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MantaBase
 Post subject: Quick Cam Astronomy
PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:27 am 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
The victim:

Logitek Quick cam IM

Not ideal, but its my first QC mod - so I figure I would kill a $30 camera before trying it on a $100 camera (Quick Cam 4000 Pro is the best on the market for this)

http://www.usno.navy.mil/pao/QuickCamAstro.shtml



http://www.qcuiag.co.uk/


Details pending

Manta
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MantaBase
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:35 am 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
I finished. Took pics and video of moon last night from front porch. Easy to do and works great. Damn Mesquitos stopped me from staying out longer!

If anyone wants details on how to do it just ask. It was easy.

Manta
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MantaBase
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:24 am 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
my first pic

Image


I am processing video right now. Will see if it works.

Manta
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BiggPa
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:23 am 
Willamette
Willamette
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:34 pm
Posts: 1182
Location: So Cal
MantaBase wrote:
my first pic

http://img4.photobucket.com/albums/0803 ... c25a73.jpg

I am processing video right now. Will see if it works.

Manta


no worky...

damit..now worky..
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MantaBase
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:31 am 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
BiggPa wrote:
MantaBase wrote:
my first pic

http://img4.photobucket.com/albums/0803 ... c25a73.jpg

I am processing video right now. Will see if it works.

Manta


no worky...

damit..now worky..


Out of curiosity, do you see the image in the forum, or do you have to click the link?

Its supposed to just show up im my message.

Manta
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Gadget
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:45 am 
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
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Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:32 pm
Posts: 2555
Location: Somewhere between compilation and linking
MantaBase wrote:
my first pic


I am processing video right now. Will see if it works.

Manta


Sorry about it taking so long to get here. Had some affairs to get in order first.

Where are the details :!:

You made quick work of that mod. How was the process?
What software did you use to take that picture?
What telescope?

If that is a raw image of the moon, I must say that your modded webcam is FAR better then what the stupid POS I bought for 6x as much is capable of doing! I suspect that you may have stacked a couple of images though.

What are the plans with the video?
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Gadget
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:58 am 
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
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Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:32 pm
Posts: 2555
Location: Somewhere between compilation and linking
Just mast... er, testing. :)


Code:
try {
{
    System.out.println("This better work.....");

    while (speed < 100) {
        ++speed * 2;
        sb.append(speed);
        sb.append("\n");
    }

    System.out.println(sb.toString());
}

catch (Exception e) {
    System.out.println("or I'll be pissed");
}
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Gadget
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:59 am 
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
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Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:32 pm
Posts: 2555
Location: Somewhere between compilation and linking
Where is my sig....
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MantaBase
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 6:24 am 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
Gadget wrote:
MantaBase wrote:
my first pic


I am processing video right now. Will see if it works.

Manta


Sorry about it taking so long to get here. Had some affairs to get in order first.

Where are the details :!:

You made quick work of that mod. How was the process?
What software did you use to take that picture?
What telescope?

If that is a raw image of the moon, I must say that your modded webcam is FAR better then what the stupid POS I bought for 6x as much is capable of doing! I suspect that you may have stacked a couple of images though.

What are the plans with the video?



The Mod took about 20 minutes. Had I known what I was doing it would have taken 5.

You need a small phillips screw driver, a tube of superglue, the victim, and a film cannister (preferrably a Fuji one - the white kind - but any would work)

Image
the victim (The Pro 4000 is far better - but the mod is different I bet)

Image

Here you see the camera with the lid of the film canister superglued to it. I didn't take pics while I modded, so I will explain below.

Image
Middle part of lens stack (lens housing) needs to be removed.

Image
finished product

Next post :arrow: the details

Manta
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MantaBase
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 6:37 am 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
Gadget wrote:
MantaBase wrote:
my first pic


I am processing video right now. Will see if it works.

Manta


Sorry about it taking so long to get here. Had some affairs to get in order first.

Where are the details :!:

You made quick work of that mod. How was the process?
What software did you use to take that picture?
What telescope?

If that is a raw image of the moon, I must say that your modded webcam is FAR better then what the stupid POS I bought for 6x as much is capable of doing! I suspect that you may have stacked a couple of images though.

What are the plans with the video?


OK - so you have to take the lens out (I am gonna try to use it with it in later).

With the camera pointed at you, there is a hole on the right - a screw inside - remove it and carefully open the camera.

Carefully pull out the ccd pcb.

turn the lens stack bezel (the thing with the wite ring) ccw unltil it comes off of the lens stack collar.

