Hi all - to pitch out a wide-open hopefully not too controversial question, what's the feel out there on the current best and best value planetary webcam or camera?
I've been using a Celstron Neximage (which I think uses same chip as Toucam pro) and an LPI, though this get's less use as it can't match the neximage's sensitivity. I'm been thinking of going to a more sensitive monochrone camera so I can do tri-band or narrow band filtered shots, but which to go for - Lumenera, ATK-1HS or (2HS), DMK firewire, Dragonfly express, or even Mead DSI pro.
Anyone have some personal experiences - and a view on their value for money - with any of these for planetary work that they'd like to share?
I used the LPI, for $240.00 it's a complete package ready to go, No mods needed no other software albeit free, and in my book as good as any planetary imager on the market. I see alot of folks using the webcams but I have never seen any images that are better or surpass any thing the LPI can do. Also I'm yet to see the DSI or DSI Pro pull off as good planetary images the the LPI or Webcams can. Not sure about the Neximage I see them advertised but really see people posting pic's
Basicly the DSI and DSI Pro dont cut it as planetary imagers, not saying this is impossible just the results are not up to the LPI. If you want to see the comparisons join Meade_DSI & Deep-Sky-Imager yahoo group and do a search
of the post list for the results.
I have the toucam proII and love it. Mikes and Rumples images with tracking are great and i am very happy with what a few of us non tracking guys are getting as well with low powered barlows.
But on the weekend, watching bird and his dragonfly black/white and colour wheel, then I believe that this the more complete way to go for planetary
I know myself that i focus / adjust exposure etc all the colours at once, but bird gets to focus / adjust exposure on each colour separately - a big bonus
I am still yet to try the toucam modded in a tracked telescope for dso.
Also The toucam was great thru the conorado for sun images.
As an overall planet / dso at the amateur market ($300), I can recommend the toucam that has been modded.
For more serious stuff, dragonfly and colour wheels are the next step for planetary and i am unsure re dso's and long exposure times, but the canon cameras seem great (350d).
Anyone have some personal experiences - and a view on their value for money - with any of these for planetary work that they'd like to share?
I got the LPI 'free' with my LX90 cant beat that as value for money.
Havent had the oppurtunity to give it much of go yet but it seems to be able to deliver.
The image below was from my first attempt at Jupiter, can only get better when I know what Im doing.
I got the LPI 'free' with my LX90 cant beat that as value for money.
Havent had the oppurtunity to give it much of go yet but it seems to be able to deliver.
The image below was from my first attempt at Jupiter, can only get better when I know what Im doing.
Oh wow Chris that's a top shot.
I think you've done very well, and not just because it's your first shot.
This debate is not about LPI v Toucam. It is about the next step up. If you go to Cloudy Nights, most of the top imagers there are using monochrome cameras. The More expensive varieties. The reason being that the cameras are more suited to the job. I really don't know which is better and this is a question that I have been looking into as I have gone about as far as I can with the Toucam. I would recommend asking the same question on CN in the planetary imaging section.
As for LPI v Toucam. I used the LPI for a long time and then bought a toucam. The LPI strictly speaking does not compete with the Toucam. My images are way better with the Toucam than the LPI. It's a good starting point but not a very camera for the job. The Neximage cam is producing some good results and I believe as pointed out before that it is a tricked up Toucam.
I will follow this thread as I am interested in a new camera myself.
Oh wow Chris that's a top shot.
I think you've done very well, and not just because it's your first shot.
Good onya mate.
Thanks Andrew, to be technically correct it wasnt my first shot, but from my first night. At first I didnt think I had anything worth keeping but I had saved all the individual images, one evening I decided to have a play so I removed all the obviously bad ones and restacked the rest with Registax.
As an overall planet / dso at the amateur market ($300), I can recommend the toucam that has been modded.
Interesting any chance on seeing some dso images from the toucam? I'm sure
they're out there just never seen any
here's a couple dso and planetary images from the LPI, as for LPI v's Webcam
it's a personal thing, show me images form a webcam that are apparently
way better than the LPI. Maybe you just didn't know how to use it
properly in anycase each to his own. Just depends on your skill level. The
LPI comes complete with all you need. Webcam dont. Also if you decide to
move up the the DSI range you dont have to relearn software.
The jury is still out in my book on the LPI v's Webcam even though webcams
are meant to be more sensitive I dont see any "Way better" looking images to
prove this statement. LPI certainly hasn't stopped my images from being published
Yes this isn't a LPI v's Webcam debate, but my original point was dont buy a
DSI or DSI Pro for dedicated planetary imaging as you will prolly be disappointed
and go back to your Neximage
CS you should go and have a look at CN some time all sort of work is being done with the Toucam including long exposure work and hi quality planetary imaging. Not many LPI shots there. Wonder why?
CS you should go and have a look at CN some time all sort of work is being done with the Toucam including long exposure work and hi quality planetary imaging.
Nothing more special than I haven't seen here. And nothing more special than I have seen the LPI can do. Saw one DSO which was even crappier than my M42 above. Aperture for Aperture no I cant say webcams surpass the LPI in any way. Unless you know of some better pic's?
Quote:
Originally Posted by rumples riot
Not many LPI shots there. Wonder why?
Maybe that might change by the end of the day.
Yes there alot of webcam "planetary" images there didn't see an LPI stuff, but there is also quite alot of images without camera info too, maybe they're
closet LPI'ers. Give me a 10",11" 12" goto and I'll show you the same quality
planetary with the LPI.
i can't find any dso's with a modded toucam on cn , i have left a post, so i will see what comes up.
there was a review on the lpi vs toucam on cn i read once. it ended up being a tie from memory. the planetary pics were better for the toucam, but the lpi was better on others. i will try and find it.
Actually I would even go as far to say the detail in mine is crisper, you just have more colour. My image btw, is a composite of 9 exposures @ .120 I killed it before the filter kicked in. The larger one is a composite of 30 exposures @ .144
Rob & Paul, you both have outstanding images of Jupiter there, but I'd have to say that though Paul's image may indeed look a tad overprocessed for some (it does for me), it does seem to have more detail than the LPI images. This is more obvious if one resizes either image to make the disks of Jupiter the same size.
You really should stop smoking that stuff. Pink images cool. Crisper Yeah what mag you running. Mate at low res mine looks the same. Get some focal length.
I dare you to say what you have just said on Cloudy nights. BTW if you look at all the images they usually have Toucam Pro 11 or which camera they used in the type on the photo itself or at the bottom of their sig.
Over processing? You really are going too far. Subtle.
There is a chap on CN with a modded Toucam that is doing great images. Try looking a little longer, before shootin your mouth off.
- Lumenera, ATK-1HS or (2HS), DMK firewire, Dragonfly express, or even Mead DSI pro.
