ToUcam Pro as opposed to the QuickCam Pro4000?

Hello to all of the CCD folks.

A little background information may help before I pose my question. You all may be able to make some suggestions in areas I hadn’t contemplated. I have been following the posts here for a few months. I have been doing some homework/research on the net trying to figure out where to start in the imaging game with out spending too much money before I really jump in. I have an 8” LX200GPS with all of the usual problems that come with them. I have got most of them ironed out. I am thinking to start out imaging the moon and Mars with an unmodified web cam.

My question; is there any difference in the ToUcam Pro and the QuickCam Pro4000? Supposedly the CCD chips are the same. I bought the QuickCam Pro4000 from Office Depot for $100-a $20 discount coupon. The QCPro4K is easier to find and I can return it if not satisfied (no mods of course). Is there something about the ToUcam Pro that I do not know about that makes it more attractive besides the readily available information for modifying the TouCam Pro for sorta deep sky photos? When and if I get to the deep sky phase I will definitely get one of the commercial CCDs.

Thanks for any help you all may provide. BTW as you all know this (Astromart forums) is a fantastic resource and I very much appreciate that fact.

Bob L

Hi Bob -

I have had both webcams for a couple of years now. Although they have similar specs, they do not have the same chip.

Also, the Toucam always captures more planetary detail than the QC - I have never understood why this is, as they have the same pixel count.

Either one will do well on planets, the Toucam Pro just performs better for some reason.

-Jake

Hi Jake,
Thanks for the response. I picked up on it right away but was hoping I would get some more feedback before I responded.
According to the spec sheet at this web site:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/molyned/web-cameras.htm

Both the ToUcam pro and the QuickcamPro4000 use the same ¼” Sony ICX098BQ CCD chip. I guess the folks that made up the data sheet must have goofed. I better take back the QuckCam Pro4000 and get my money back and order a ToUcam Pro.
Thanks again for the help
Bob L