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Post by davy on Mar 8, 2015 7:45:29 GMT
Its a shame matt is having problems with production and delivery on paper it looks a decent enough set up..this forum supports all and any system that advances video astronomy and the advancement in technology over the last year has made large leaps and it must be hard as a developer to keep up..
..personally I hope it's resolved soon with either money returned or camera kits supplied.im sure his clients just want to have it resolved to get back videoing the heavens.
forum wise it's down to personal choice to which is the most helpful to your requirements..specific sites for each camera can be good help, on here this forum tries to cover all aspects of video astronomy from beginners to advanced users..this forum is totally sponsor free and is managed by members for the members and it runs itself mostly with no moderation..this is because it has fantastic members.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2015 12:51:01 GMT
From what I've heard, the APU-1 has still not been delivered to those who ordered it. I also heard that the Yahoo forum is heavily moderated by the owner and any comments asking about the whereabouts of a camera or complaints made are censored. Not sure what that's all about. The promised delivery dates keep changing and get pushed back with one excuse after another. Not a way to run things if you ask me. I have heard this issue echoed by a few other AVS customers who also ordered an APU1 many months ago. At this juncture I believe that Matt should release a prototype with whatever flaws or imperfections it may have and allow some of the earliest customers who ordered this camera a chance to test it out. I know he is a one-man show but I think the astro-video community is very helpful and generally extremely patient and supportive of innovation. Perhaps by sharing the testing some workarounds could be found or users could contribute ideas regarding the features that work and those that don't. The worst thing is to over promise and under deliver in any business. I too hope that customers who paid for this camera are better informed regarding its status and are offered the opportunity to either take a prototype, take a Mk4 instead or get a refund. Its been just too long a wait honestly... Al
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Post by davy on Mar 8, 2015 17:42:28 GMT
I had spoke to matt a while back and offered a vendor's space on here and made the offer of helping by testing prototypes ect and gave ideas on equipment. .this offer was also made to rock..Unfortunately nothing came if these enquiries. .jack.. (mallincam usa) has taken a vendors section and looks in now and then..both parties have there own yahoo groups for there systems ,this forum is not here to bring down any vendors work or camera system..we look to promote and share information on video astronomy with all and remain impartial.. I personally would like sections in here for all system's and everybody using our collective voice to push for more of the features we would like on video cameras..whether its a security camera or specific astronomy video camera.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2015 20:43:52 GMT
I'm not here to bring down any particular camera manufacturer. I am here to make people WARY. There's a lot of shots fired over each other's bow between the MC and AVS groupies, but through the smoke, there are some truths. Jack and company make and deliver a great product and are known for their support to the video astronomy community, especially with NSN. AVS is the new kid on the block and not much is known beyond that. Matt seems to be trying really hard to make a great product, but is really way too focused on collecting orders than actually filling them. The promise of the APU-1 is well over a year old now and not one order has been filled. No one has actually seen what an APU-1 can do either because there's no prototypes, there's no concrete data posted or shared. People are putting money down up to the full amount on a product that hasn't been fully tested. The only information available on the APU is what's posted on the AVS website. Nothing much else appears on any other forum; Cloudynights, Stargazerslounge, Iceinspace, Astronomyforum, even Yahoo. What is found are people asking "where is my APU-1?" or "why doesn't Matt respond?" That is concerning. Why does Matt turn down opening a presence on this forum or on any other forum for that matter? Why the lack of transparency? It produces a seed of doubt in my mind....is there even an APU-1? Is it vaporware? I have read posts about customers being given promised delivery dates and when that time goes weeks beyond such dates, they receive no response from Matt when they try to find out what happened. They've resorted to posting on the Mallincam Yahoo group, because they can't get accepted into the AVS Yahoo group or when they post complaints on the AVS Yahoo group, they get moderated out. WTH? Getting a bad reputation before getting out of the gate is not a way to make one's business successful.
I really hope AVS comes through and surprises everybody in the video astronomy community. It's good to have another name out there and more options means better accessibility for everyone. I am an astrophotographer myself but have entertained the thought of starting video astronomy as a 'side option'. I've been shopping around and doing research by networking with others more experienced than I. Mallincam looks like the leader, and although it comes across as quite pricey, it appears to have an excellent support network. I came across the AVS website and was dazzled by the promises, but that wore off the more I started digging around. If it really lives up to the hype, the APU-1 could be a game changer but like many things, if it sounds too good to be true, it's usually because it IS. Maybe I'll just sit this one out for awhile and see how things shape up before I make the final decision to purchase a video camera. Until then, it's NSN for me.
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Post by davy on Mar 8, 2015 23:29:58 GMT
hi, you have researched the video cameras that are available and have came across the problem with the avs camera and decided to hold off,i cant comment on the reasons why other video astronomers have paid good money up front for an untested,unverified camera,it looks like a lot of the folk who have paid for it have done it on a leap of faith,and with it being a leap of faith they have trusted matt to deliver the goods and if the goods do not appear after the stated time it is they who should persue matt for a refund,i have no knowledge if this has been done, the posts on here do not go in depth on this and if it goes to a legal situation then this forum has stated it takes no sides and its down to the individual to persue the vendor.but we have a no bullying policy that covers all members of the forum including vendors. personaly I would not part with money without checking like yourself that I was a..getting a quality piece of equipment that done the job advertised b..that I would get in a specified time frame c..i don't deal in leaps of faith. I work hard for my money and being a frugal Scotsman I like a bargain. speaking of bargains being new to video astronomy I would recommend the Samsung scb2000 camera to start with its cheap and cheerful and does a great job and in my opinion a must have camera. davy
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 1:43:10 GMT
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 9, 2015 4:54:42 GMT
I've seen this kind of thing before in the custom software development and sword/knife making industries. Often the vendor gets so far behind the eight ball that it doesn't work out for them. The taking of advanced orders to fund development is almost never a winning strategy.
