(meteorobs) Looking for advice choosing fireball cameras (video)

[LEO STACHOWICZ]

>What are your scientific goals?


To help determine orbits and recover meteorites.


>Do you really need the resolution 
>afforded by multiple cameras (a setup that will introduce many 
>management and processing challenges)?

Probably not (from a scientific point of view), but I like the idea of being able to capture detailed footage of fireballs purely because such footage fascinates me!

If the challenges are too great, I might have to reconsider, but I was hoping that it could be done on a single PC, and UFO Capture would only save the interesting bits of footage (thus alleviating most of the data storage/processing issues). I guess from your answer that you are hinting that this is not the case though!


>At the least, if you want meteors and stars in your data, do not use a 
>color camera. All of the Sony HAD based B&W cameras have similar 
>sensitivity, and all are a LOT better than any of the color camera 
>choices. A color sensor reduces both sensitivity and resolution while 
>adding little or no useful data. (Sense-up modes are not useful for 
>meteor work.)

I had a feeling that this might be the case. Thanks for the info Chris.

Leo


On 10/5/2012 6:54 PM, LEO STACHOWICZ wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I have been toying with the idea of setting up my own cameras to record fireballs for a while now, but have been waiting till I can move to a rural location. Well, I'm in the process of buying just such a property, so I want to find a few cameras, but I have a few questions about what equipment would be suitable.
>
> To begin with, rather than just a single all-sky camera, I'm thinking of having multiple cameras covering as much sky as possible. I figure somewhere between 5 and 8 cameras should do, depending on what lenses are available.
>
> I've been looking at CCTV type cameras that have relatively high sensitivity/resolution and large CCDs (ideally 1/2"), but I don't have a huge budget, so I will probably end up buying most of them in used condition.
>
> I figure that they don't need to be too sensitive as I'm after fireballs, but I still want some star detail. So my first question is - what kind of specification cameras are others using?
>
> I've seen some nice footage in the past from the Spanish Fireball Network. Anyone know what spec. cameras they are using?
>
> I decided to take the plunge and picked up a Samsung SDN-550 camera which seemed an ok deal: http://www.buythis.co.uk/open_product.asp?pid=1687&catId=61&source=Froogle
>
> Main features:
> - 0.3 Lux at F1.2(color),0.01Lux(B/W), 0.002Lux (Sens-up)
> - 1/3" Sony Super HAD color CCD
> - Ultra High Resolution of 530TVL(color)/570TVL(B/W)
>
> I've also got my eye on a Bosch LTC 0610: http://www.buythis.co.uk/open_product.asp?pid=1687&catId=61&source=Froogle
>
> ...which looks like it will be a bit better (1/2", 0.008 lux, 540 TVL ).
>
> I suppose one of these (Mintron 12V6HC-EX or WATEC WAT-902H2) would be the best option, but they are a little out of my price range, unless I can find a nice used condition example or two: http://www.modernastronomy.com/camerasAstroVideo.html
>
>
> In terms of lenses I'm thinking along the lines of 4mm F 1.2 on 1/2" sensors, but so far I've only come across zoom lenses, and I'm also not sure if I should be looking for manual or auto aperture lenses? I suppose having auto aperture lenses would be a good idea for daylight-fireball monitoring.
>
>
> The other thing I'm not sure about is how to record/time-stamp the footage from the cameras. Can I use a single PC (with an 8 input capture card) running UFO capture for this?  I expect I'll have to build a dedicated PC for this purpose, so any tips on what minimum spec to go for would be helpful.
>
>
> Clear skies,
> Leo

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