DSO with inexpensive Samsung security camera

[yltansg]

Imaged Dumbbell and Ring nebulas last night with a Samsung SCB2000. It is an inexpensive security camera. I took out the IR-cut filter. Here are the pictures of M27, M57 and the SCB2000.

[Gary]

Beautiful! For a moment, forgot this was captured in Singapore.

[yltansg]

Nowadays many inexpensive low-light security cameras can be used for astro videography. Simply remove the IR-cut filter and you are in for capture DSOs even in heavily light polluted skies in Singapore. The cameras are available from Sim Lim Square for as little as $100+. I will be testing it out in darker skies in Bekok, Malaysia this weekend

Below is a picture of M22 and an opened SCB2000.

[Gary]

Awesome M22! Let's buy up all the SCB2000 in bulk for a good price, mod and resell it for profit on ebay.

[yltansg]

Hi Gary - With this we can present DSOs in sidewalks

[Gary]

Yeah! This is definitely the next big thing for sidewalks here. Better buy these cameras cheap now before they become famous and expensive from free sidewalk advertising.

[PETER LOO]

Hi my friend yltansg, i also used a SCB-2000 Cam but found that yours is much quieter & nicer. May i know is the cam or technique difference ? i have got quite a bit of noise dots, try to use dark frame but often turn out like gun shots holes. May i know your capture settings ? i use Astrovideo 300 frames X 10 for the ring nebula at Changi Sea Side (see attached), although now i use DSLR more often, but still need to rely on it again due to the need to take objects of very low surface brightness (this cam is much more sensitive than DSLR although the colour range may not be so wide), thanks.
n.b. the shot was taken using EQ 3-2 mount un-guided.

[yltansg]

Hi Peter,

Try the following setting:

Lens = Manual
Exposure Brightness = 1 (slowly adjust to see difference)
Shutter = Manual (256 or 512). Changing AGC setting will require adjustment to this.
AGC = Low to start.
Sense-up = OFF
White Balance Manual (R=410, B=500)
SSDR = ON
Backlight = OFF
SSNR3 = ON (Maximum)
Day/Night = Color
Special Image Adjust V-Rev (Off normally)
H-Rev (Off, normally)
D-Zoom (Off, normally)
Font Color (White)
Sharpness (On set to minimum, normally)
Monitor LCD or User (can change the gamma, PED level, and color gain in the sub menus.)


I also find that it has limited colours, but again shouldn't be asking for more because after all it is an inexpensive security camera

Attached a M69 and a pp M57

[PETER LOO]

Hi my friedn yltansg,

Okay, i will try your recommendation, start off with lower agc first & see, guess this is the area where i got most of the hot pixel from, high agc, thanks, happy AP_ing & clear sky..

[yltansg]

The skies at my home (where I did the video capture) has severe light pollution. Certain parts of the skies are worst than others. You can see that in the pictures that I have posted. I use a Astronomik UHC filter. It helps. I forgot to ask you earlier. Have you remove the IR-Cut filter?

Wish you all the best