New USB Astronomy Camera range from IS

[AstroTasmania]

Hi ,

You saw this first on myastrospace, hot off the press:

Hello Shevill

Just a quick note to let you know that today we released a new line of USB 2.0 astronomy cameras:

http://www.astronomycameras.com/en/products/

The cameras are technically identical to their FireWire counterparts with the exception of their connector.

You can read the official announcement in the blog:

http://www.astronomycamerasblog.com/?p=233

If you would like to discuss the new cameras, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Very best regards

Jonathan Maron
The Imaging Source Europe GmbH

Firmensitz: Sommerstrasse 36, D-28215 Bremen
Registergericht: Amtsgericht Bremen HRB 11 927
Geschäftsführer: Heiner Suhr, Rolf Bollhorst
Clear skies...
Shevill

[wakaleo]

Yes, very desirable Shevill, and no separate power supply needed! Ah, if only I could stretch the budget - I'd have the 1/2" model in a flash. It will happen one day though.

Jim

[Tenacious Del]

so what is better? firewire or USB? :hmm:

[beren]

so what is better? firewire or USB?

I was going to wait and see what users think of the new USB cameras before committing but decided on the firewire option. Going firewire means I need to get a special y shaped lead that connects up to my 4 pin firewire port on my lappy to the 6 pin on the camara plus a power lead to connect up to the offshooot lead to power the camera :duh: With the USB your dealing with one lead which powers the cam and transfers the data, bit more convenience especially if you out in the countryside. But from what I can gather people are wary/skeptical if the USB version can match the firewire's data transfer rate. When you have a cam that can shoot up to 60fps that's a lot of data to push through. If you do a google search for Firewire vs USB there's some interesting reading :hmm:

[CloudMagnet]

Going firewire means I need to get a special y shaped lead that connects up to my 4 pin firewire port on my lappy to the 6 pin on the camara plus a power lead to connect up to the offshooot lead to power the camera

If you have a PCMCIA slot in your laptop you could get a firewire PCMCIA card (you would still need an ac adapter for the PCMCIA card though but it works a treat). Alternatively you could get a Belkin powered Firewire hub and run the camera from that. You would only need a 4 pin to 6 pin cable then to go from the laptop to the hub. I've tried both and found no benefit of one over the other except you would have 6 ports available for use on the hub instead of 2 or 3 on the card but with the card you run the camera directly from you machine and don't have extra cables to trip over.