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Post by johnno on Aug 18, 2015 15:49:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2015 18:20:23 GMT
Not knowing the exact exchange rate for the pound, those two cameras appear to be comparatively priced. If they are similar in capability it could be a significant step in the hobby outside of North America. I know the world outside of North America pays prohibitive taxes and shipping fees for North American products.
Putting brand loyalties aside, this hobby needs a few good quality, reasonably priced cameras to take it to the next level. That's when the flood gates will open. When that happens I fully expect to see what we would think of as Science Fiction being common practice. Look at how digital technology has changed everything it has touched in the last few generations. There will good profit to be made once the number of people using this technology reaches a critical mass. How can we expect anything different?
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Post by davy on Aug 18, 2015 18:28:34 GMT
well said ldb,,i totaly agree..shipping costs and taxes make some cameras a tad more expensive and it can be an expensive hobby starting out,,,more cameras the merrier more video astronomers.....even better
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Aug 19, 2015 15:07:28 GMT
I agree with you both.
It's interesting to see this and the software too. Does this mean that the Mallincam SkyRaider AG series is a re-branding of someone else's camera and software too??
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Post by johnno on Aug 19, 2015 22:09:01 GMT
Don't really know Rick, I think ToupTek are the manufactures of the camera and I presume the Likes of Altair Astro and Mallincam and one other on Ebay can't remember the name get them made to their spec's, also ToupTek are selling them as guide cams now but originally I think they were microscope camera's initially.
I suppose it's good that they buy from the likes of ToupTek and other manufactures, the body is already made and the Electronics gets tweaked by the company that's buying them. I would think the likes of Rock would get a stock camera and test it and thing's he doesn't like he goes back to them and make adjustment's or he does it himself to his specification.
Can you imagine if he had to have a camera body and the circuit board and all the components made it would end up costing you a arm and leg.
It's no different than the food industry, Walmart and others' will have branded goods but also have their own label products made by the branded company but slightly cheaper.
I tried the Altair software with my iNova camera as it has the same sensor but it didn't see the camera.
www.touptek.com/
I wonder if this camera will make it's way into the Astro circle with the right sensor
www.touptek.com/product/showproduct.php?lang=en&id=197
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Post by Dragon Man on Aug 20, 2015 5:50:50 GMT
I agree with you both. It's interesting to see this and the software too. Does this mean that the Mallincam SkyRaider AG series is a re-branding of someone else's camera and software too?? Rick, there was a lengthy post by Rock in the Mallincam Yahoo Group about this exact point. But to shorten it down to a quicker explanation, Rock spent 3 years designing a new camera and because ToupTek make a similar camera he contacted them and asked if they would make some of the parts for him (to his specs) and supply their cases as they are already made (cuts costs of designing and making a whole new case - why re-invent the wheel). ToupTek said they would make some of his parts, and supply their cases if he allows them to use his newly designed circuits. Rock agreed on condition that they don't sell them as Astronomy cameras, and the software was written so ToupTek's cameras couldn't run on Rocks Astro software. ToupTek could only advertise them and sell them as Microscope cameras and using ToupTeks own software. The ToupTek cameras won't do everything that Rock's cameras do. They need the Mallincam software but ToupTek cameras won't work with the mallincam Software Since then, other companies have been getting ToupTek's basic video camera (the one ToupTek made before Rocks improvements), having them re-badged and available as Astronomy Video cameras. They look identical to Rocks Cameras but the internals are different. And to protect hs product, none of them can take advantage of Mallincam's software.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Aug 20, 2015 15:52:55 GMT
But it looks like they are developing their own software based off of the same code base to support these new cameras.
I imagine Rock is not happy.
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Post by davy on Aug 20, 2015 16:33:09 GMT
Yeah too right rick..I would imagine rock has it sewn up legally. .sounds like the manufacturer is being a bit underhand or its the openness of rock sharing info that has brought others to the table to dine at his feast.
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Post by Dragon Man on Aug 20, 2015 17:43:20 GMT
Other companies can write their own software if they want to. They probably need to so their cameras run as Astro cameras instead of Microscope cameras. But their software won't be able to talk with a mallincam camera. And the mallincam camera has all the extra features built into it that they don't have access to.
Rock made sure that any other software can't control his extra additions. But on that same note, the mallincam software also can't talk to non mallincam cameras like the ToupTek, iOptron, Altair, etc.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2015 18:48:16 GMT
ToupTek said they would make some of his parts, and supply their cases if he allows them to use his newly designed circuits. Rock agreed on condition that they don't sell them as Astronomy cameras, and the software was written so ToupTek's cameras couldn't run on Rocks Astro software. ToupTek could only advertise them and sell them as Microscope cameras and using ToupTeks own software. The ToupTek cameras won't do everything that Rock's cameras do. They need the Mallincam software but ToupTek cameras won't work with the mallincam Software Ken, Touptek has sold the guider as an astronomy camera for a while. Their astronomy software is called ToupSky and works for the entire line of Touptek cameras. ToupSky includes Dark Field Correction and was available before Rock released his. I have a Touptek 5.1mp lunar/planetary cam similar to the MC SLP. It was only $199 on eBay and works great. It is true that the MC s/w will not connect to the Touptek camera, but I'm not sure what more the MC s/w does over ToupSky. Here's the link to Touptek's astronomy guider. Looks like the same sensor as the MC AG. www.ebay.com/itm/Touptek-USB2-0-CMOS-1-25-Guiding-Camera-for-Telescopes-/161616542075Don
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Post by Dragon Man on Aug 22, 2015 4:06:58 GMT
Ahhh my mistake. I wasn't referring to the Skyraider Guider cam. I was referring to the Skyraider DSc. I didn't read the OP's post properly. I have no knowledge of the origins of the Guider cam, nor am I going to look for it as it doesn't bother me who designed it.
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Post by johnno on Sept 27, 2015 19:14:11 GMT
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Post by davy on Sept 28, 2015 0:07:01 GMT
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Post by davy on Sept 28, 2015 8:03:13 GMT
Camera has more badges than a scout troup leader
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2015 22:24:08 GMT
I will say that the Altair driver in Sharpcap works with my Mallincam AGm
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Post by davy on Oct 27, 2015 23:19:11 GMT
welcome to the forum,,davy
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2015 23:21:16 GMT
Thanks!
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 28, 2015 14:14:39 GMT
Thanks for that tip! I'm not satisfied yet with the MallincamSky software. The latest version has a few fixes.
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