What Cheap webcam for autoguiding?

Garyh · #1 13-05-2007, 03:23 PM

Hi all again in the IIS world....

,
After I get my little shed finished and setup I would like to setup autoguiding..
Won`t have much of a budjet for it so it will have to be cheap!!
Also want to use freeware if possible like guidedog or similar..
Also a shoestring adaptor to my gm-8.
Anyone have suggestions on what webcams are suitable for this? Lots of people use the toucam for this as well as the planetary imaging but I was wondering if there are alternatives? Heard that the logitech fusion is also good! would I be better getting a proper imager like the LPI or a nextimager or similar?
I don`t really want to bother about modding it as long as it can pickup a 6-8 mag star I would be happy...and cheaper the better...
Any info would be very much appreciated!!
cheers.....

[1ponders] (Paul) · #2 13-05-2007, 03:27 PM

DSI (the original) is good, though I'm not sure which freeware guiders it works with. You should be able to pick up a cheap one on ebay or similar.

What scope are you planning to guide through?

I still find the ol' ToUcam pretty versatile for autoguiding. You could look out for a second hand SAC4.2 and guide using PHD Guiding.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #3 13-05-2007, 03:30 PM

Here ya go. Cheaper than a ToUcam with an adapter

gbeal · #4 13-05-2007, 04:33 PM

For me. ToUcam, 80mm guidescope, and StarMate, using K3. Faultless. BUT...... to make the ToUcam sing you really need the Losmandy rings.

Terry B · #5 13-05-2007, 05:45 PM

I've just ordered one of these http://web.aanet.com.au/gama/QHY%20Cmos.html Cheaper than the meade one and probably more sensitive but I haven't received it yet so I don't have any first hand experience.

74tuc · #6 13-05-2007, 07:33 PM

I hate to be negative but anything in this application is better than my NexImage!!

Jerry.

Garyh · #7 14-05-2007, 07:46 AM

Thanks Paul, Gary, Terry and Jerry...thanks for the feedback..
I like the idea of the QHY 1.3mp camera Terry..Anyone else have one of these...?
Sounds like it would be ideal as a guide camera and later on I could do some planetary stuff to boot...
Paul, my guidescope is a 70x500mm refractor and plan on using a 2x barlow with it. I think this should work well?
Have seen a box of toucams for sale on ebay cheap...would be a good buy if there were a few people interested...
Cheers

[1ponders] (Paul) · #8 14-05-2007, 09:05 AM

I don't think you would have too much trouble getting rid of them. I'd take one.