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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2014 23:43:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2014 0:09:34 GMT
Found this while trawling the net. ($504.00 Sterling) Now this would make an awesome cam for video. Check out the specs. www.sure24.co.uk/watec-wat-910hxrc-1-2-super-low-light-mono-camera-570tvl-12vdc-complete-with-remote-control-1
A mere $AU740.00, a steal at that price with a remote control. At a standard 0.0001 Lux and 0.000005 Lux (integrated frame technology)this camera is designed to adjust via frame loss compensation based on the lighting requirements of your environment.Very tempting!! This compares to the PC164EX-2 (0.001 lux low light rating) which I have on its way for $AU 203.00 incl. freight)
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Post by davy on Sept 4, 2014 6:51:24 GMT
had came across it a couple of month ago and pointed it out to micheal morris,he likes his watecs...says the new one not as sensitive and because of it done integration was no good for meteors..if I mind right..think I would go lodestar and only because it has lodestar live to make it more attractive camera to me
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2014 11:58:44 GMT
Can't find a user manual for the 902H2 Ultimate so its hard to see what the differences are. On Paper the 910 looks better, but until someone compares side by side with same lens etc, it will be hard to know. For meteors the 902H2 may be better, but plugged into a scope I think the 910 would be brilliant. It operates just like any other video cam and is far more sensitive. From what I understand of the Lodestars, they are single image ccd's. They are maybe just as sensitive but need lodestar live to make them suitable for live viewing. This watec 910HXRC would be like using a supercharged Sammy and has a remote.
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Post by johnno on Sept 5, 2014 0:19:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2014 5:39:19 GMT
this popped up on uk buy and sell a couple of days ago www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=86879Hi, Now this is a great astro video camera, had one since they first came out and still use it. Watec were the first to bring out specific astro cameras the 100N (solar system objects) and the 120N, Deep sky Objects, both with remote controls, what a boon they are. Still have both of them. Over the years we have also used several in various projects up at the Mt Canopus 1.04m telescope and as an all sky camera so we could see what the sky was like before starting exposure sequences.
Clear Skies...
Shevill
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2014 18:09:31 GMT
Hi All, Here are the specs on it: www.sure24.co.uk/fileuploader/download/download/?d=0&file=custom%2Fupload%2FFile-1396539168.pdfDoes anyone know what chip is used? It looks like the max integration time is 256x. Unless it has some in camera stacking, I don't see that as sufficient for DSO's. The Lodestar is unlimited with Lodestar Live s/w. Don't know how much you pay in the UK, but the new Lodestars are only $599 in the US for either mono or color. This cam costs a bit more. Still hard to beat the Lodestars. Don
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Post by davy on Sept 12, 2014 22:29:11 GMT
hi don.. yeah sens up 256,it may be more expensive but its not an astronomy (video)camera it was designed for the security industry where the lodestar was designed and marketed for astronomy,we use the cheaper cctv cams and modify them to keep the costs down and they do a decent enough job..it's a bit like astrophotography you get what you pay for..the lodestar was a decent imaging camera middle of the road compared to some of the big guns,,,but as a( hybrid )video camera using lodestar live it has become a brilliant camera and the results have been astounding and im shure paul will pull out even more stops and make it even better,it's deffo a camera I would like having,,it's a cake and eat it camera to me can be used for a/p and with a free download courtesy of paul (lodestar live) it's a video camera..what more could you ask for.. p/s in my humble opinion..davy
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2014 0:11:13 GMT
You're right on the money, Davy. Lodestar Live is a brilliant piece of work by Paul and makes the Lodestar a winner for near real time viewing. Paul's working on v0.11 which will improve the color control of the new Lodestar X2C. Free downloads for both Mac and Windows. Paul is a great friend to the astronomy community.
