A while ago I started playing around with an Agent webcam I bought on Ebay. Later I bought one of the colour DSI's and the webcam got put aside. The DSI has so far been a pain in the behind, so back to the webcam. After a bit of hacking and dismantling I ended up with the body and a bare CCD chip. Yesterday I managed to graft on an IR filter to replace the built in one which was removed with the lens holder, and with a polarizing filter stacked on top these are the results so far. The software with the cam also gives some control over brightness, contrast, exposure, gamma etc. Still playing with these settings.
All 3 are avi's reduced to individual bitmaps and stacked in registax and given minimal processing in Paintshop Pro 7.
The first two are slightly different settings on the polarizing filter I used, the third is with a little tweaking of the software settings as well.
All video files were around 200 frames. Scope was 80mm SurplusShed ATM refractor at prime focus.
Don't know why I didn't see this post before Bill.
Great stuff. I like looking for alternatives too. It's what drives me I guess.
Does the eBay shop you bought this webcam from display its characteristics? It looks like it's reasonably light sensitive, and like many cameras available now should perform well down below 1 lux. I'm looking at a Logitech Fusion right now and I can have one from Trickie Dickies, today, for about $90 - which is less that the venerable ToUcam once the ebay seller adds their transport cost.
It's be interesting to see how you go with barlow too....
When I bought mine it was supposed to be the cheaper one, but when it arrived it had the zoom and a built in mic (about as much use as udders on a bull for what I wanted it for ) Yep, who cares about the Vista bit, tried it once for 24hrs and went back to XP, have enough software problems now without looking for more .
They are a bit tricky to take apart without doing damage, you have to push the cable in a little and pull on the end cap and bit by bit the whole plastic body slips out of the tube. I ended up carefully cutting through the plastic just aft of the end cap with a junior hacksaw till it comes off and reveals the lens tube. The inner body is split and comes apart to leave a bare circuit board. The lens holder is only held on by 2 small screws on the back side of the circuit board. Handle carefully, the wires are pretty thin.
Geez you paid wayyyyyy too much for that.
I only paid the starting bid of $19.95
Patience pays off
It is a good camera and fits straight in a 1.25" eyepiece holder.
Just took it apart and $%#$^#&#$ snapped some wires off because it came out too easy.
Has anyone a pic of how the wires go?
Will be eternally gratefull.
With some i mean all
Geez you paid wayyyyyy too much for that.
I only paid the starting bid of $19.95
Patience pays off
It is a good camera and fits straight in a 1.25" eyepiece holder.
FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY:
Quote:
Originally Posted by mill
Just took it apart and $%#$^#&#$ snapped some wires off because it came out too easy.
Has anyone a pic of how the wires go?
Will be eternally gratefull.
With some i mean all
Pic coming shortly Mill
Here it is. Starting at the legs of the metal can (Cap or crystal, not sure which), from left to right it's Red, White, Green Black.
) Yep, who cares about the Vista bit, tried it once for 24hrs and went back to XP, have enough software problems now without looking for more . 
Yep, it sounds like a great camera 
