If the only reason you want the cam is for planetary then the above are all ccd-based and may be a little OTT for your needs (see below). and many others, not the least of which are some of the Philips ToUcam range, the Vesta range, and so on. Various deep-sky objects taken with a standard (unmodified) ToucamĬrescent Moon, 6-inch Newtonian. Saturn 17th Dec 2002 - note the Crepe Ring and a hint of the Enke Division. Again it was cosmetic changes only - the webcam was even still USB 1 - a missed opportunity by Philips. Philips did it again 2 years later and released the Mark 3 version. USB cable is 1.5 metres long - half what it used The 1/25 second exposure limit prevents a detailed image The Pleiades was shot using the Pentax Toucam with 135mm f/2.8 lens This has been so successful I have built a total of 4įor details of the Pentax Toucam click here Viewfinder and helps to get an approximate focus. I was so impressed with the Toucam that I bought a second and mounted Anyone want to buy a set of colour filters? Objects are possible even with the 1/25th second limitation.įor the Planets I'll not go back to a conventional CCD camera - theĪbility to shoot video and in colour makes the Philips The camera can be modified for long exposures but this requiresĭexterity! I have not attempted it but nevertheless some deep-sky It has in built support for webcams and Christian himself uses a Philips This is freewareĪnd is absolutely brilliant both for image taking and for image processing. Strongly advise using Christian Buil's IRIS software.
Out of the box they are limited to a longest exposute of 1/25th secondīut for the Moon and planets this is fine.Īlthough provided with software for taking stills and video I would A simple 1.25 inch adapter is all that is needed to be up an running. Unlike the Quickcam they do not need to be taken apart as the lens screws It appears to be a Sony HAD CCD chip - one of the best around! Note that Philips claim 1260x960 still resolution for theĬamera but this is interpolation as the actual CCD is 640x480 pixels.
Non pro versions do not have a CCD (they use a CMOS sensor)Īvoided.
Its current UK cost is only £65 for the Pro model. The Toucam represents a great leap forward in quality over the Toucam Mark II - note the infra-red filter from the lens has been re-used. Pentax Toucam - the CCD is not quite 35mm size! ! These now feature pixel sizes far too small for our use ie poor signal to noise. However, manufacturers are miniaturising the chips inside them. Shame on Philips for not upgrading it to USB2.Ģ009 Update: Note several of the newer webcams on the market boast mega-pixel resolution and USB2 connection. It is still USB 1 and 640x480 resolution despite Philips claiming 1.3 megapixel resolution.
Upgrade is perhaps not the right word - it has been rehoused. Philips have again upgraded the Toucam to mark 3 version (SPC 900NC). Imaging with Toucam Webcams Imaging with Toucam WebcamsĪll the images here were shot with a Toucam on a variety of instrumentsįrom a 135mm telephoto lens to a 16-inch Newtonian.