cheap all sky camera

[Somnium (Aidan)]

i am looking to get a camera that can monitor the sky for clouds and bad weather, however i didn't want to have to buy a high quality speciality item. has anyone had experience with increasing the exposure on web cams for low light applications? if so, any recommendations on a cheap option?

[julianh72 (Julian)]

How cheap do you need?

ZWO makes a range of very affordable astro-cameras http://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/products/usb2-0/ - they can take a standard CCTV lens, and the one I bought (ASI 120 MC) came supplied with a 2.1 mm fish-eye lens which gives a 150-degree sky view. It has plenty of sensitivity for doing real-time night-time video or time-lapse photography with the fish-eye lens installed, pointing straight up.

I also have a longer focal-length CCTV zoom lens for more conventional sky views, and of course it also fits into an eyepiece holder or T2 thread for prime focus photography, or it can be used as a guide scope.

All in all - a very capable piece of kit, for not much money!

[Somnium (Aidan)]

that looks good but i was looking for something cheaper. i came across a way of controlling a logitech webcam which might do the job

http://dslrmodifications.com/fusiontest10.html

i might give that a go, given that i am only using it to check weather and not imaging the sky, this should do the job.

Originally Posted by julianh72

How cheap do you need?

ZWO makes a range of very affordable astro-cameras http://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/products/usb2-0/ - they can take a standard CCTV lens, and the one I bought (ASI 120 MC) came supplied with a 2.1 mm fish-eye lens which gives a 150-degree sky view. It has plenty of sensitivity for doing real-time night-time video or time-lapse photography with the fish-eye lens installed, pointing straight up.

I also have a longer focal-length CCTV zoom lens for more conventional sky views, and of course it also fits into an eyepiece holder or T2 thread for prime focus photography, or it can be used as a guide scope.

All in all - a very capable piece of kit, for not much money!