* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Logitech C250 Webcam

Blobrana · L

Making a Logitech webcam adaptor from a 35mm film canister.

Blobrana · L

Test was on Sunspots 11482 (top right),11484 and 11478 (lower right), captured with an 80mm f6 refractor with Solar filter (film) + baader contrast booster filter. No IR-cut filter.

Blobrana · L

Logitech C250 1.3MP Webcam for astrophotography.

Attaching to a telescope is (seemingly) not straightforward but only requires the removal of the front bevel and fitting a DIY adaptor.

Enhanced VGA sensor.
USB connectivity.
30 frames per second.
Built-in Logitech RightSound microphone.
1.8-m USB cable

CCD sensor: (type ?)
Pixel size: (VGA, 640 x 480)
Lux: (? - possibly 0.5)
Video 800x600 pixels (software enhanced)
Requires 1 GHz, 256MB RAM. 200MB hard drive space.
Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)

Installing Manual (PDF)

The webcam lens does not have a standard M12 x 0.5 mm thread. However, a telescope adaptor can be fashioned from an old 35mm film canister. A hole can be made in the bottom of the canister and the front camera focusing bezel can be fitted through, and refitted to the camera (sandwiching the bottom of the canister between the bezel and camera body (The front bezel is retained by only two plastic clips).

The CCD chip has seemingly an IR-cut coating, but reflector owners could remove this by disassembling the CCD housing.

Some users have reported issues with the Logitech software on their machines so it is best just to install the drivers.

Jupiter with Skywatcher Evostar 90 telescope.

This film of Jupiter is taken with a modified webcam Logitech C250 and a 2x Barlow.