Lpi vs Toucam

[beren]

Interesting report on the two imagers

http://www.cloudynights.com/lab/astr.../meadelpi2.pdf

[iceman (Mike)]

heh nice review, I didn't expect the LPI to come out on top, but I spose for the fact that it's a specialised astro-webcam, it should be better.

It didn't do well on the planets though.. it really only won in terms of cost etc.

I wonder how the DSI will compare to DSLR's or other astro CCD cameras.

[rumples riot]

I suspect that the DSI will not be as good as a DSLR or come anywhere near the more pricey CCD's.

The LPI is a good little camera, but the scale factor is what lets it down. I need to buy a 5x powermate to get the same size scale from the LPI as the Toucam. Still I have seen some great Saturn shots this year through the LPI.

Another factor that is in its favour is the versatility of the LPI, I use it to guide my scope while I am shooting deep sky shots. This is in part due to the software, a bit clunky, but at least it is designed for the LPI.

Just my take on things.

Paul

[rumples riot]

The LPI works fine for guiding so long as you get a reasonalby bright star in the OAG. The stars are very faint, but once you get a bright one it will track for as long as you want.

As for the off axis guider, you need good eyesight to make this work. The stars are generally very faint, but this does not mean it is not workable. I found that with a little practice and I do mean a little, you can get great guiding. So far I have guided for fifteen minutes at a time and am planning on going as far as my camera will let me (30 minutes). As far as I am concerned I am happy with both the LPI and the OAG. It just depends how much money you want to spend.

Anyway I hope this helped.

Paul

[mch62 (Mark)]

Interesting review .
I bought my ToUcam for planetary imaging and it's nice to see the far superior planetary images from the ToUcam .
They are both stated in the article as being PLANETARY IMAGERS so how does the LPI win when the photos of JUPITER are blurry blobs compared to the ToUcam >>>>>cost ? $60 US bucks gets you a hell of a better picture of Jupiter
If you want a good deep sky imager you are going to need a camera with a larger chip than either of these two and of coarse a lot lot more money , but than there have been some very good pics taken with a modified web cam . I think the new Meade Deep Sky Imager is step in the right direction but than it comes down to $$$$$$ .

[iceman (Mike)]

They are both stated in the article as being PLANETARY IMAGERS so how does the LPI win when the photos of JUPITER are blurry blobs compared to the ToUcam >>>>>cost ? $60 US bucks gets you a hell of a better picture of Jupiter

That was my feeling too.. I would've thought the main factor in deciding the winner would've been quality of images.. not a few dollars..

I'm waiting to hear back from Matthew at Telescopes&Astronomy so I can order my ToUcam.. Might have to give him a call, seems he's forgotten me.

[Saturn%5 (Graeme)]

Hi All
I had the lpi and only used it with my 4" vixen reflector and well i have now sold it and will move onto a Toucam as the seem far better.

My best pic of jupiter with the lpi.