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.

To find out more about the history of webcam mods a good place to start is the QCUIAG website.

Not only can modified webcams be used to take great images - both deep sky and planetary, lunar and solar - 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.

Used with a Parallel or Serial to USB Converter and a USB hub, you can control the camera using a single USB connection.

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.

NOTE: All models of Philips webcam (ToUcam Pro, Pro II and SPC900NC) are flashed to look like a Philips SPC900NC which means they are compatible with windows Vista. All of these cameras are supplied with both the Windows Vista and XP drivers.

Modified SPC900NC cameras...
Colour and B&W long exposure cameras starting from only £85!

Toucam Pro, Pro II, SPC900NC and NexImage Modifications...
Get your webcam modified for long exposures from £45!

Pre-modified Webcams...
A small selection of pre-owned cameras modified for astronomy - grab a bargain.

Focuser Adapters...
Adapters to replace your webcam lens to fit it to your telescope.

Parallel and Serial to USB Converters and extensions...
Convert a parallel or serial camera to USB only.

Modified SPC900NC cameras...

Astronomiser holds stock of three basic models of modified webcam. The two models available are a basic long exposure SC1 modified colour camera starting from £85 and an SC1 modified black and white camera from £125.

These cameras are great for both solar system imaging and starting off in deep sky imaging and make great inexpensive but accurate guide cameras.

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

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

A wide variety of options and features are available, from a simple long exposure modification up to an air-cooled re-housed SC1.5 fitted with the black and white ICX098BL sensor with amplifier control.

All modified cameras are covered 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.