Now, the lens housing can be pulled out of the bezel (see pic if lens housing above).

Take film canister (fugi white can works best). Cut bottom out of can - cut the middle out of the lid.

glue lid to white ring on bezel. if you use a normal film can you may need epoxy. You want to glue it so you can attach the can to it. See pic above.

re-assemble camera with out the lens housing in it (this is the trickest part - be careful)

Attach flim can

Done.

Camera should fit in a standard scope (you might want to test this first with the film can).

Software used. I used the stuff that came with the camera. The moon image is a still pick I got. Its been reduced in resolution and color so I could post it - but it looks about the same unless you zoom in.

For vid processing I DLed COAA's astrovideo (free).

Its not very good for moon shots, but it allows you to take video and stack images. This is great for fainter objects

I have not used it with the camera yet - weather sucky.

Hows that?

Oh yeah - scope: Celestron 4.5" newt with malfunctioning (user error) NexStar system :)

Shitty camera + shitty scope = nice pics

Manta
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MantaBase
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 6:47 am 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
Further Stuff:

I am gonna paint the can flat black and there is an LCD inside I am gonna put whiteout over to dim it.

Also note: This mode is reversable and the camera is a great IM web cam.

For *nix users, I think astrovideo will work for you and it can grab pics and video from the camera (so I am told).

I will test this soon (but the lappytop is XP home so I can only test it that way).

I have seen talk about hacking a DeLorme Earthmate GPS Bluetooth Powerpack to work with a PDA.

But the mod is beyond me and the powerpack is $130 :!: and I don't see PDA software that can take the pics yet.

Manta
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Gadget
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:28 pm 
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
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Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:32 pm
Posts: 2555
Location: Somewhere between compilation and linking
MantaBase wrote:
Software used. I used the stuff that came with the camera. The moon image is a still pick I got. Its been reduced in resolution and color so I could post it - but it looks about the same unless you zoom in.

Hows that?

Oh yeah - scope: Celestron 4.5" newt with malfunctioning (user error) NexStar system :)

Shitty camera + shitty scope = nice pics

Manta


Nice posts... 8)

That is a pretty nice raw image. Damn. Sometimes I really wish I didn't live so close to the beach. There is a marine layer almost every single night. Well, get some practice in..... I want to see what you can do with Jupiter and Saturn then we'll point you to M51 or maybe a galaxy cluster.
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MantaBase
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:41 pm 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
I have to get the nexstar to align right first. I must be doing something wrong - and its been cloudy here all the time.

Manta
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Gadget
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:32 pm 
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
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Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:32 pm
Posts: 2555
Location: Somewhere between compilation and linking
MantaBase wrote:
I have to get the nexstar to align right first. I must be doing something wrong - and its been cloudy here all the time.

Manta


NestStar? What the hell is that?! jk. Just pop off a raw image shot of Jupiter, Saturn or Mars and lets see what you've got there. I'm totally impressed with it so far.

Damn - I wish I could use the Cave more around here.
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MantaBase
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 6:32 am 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
Gadget wrote:

NestStar? What the hell is that?! jk. Just pop off a raw image shot of Jupiter, Saturn or Mars and lets see what you've got there. I'm totally impressed with it so far.

Damn - I wish I could use the Cave more around here.


Its been cloudy. I will see what I can do - but for those planets I have to get the nexstar working unless I get a very clear night and can see them unaided. Also - finder needs battery now - got one - I hope that the only problem.

Manta
(PS - just got accepted to NASA/JPL mission planning summer school in Pasdena - pretty good for a masters student)
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Gadget
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:02 pm 
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
Bitchin' Fast 3D Z8000*
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Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:32 pm
Posts: 2555
Location: Somewhere between compilation and linking
MantaBase wrote:
Gadget wrote:
(PS - just got accepted to NASA/JPL mission planning summer school in Pasdena - pretty good for a masters student)


Hell yeah - are you going to be down in Pasadena for the Summer? We'll definitely have to hang out some!
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MantaBase
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:26 pm 
I'd rather be modding!
I'd rather be modding!
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:47 pm
Posts: 3731
Location: Las Vegas
Gadget wrote:
MantaBase wrote:
Gadget wrote:
(PS - just got accepted to NASA/JPL mission planning summer school in Pasdena - pretty good for a masters student)


Hell yeah - are you going to be down in Pasadena for the Summer? We'll definitely have to hang out some!


Yep - I don't know the details yet. I am betting its a crash course (no pun intended), so I may have little time. But I need to get the details.

Manta
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