Re: Webcam vs. Camcorder

From: David Nakamoto (res07oeg_at_verizon.net)
Date: 01/08/05 

Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2005 21:00:56 GMT

Physically, it's advantageous to have as little weight on the eyepiece end
as possible, to keep the telescope balanced enough for good tracking.
Granted that stacking software like Registax alleviates a lot of the
tracking problem, but my experience is the better the tracking the better
the stacking. Webcams are the lightest, smallest cameras available, and
physically are the easiest thing on the telescope, easier than eyepieces.

Another consideration is that with a webcam you need a computer at the
telescope to gather the data, while with a camcorder it's self-contained and
more convenient for field operations. I don't think you lose a lot
transferring the camcorder output to the computer if you have enough
resolution and use high quality tape. Then again, there are digital
camcorders and this might alleviate that problem also.

It's easier to hook a webcam up to the telescope with the adapters readily
available. The camcorder might require additional support to hold it up to
the telescope, depending on the model.

Each has something in its favor and against it. As the technology stands
right now, it's a toss up, and it depends on what you're willing to
tolerate, or what else you might be doing. Since I also do long-exposure
single imaging at the telescope, I have to have a computer there anyways, so
a webcam makes more sense to me. But other than the physical weight and the
different way to attach to the telescope and enter the data into the
computer, there isn't a lot of difference between the two methods. 

-- 
   Sincerely,
   --- Dave
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It don't mean a thing
    unless it has that certain "je ne sais quoi"
               Duke Ellington
----------------------------------------------------------------------
<rmollise@aol.com> wrote in message 
news:1105196470.104504.282270@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> XxXxXxX wrote:
>> Has anyone else played with their video camera in this way as opposed
> to a
>> webcam?  There are low lux setting for the Program AE, wouldn't these
> be
>> advantageous over a webcam for astrophotography?  Also has anyone
> ever used
>> "Nightshot" exposures for astrophotography?
>>
>> Any thoughts on this?

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Best option for photography on my Newtonian
    ... lunar shots is really useful for anything but fustration. ... telescope you need an additional smaller scope so that you can correct ... webcam, an adapter and a decent barlow lens ...
    (uk.sci.astronomy)
  • Re: Webcam Telescope how to
    ... > Philips Toucan webcam and a cheap £150 at most telescope i did say cheap ... to perform the long-exposures and to control the telescope (guiding and so ...
    (uk.sci.astronomy)
  • Re: QC 3000 pro modification
    ... A webcam is just a camera, although tiny, and you can use the objective lens ... of your telescope to form the image instead of using the lens that came with ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Re: newbie
    ... > Is it possible to see the international space station with a telescope? ... > What type of telescope would I need? ... Ideally you need a GoTo system, ... There are various 'satellite tracking' programs that can do this. ...
    (uk.sci.astronomy)
  • Re: Selecting a telescope
    ... Your terminology is a bit off from the norm. ... Tracking and GOTO are two different things. ... Any telescope that can be targeted at an object in ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)