After seeing what can be done with a webcam, I decided to try it. I asked my cousin for her webcam which she bought a while back - some generic Chinese product, with no identifying brands. macam reported it as Generic ZC031P Webcam.
So anyway I dis-assembled it (with permission of course), which wasn't too hard. Then I mounted the imaging unit on a piece of wood using a few screws (salvaged from dismantlement of the webcam casing) and hot glue. Then I used a film canisters which tapers towards the bottom slightly as an adapter - it fits snugly into a 1.25" eyepiece holder. Luckily its black. Some more hotglue and electrical tape later, I had a home made webcam adapted for prime focus use.
Unfortunately I did not have the presence of mind to take pictures while I was making it... so you will have to make do with these.
Naturally after I built this, the clouds moved in. I tried "spying" on some near by highrises to test it, but found my telescope didn't have enough in focus (back focus? Basically, I can't retract the focuser enough to focus). Maybe things will be better with a target at infinity - i.e. a planet. I will post an update when I get a clear sky.
Well done! You might find that those cheap noname webcams aren't quite right for the job, in terms of:
a) low light sensitivity
b) noise
c) adjustable parameters (eg: gain, shutter speed, framerate etc)
d) codecs (too much compression?)
But it's certainly worth trying! Let us know how you go!
Well done! You might find that those cheap noname webcams aren't quite right for the job, in terms of:
a) low light sensitivity
b) noise
c) adjustable parameters (eg: gain, shutter speed, framerate etc)
d) codecs (too much compression?)
But it's certainly worth trying! Let us know how you go!
*nod* It is to sate my desire for sharing, and to keep my photobug away while my nikon t-ring arrives :-) You are right about the adjustable prameters - it only has whitebalance. Low light sensitivity is horrendus, but if I can get it to work I would be happy anyway :-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjjnettie
It must be frustrating the hell out of you waiting for it to clear up enough to try it out.
My fingers are crossed for you that it works out well.
It is! :-) I didn't get the astronomer's curse when I got my telescope - first light was delivery day. But as soon as I get a new barlow and EP, and now this, the clouds move in >.<
Will definitly report how it goes, as soon as the skies clear!
Is there any way that you could move the CCD up further into the tube? I can't quite see, by your image, whether you could or not. I presume that you didn't liberate the CCD array from the circuit board, which you probably can't squeeze into the tube. By going up the tube further you could eliminate your back-focus problem to a degree.
You can remove the array from these boards and re-connect them via ribbon cable and judicious soldering. I'm doing that in order to cool my own ToUcam soon.
Is there any way that you could move the CCD up further into the tube? I can't quite see, by your image, whether you could or not. I presume that you didn't liberate the CCD array from the circuit board, which you probably can't squeeze into the tube. By going up the tube further you could eliminate your back-focus problem to a degree.
You can remove the array from these boards and re-connect them via ribbon cable and judicious soldering. I'm doing that in order to cool my own ToUcam soon.
Cheers
Chris
No I can't. The ccd is soldered onto the circuit board, which is entirely too big to fit. I tried it tonight on Jupiter, no go - it won't focus. Is there any optical means I can fix this, maybe eyepiece projection?
You'll also need an extremely fine-tipped soldering iron like the Weller BP645 - shown.
Cheers
Chris
Ah, I see. That is with in my skills, the only concern I would have would be to accidentally overhead the CCD while desoldering and resoldering, but otherwise I have all the required material.
The peltier setup is very cool, however I doubt it is worth it for my generic CCD. Never the less, we will see, as you never know! :-)
Found another film canister, I think with 2 I can make some sort of compartment... hehe, they are great, them film canisters. Fits a 1.25" EP holder perfectly, black, plastic, and cheap/free.
Will let you know how it goes, and this time I will try to take some pictures.
If you are able to, try hand-moving the camera further away from the focuser and see if you can get focus. Move it back and forth (hard to keep it square when hand-held) and see if you can get any focus that way. If you do, make an extension tube to match.
This what I started with ..$25 key chain camera, hand made balsa box, ep tube ruff resin coat... worked well on the Moon but I thought it was great..at the time.
alex
Just use a barlow with the bottom lens assy screwed off.
I do that with my security cam all the time.
It acts as an extension tube only then.
What would help if I can't extend the focuser far out enough, but the problem is I can't make it go <b>in</b> enough, so I am thinking that trick won't help?
What I need is to have something to perhaps move the focus point further out, with some sort of optics...
You could try moving your pimary mirror up the OTA, assuming that your secondary mirror was originally slightly oversized, you might not loose much light.
You could try moving your pimary mirror up the OTA, assuming that your secondary mirror was originally slightly oversized, you might not loose much light.
That would work... if I didn't have a refractor
This got me thinking: if i can't get this webcam imager into focus, what are my chances of getting my nikon SLR into focus, when the T-ring finally comes in the mail?
Can I extend the focus plane by using a barlow some how placed /before/ the focuser?
