Old tape type video cameras....are they good for anything ?

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Hi all....

I have 2 old video tape cameras that are doing nothing around the place.

They still work when they are charged, but I am wondering if they are good for anything like basic imaging in some way.
Maybe someone knows if the data can be converted to digital somehow.
Any suggestions appreciated.

Geoffro.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Geoff, I used an old analog video camera to capture afocal images of Jup and Saturn with my 10"Dob.
To capture it to your computer you need an av capture device, Belkin makes a very good one but there are cheaper versions you can buy off ebay.
You can then run the .avi's through Registax to get your final image.
It's amazing what you can come up with after a bit of practice.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Thanks very much for your reply Jeanette.
Can you possibly post an image or two that were taken with the Analogue cameras.?

I would be very interested to see what they can do, which would help me to decide to Keep vs chuck.
Also what are these capture devices called please ?

Geoffro.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Here's the photos you asked for.
Nothing wrong with low tech Geoff.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Ahhh...the Analogue Queen steps up to the plate and hits a home run again....4 of them actually.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

You're too kind Paul.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

The video capture device
http://ht.com.au/N/0/keyword/belkin+...PAL/detail.hts

[Spanrz (Brett)]

Ahhh. Nice one.

I have a Hitachi Hi-8 camera and was also wondering if at all it was good for imaging, or whether a new webcam (high spec) would be better.
I have questioned it, many a time, but everytime I get the idea, the webcam idea seems better for simplicity terms.

But it does seem a waste of a good camera... After your pics Jeanette, I'll have a crack at the old vid camera before the newer webcam.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Amazing Images Jeanette .

WOW.

That transit set of images really shows very nice detail.

Do you use an Equatorial mount or can this be achieve without one ? ( or even without a wedge for my LX200 )

Well done, its a shame I missed the magazine print.

Geoffro.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

They were all taken through my 10" Dob.
I guided the scope with one hand, held the camera in the other, and focussed with my spare hand. Very tricky, but you get the hang of it after a while.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Geoff I used to use my 8" LX200 for planetary imaging without any issues. Same as Jeanette's dob, but with the ability to make slightly "finer" adjustments. Plus you don't need that third hand.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

[DaveGee (Dave Gault)]

Originally Posted by Inmykombie

I have 2 old video tape cameras... but I am wondering if they are good for anything like basic imaging in some way.

Yes absolutely!!! I have 3, all Canons and I use them to record video of occultation events. You can see many of my lunar graze vids by loading Youtube and do a search for 'dave4gee'. Most sequences were captured using a small security camera (PC164C or similar) and recorded to a Canon. It's the most reliable method to get lossless capture of all 25 frames/sec (50 fields/sec) of video, in the field.

Maybe someone knows if the data can be converted to digital somehow. Any suggestions appreciated. Geoffro.

I use an AverMedia USB2.0 grabber.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
It sounds like I should keep 'em instead of chucking them.
Better save up the spare change too, for these extra bits.


Geoffro.