LCL LCL-902C

5.0 Good camera at a decent price!

Solid; Reliable; Good sensitivity

None

For many years, low light level CCD monochrome surveillance video cameras have been the standard workhorse for astronomers doing video occultation timing and video meteor recording. The 902 series of cameras from Watec (Japan) and Watec America have long been the leaders and innovators in getting the emerging Sony CCD technologies out to the market. The 902 series was far ahead of most other manufactures in that it used Sony CCDs in 1/2" format.

The LCL-902C is the current version of the 902 series camera from Watec America (and other LCL distributers) using the Sony Super HAD technology CCD detector. It is virtually the same camera as the WAT-902B from Watec (Japan) and has just a sensitivity rating of .003 lux at f/1.4. The primary changes over the years has been in the Sony CCD technology and slight changes to the camera external connections.

Like the WAT-902B, I have used the LCL-902C on several occasions and found its performance to be virtually identical to the earlier models, though I have not owned one myself. It would routinely go down to 8th magnitude or better on smaller sized amateur telescopes using a good composite monitor.

LATEST NEWS...Watec America has lost their long legal battle with Watec Japan, and has apparently gone out of business. While this camera may still be found in some existing stock inventories, apparently no new 902Cs will be produced.

The replacement is the Watec WAT-902B. I highly recommend this camera if you require a camera with true 'live' video at this sensitivity level.