--Rick
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 11:10:25 GMT
"The promise of the APU-1 is well over a year old now and not one order has been filled." Now that is a worry if it is correct. On the other hand I got my DSO-S from Matt in about 4 weeks. (I like its wired controller).
Shevill, of course you have room for another camera. I now have a few ..Philips spc900, Gstar Ex2, Mallincam Xtreme, Micro ,DSO-S, LN300 from Aliexpress (my daughter is working on a wired controller for that) and a Watec-902H. The latter 2 were on your recommendation . All that is left is to learn how to use them Paul
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 15:46:16 GMT
I personally would like sections in here for all system's and everybody using our collective voice to push for more of the features we would like on video cameras..whether its a security camera or specific astronomy video camera. The only language manufacturing speaks is profit. We will get what we want when we collectively spend enough to make it worthwhile for them. I'm doing my best but I can't do it all by myself. The rest of you are just going to have to get out there and buy as much video equipment as your heart desires and in doing so you know it will be for the betterment of all.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 9, 2015 17:36:34 GMT
Actually, we are doing better than that LDB, we are promoting VA to new and old astronomers alike.
Being cautious types, they will buy in at entry level and then follow up with a higher level purchase.
--Rick
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Post by davy on Mar 9, 2015 18:45:52 GMT
Hi rick..I always advise getting a sammy..for the money you cant beat it
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 9, 2015 23:12:40 GMT
For someone who wants to start out, having them buy a Sammie and then do surgery on it and find a separate power supply is not a "starter" suggestion in my opinion, versus the $100 offerings from Rock & Matt.
--Rick
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 23:35:13 GMT
Its a shame matt is having problems with production and delivery on paper it looks a decent enough set up..this forum supports all and any system that advances video astronomy and the advancement in technology over the last year has made large leaps and it must be hard as a developer to keep up.. ..personally I hope it's resolved soon with either money returned or camera kits supplied.im sure his clients just want to have it resolved to get back videoing the heavens. forum wise it's down to personal choice to which is the most helpful to your requirements..specific sites for each camera can be good help, on here this forum tries to cover all aspects of video astronomy from beginners to advanced users..this forum is totally sponsor free and is managed by members for the members and it runs itself mostly with no moderation..this is because it has fantastic members. Hi Davy,
Shame about the new video camera, I think that Rick has hit the nail on the head with his comments. I had a very similar experience with a firm overseas with a 'super' camera that I paid for up front, told it was two weeks away, and 5-months later I cancelled the order but lost nearly $200 in the exchange rate fluctuations. I was one of a great number who had been waiting more than a year. Lesson learnt, wait until someone has got one and reviewed it fully, this will save a LOT of frustration and agro all round. Just my cents worth. The money is better gaining interest in my bank A/C rather than someone else!
Clear skies... Shevill
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Post by davy on Mar 10, 2015 0:13:44 GMT
Hi rick.. can see your point, it is a good deal..davy
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Post by davy on Mar 10, 2015 0:19:18 GMT
Hi shevill..yeah not nice being on the receiving end of a bad transaction. .hope matt can sort it out soon but as pointed out it's not giving him a good name
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Post by johnno on Mar 10, 2015 9:58:36 GMT
I do like the concept of a single cat5 cable on the APU and a hand controller but it looks like he's brought out other products also and I would of thought he would get them APU camera's out to his customers first.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 10, 2015 15:58:08 GMT
I'm very anxious to get my Sammie going, its a super deal and I have no problem tinkering. I may start her off with Solar.
I think there cant be enough different cameras and camera types.
But for non-tinkerers the more a setup can be "plug and play" the easier it is to convert more into Video.
--Rick
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2015 18:20:27 GMT
"The promise of the APU-1 is well over a year old now and not one order has been filled." Now that is a worry if it is correct. On the other hand I got my DSO-S from Matt in about 4 weeks. (I like its wired controller).
Shevill, of course you have room for another camera. I now have a few ..Philips spc900, Gstar Ex2, Mallincam Xtreme, Micro ,DSO-S, LN300 from Aliexpress (my daughter is working on a wired controller for that) and a Watec-902H. The latter 2 were on your recommendation . All that is left is to learn how to use them Paul
Hi Paul, I also have a few not shown on my Picasa Video album, direct from a manufacturer in China, which I am testing. The last recent Mallincam purchase was the SSI-L USB 2.0 with good software, which I like. I also like my ASI cameras with the FireCapture software, probably the most comprehensive astronomy software on the market, better still it is free and controls several well-known makes of cameras. My most recent purchase is a MONO (de-Bayered) Canon 450D regulated Peltier cooled DSLR. Just waiting for summer to end and darker nights! Clear skies... Shevill
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 10, 2015 19:50:57 GMT
I would love to get an Xterminator for color and an ATIK mono... the one Tom in Southern Indiana uses. Amazing B/W shots! $$$$$$$
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2015 17:24:13 GMT
I would be very surprised if the APU-1 is not being shipped out by summer. Matt has hired help to speed up production. I think part of the delay was hours in the day, Matt was a one man operation until just recently, and works a full time job. Getting parts from various vendors, and finalizing the design. I think he has upgraded and tweaked it since he first came up with the original prototype. I know the DSO's and Mk4 have been shipped out, I would guess the APU-1 is next. Once he catches up on his backlog, I plan on ordering one if it turns out as good as I think it will.
Richard
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