Webcam or Canon D10

Hi everyone,
I am seriously considering getting into imaging. I have a 14.5" F4.3 Dobs. With a web cam you also need a computer..correct? With a digital camera you don't...correct? What is the difference in cost between the two systems and the quality of images received between the two sytems? Also is one system easier to use than another? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Bob Hardy
Nightskyscope 14.5" F4.3

I have a 10D and have tried taking planetary pictures with it. Single shots didn't look to bad, but not as much detail as what you would get with a webcam. The only problem is that you need a lot of images stacked to bring out detail. When you shoot in RAW mode with the 10D the 16bit Tiffs are 36 megs. It takes along time for software to process hundreds of files that are that large. Also you need lots of RAM and a big hard drive. I suppose you could reduce the image size to small, but since you will be shooting at prime focus you will not get as much detail as you would with a RAW. The planetary images taken in this forum with webcams speak for thenselves and a webcam will work much better then the 10D and you can get higher magnifications with the use of barlows. I like using a webcam because I can sit inside and watch the image on my screen and do any adjustments to be certain the image is perfect.

Bob,

A webcam is great for the moon and planets, but you'll never be happy with the DSO images you get.

I have a 10D and it's amazing what you can do with it. Even 1 minute exposures - stacking 10 or 20 - gives images that are fantasic.

....But the 10D is 10x more expensive ($1500 for just the body) than a Webcam

Of course you can also you the 10D for "terrestrial" images too.

Russ

Hi Robert,

I pretty-much echo Ryan and Russ's comments. I've compared a lot of planetary photos between both digital SLR's and webcams. IMO the webcam is better, multiple stacking to increase S/N ratio and the fact that one can remove instantaneous bad seeing which often occurs at less than 0.1 sec intervals (or at least can). Seeing is probably the biggest factor to good, crisp imaging. On the downside is the need for a computer, you could try connecting to a PC if you have one available in your backyard, etc. That nice 14.5" dob of yours would yield some nice planets with a ToUcam 840 (provided good seeing of course)! I spent $45 for my ToUcam 740 on eBay (no bad pixels either), but got lucky. Most 840's are going for $150 or so.

But the digital SLR's are getting really nice and I see a growing trend. I've seen some pretty impressive DSO imaging lately using them...

--DJ