.5 seconds.
NO AstroVideo camera gives exact real-time video. It is always the amount if integration behind.
The so called 'Mallincam People'
and others know this, and explain it during 'live' broadcasts so more people aren't misled.
I set my Xtreme usually around the 4 to 7 second mark because of my dark sky. That shows most DSO's.
But a really good tool to start out in AstroVideo, especially to get the WOW factor on public nights, is with the little Gstar-Ex Colour camera. It is quite good. Same price as the Mallincam Junior and gives the same results.
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/guides...star-exclr.htm
* I am amazed at the amount of mis-information circling lately about Video astronomy and the products.
It really helps to Google for the
real results and tests, or get replies from people who own and use the equipment.
I am just one of the few in Australia trying to advance AstroVideo and get more people interested in being involved in this rapidly growing area of Astronomy, and yet I keep reading so many replies with wrong information in threads.
It makes it hard to get people interested in a branch of Astronomy when the answers given are so wrong.
Anthony, feel safe getting a Gstar-Ex Colour camera. Coloured 'almost' live images right there on a PC monitor or TV screen for $479
