Which webcam?

The dark side of imaging force clouds everything ... ;-). Being a pure visual observer, I've been toying with idea of experiencing the power of imaging recently.

Still knowning next to nothing about webcam but I've been learning ;-), I'd like to get my "focusers" wet soon. I've been reading up on the how-to's and the reviews and have some idea about some cameras. I'm mainly interested in planetary and lunar imaging and may dabble in DSOs some day. No black/white camera - I want color (I don't mine if I have to get a different camera for DSOs later but I rather the first camera does particularly well on the planets and the Moon).

Firstly, my environment is with APO refractors: 4" f/8.6 (FL 880mm) or 5" f/6 (FL 780mm) an Vixen SP mount with RA clock drive, being a 4-inch/5-inch Tall Evangelist you know. I also plan to get a 5X Powermate (or would my 2X Ultima or 1.8X TMB barlow that I have be sufficient to start with)? Now I understand the image scale won't be anywhere as big as 'em pictures from the mighty SCT/MCT . I have a 300 Mhz P-II laptop with 256MB running Windows 2000 with plenty of disk space (should this be sufficient to do the capture? - I can process the images later on my 2.4 GHz P4 desktop with 512MB memory).

So it appears that the Toucam Pro II which already comes with a 1.25" adapter, seems to be very popular for planetary/lunar imaging. I realize I'll need an IR filter (perhaps a Baader one).
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=4086&kw=Toucam&st=2

While researching, I ran across the SAC.
http://www.sac-imaging.com/main.html
SAC 10 looks intriguing but much more expensive. However, I don't see much of planetary pictures taken through the SAC and those I've seen so far don't look as good as through the Toucam.

So the question is: what should I pick? Are there any other color webcam that is "better" than the Toucam (but not too expensive)? I'm not a handyman and actually get turned off if I have to make accessories myself or have to adapter the camera a lot (don't mind learning the software however). I don't mind paying a little more if it can yield better and more painless results ;-). What about cooling? Do I really need it for planetary pictures?

Finally, I'll start out with the Moon first, try my hands at Jupiter and hopefully get enough experience by the time Mars swell hugely later this year ;-).

Thanks,
Ron B[ee]

Hi Ron. Like you I too fancied myself a die hard visual oberserver with my 4" refractor and my 20" Dob. I thought i would never be interested in any kind of imaging but got additcted to webcam imaging very quickly. I am by no means an expert but here's my 2 cents. I would get the Toucam with adapter. I use the old toucam and capture using the supplied software, process in Registax. If you feel the need later you may want to look at the Lumenara cameras which are quite a bit more expensive, or the Monochrome DMK 21BF04 firewire camera. Several folks on this forum have done incredible stuff with those cameras. IMO the cooled SAC cameras do not really help S/N on the planets since the exposure time is so short. With 4" of aperature you will be limited with respect to resolution but should still get some fine images, especially of the Moon. Also I would think that a 5X powermate would be just fine giving you a FL of around 4400mm. At 4400mm you might be somewhat limited in the light gathering department, but maybe someone who has experience with this combo could chime in. I use my webcam with my C8 and 2X barlow which gives me 4000mm and I would not want to image the planets with anything under about 3000mm. Much less than that and your image scale would be pretty small especially on Mars. But beware of the dark side, for it will suck you in and there is no coming back. I started off webcamming planets and the moon and got the itch for imaging DSO's also. So i took the plunge and bought an ST2000 which I use with my 4" Tak and GM8. 4 or 5 inches will show a wealth of detail on the larger DSO's, in fact I am still amazed after my very first DSO imaging session last month. Forgive me for posting an image a off topic for the forum but it gives you an idea of what a 4" scope is capable of even with my inexperience with imaging. the great thing about CCD's and autoguiding is that after I set up a 2 hour shot and let the magic plug away, I am back to hunting obscure dim fuzzies with my 20 incher until its time to set up another shot. Good luck, and caution...imaging is VERY addicting. 8)

Attached Image:

Hello Ron. I enjoy my planet imaging with my AP-130 F/6 5" refractor. The image scale is not too small. You will definetly need the 5X Powermate. I have a couple of examples here: http://www.pbase.com/panotaker/image/43704222
and here: http://www.pbase.com/panotaker/image/43663861
I use the Toucam Pro with the Baader IR filter. Only other thing you need is excellent seeing conditions
Ralph