Don
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2014 22:40:52 GMT
Well never being one to do things the easy way, (or the cheapest), I have taken the plunge, bit the bullet, and burned my bridges. I have bought two Watec 910 HX/RC cameras. I was shocked at how tiny they are. I was expecting something slightly larger for the price. I am mounting them into the cctv housings I acquired, which will then be mounted up above the roof in place of my existing video meteor cam. I have set one up and had a quick test, and it works fine. At 1/50 sec fixed shutter speed, AGC off, senseup off, I see plenty of stars. These settings would be the same as used by the 902H2. I have yet to adjust the iris level to see if I can get more out of it, but I need a clear night to do that. On this cam I am using a Computar 2.6mm F1.0 lens. I will try a different fast lens on the other cam. The remote hand control cable is only about a metre long, so I have cut it off about 6 inches from the camera. I then carefully wired an RJ45 connector to each cut end of the cable. Then, using a couple of Ethernet extension blocks I extended the hand control cable with a standard straight through data cable. Yes, it works, and I have tested it at 15mtrs. So now I can still adjust the cams from the comfort of my chair. Still more work to do before an official test, and will post results later. My plan was to have both cams working for the Orionids shower on the 20th, but weather not looking too good. I am also really tempted to use one of the cams on my 120ED to see how the cam does on dso's. It should prove interesting.
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Post by davy on Oct 16, 2014 23:05:11 GMT
nice one allan...early chrimbo lol...what lenses are you sticking on those bad boys
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2014 0:06:29 GMT
Well never being one to do things the easy way, (or the cheapest), I have taken the plunge, bit the bullet, and burned my bridges. I have bought two Watec 910 HX/RC cameras. I was shocked at how tiny they are. I was expecting something slightly larger for the price. I am mounting them into the cctv housings I acquired, which will then be mounted up above the roof in place of my existing video meteor cam. I have set one up and had a quick test, and it works fine. At 1/50 sec fixed shutter speed, AGC off, senseup off, I see plenty of stars. These settings would be the same as used by the 902H2. I have yet to adjust the iris level to see if I can get more out of it, but I need a clear night to do that. On this cam I am using a Computar 2.6mm F1.0 lens. I will try a different fast lens on the other cam. The remote hand control cable is only about a metre long, so I have cut it off about 6 inches from the camera. I then carefully wired an RJ45 connector to each cut end of the cable. Then, using a couple of Ethernet extension blocks I extended the hand control cable with a standard straight through data cable. Yes, it works, and I have tested it at 15mtrs. So now I can still adjust the cams from the comfort of my chair. Still more work to do before an official test, and will post results later. My plan was to have both cams working for the Orionids shower on the 20th, but weather not looking too good. I am also really tempted to use one of the cams on my 120ED to see how the cam does on dso's. It should prove interesting. Hi Alan,
Great purchases, Watec have always been good to the astro community with their remote hand control panels, Watec 100N, 120N and now this model. A 1/2" detector will give you the max FOV if your lenses are 1/2", this is why I have always hung onto my fast 1/2" Comptar lenses. It will be very interesting to see a single video frame, no processing of say a star cluster then I can compare it with the same lens Computar 2.6 or 2.8 f/1.0 with my much cheaper Supercircuits PC 164EX2. The new Watec looks like the way to go.
Clear skies... Shevill
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Post by Dragon Man on Oct 17, 2014 0:45:05 GMT
My only concern would be the 570 TVL when most other cameras we use are 700 TVL, but images posted online by the Watecs show tight stars and good detail, especially Lunar detail. Good purchase Allan
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2014 6:09:36 GMT
Davy; I am using a Computar 2.6mm f1.0 1/2" format lens on one cam, and I have a Fujinon 6mm f1.2 1/2"format lens for the other. Or I will try out the Honeywell 2.8-8mm f0.95 1/3" format lens set at 6-8mm to avoid the tunnel vision effect, just for a FOV comparison. I will keep my eyes peeled for any other fast lenses that might be of use. I've also installed the watecs using camera quick release plates so that I can remove them with a minimum of fuss when I want one for the scope.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2014 6:17:36 GMT
My only concern would be the 570 TVL when most other cameras we use are 700 TVL, but images posted online by the Watecs show tight stars and good detail, especially Lunar detail. Good purchase Allan I did share that concern Ken, but only time and testing will show what the views are like.
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