My first test of the RawMod for planetary imaging. The results show that the raw mode is another important step forward in webcam imaging!
=>Link to GIF anmiation of all 13 images (~550KB) <=
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22:33 UT 384 frames stacked |
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22.37 UT 367 frames stacked |
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22:40 UT 471 frames stacked |
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22:43 UT 410 frames stacked |
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22:47 UT 351 frames stacked |
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22:50 UT 450 frames stacked |
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22:52 UT 340 frames stacked |
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22:56 UT 349 frames stacked |
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22:58 UT 328 frames stacked |
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23:01 UT 327 frames stacked |
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23:08 UT 326 frames stacked |
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23:11 UT 340 frames stacked |
Intes MK-66 Maksutov Cassegrain
Televue 3x Barlow
Philips ToUcam 740 in RawMode, 640x480@5fps,
1/25s,
Saturation: max, Gamma: zero
Date: 2004.03.23
Location: 51:53:13n 08:45:23e
Conditions: Seeing <=3/10, Transp. 5/10
DeBayer of raw AVI data: AVIRaw (ColorCorrection1)
Stacking & waveletprocessing: Registax2
Postprocessing: Photoshop
Essential links for raw-mode:
Etienne Bonduelle - WcRmac, macros
Martin Burri - Excellent Raw FAQ and documentation
Carsten Arnholm - AVIRaw
I did some dry tests in Raw-modding my ToUcam and to my surprise skies cleared in the evening so I could go "medias in res" for a first planetary test. I took my 6" Intes MK66 outside. Collimation was slightly off, but I went ahead with it because clouds became visisble at the horizon... Seeing was really bad, lower than 3/10, transparency was ok when I started but degraded substantially later on.
I shot several Saturn AVIs at first and took 14 Jupiter AVIs later. After a processing marathon I'm very happy with the results and my insights. I took all AVIs in RawMode with 5fps, I'll test Etienne's 'OPTIMIZED COLOR (NON RAW) Mode AND Special Factory Settings' macro without raw next time. My conclusion: I could use very high gain settings without noise getting disturbing. This is quite handy for small scopes and Jupiter to avoid the ususal "onion rings". The resulting noise is very "well-tempered" when it comes to sharpening and is enhanced far less than with std. cam mode. Great ! Many thanks to Martin Burri, Etienne Bonduelle, Carsten Arnholm and all others who made the mod and data processing possible and so easy !
