A few years ago, Steve Chambers worked out that with some adaptations to the connections and with the addition of some electronics, the humble webcam could be made to take long exposure images. This opened up the otherwise expensive field of digital AstroImaging to those (like me!) on a limited budget.

Following on from this, people like Martin Burri, Jon Grove and Greg beeke (amongst many, many others) further developed modifications until the modified webcams were taking pictures of as high a standard as those achieved with far more expensive CCD cameras.

Well, I'm not going to say too much more about the history of webcam mods, but if you are interested, a good place to start is the QCUIAG website.

Not only can modified webcams be used to take great images for a minimum financial outlay but they also can make great guide cameras - particularly when the sensor is swapped for a black and white ICX098BL sensor.

Astronomiser is the only company in the world authorised to carry out these mods commercially.

Astronomiser can modify your existing camera and we also offer a few pre-modified cameras - bookmark this page as the cameras change all the time and some great deals come up.

Modified SPC900NC cameras...

Toucam Pro, Pro II, SPC900NC and NexImage Modifications...

Pre-modified Webcams...

Parallel and Serial to USB Converters and extensions...

Modified SPC900NC cameras...

Astronomiser holds stock of three basic models of modified webcam. The three models available are a black and white (ICX098BL) modified webcam, ideal for planetary/ lunar and solar imaging the ASTPC1BW, a basic long exposure SC1 modified colour camera and an SC1 modified black and white camera.

Some of these cameras have previously been available from astronomiser, but cost reductions mean that these cameras are now available at unbeatable prices and represent superb value for money.

Toucam Pro, Pro II, SPC900NC and NexImage Modifications...

Astronomiser can modify your existing Philips ToUcam Pro, Pro II, SPC900NC or Celestron NexImage cameras.

A wide variety of options and features are available, from a simple long exposure modification up to an air-cooled re-housed SC3 fitted with the larger ICX424AL sensor with amplifier control.

All modified cameras are coverred by Astronomiser's normal guarantees, regardless of the age of the original camera.

Pre-modified Webcams...

Astronomiser purchases and modifies webcams for re-sale. Some of these cameras are second hand, some are still sealed in their original packaging. Normally, we just do either an SC1 or SC1.5 modification. All cameras are supplied with the ToUcam Pro II CCD, the ICX098BQ. If the camera is originally fitted with the less sensitive ICX098AK, as most Vestas and some Quickcam 3000 Pro cameras are, this is replaced with the ICX098BQ to give ToUcam like performance.

Some great deals turn up on this page and the cameras are changed on a regular basis, so add the page to your favourites!

Pre-modified cameras include the Philips Vesta Pro, the Logitech Quickcam Pro 3000 and all versions of Philips ToUcam Pro.