How Do I hack my GE X-5

[Starmon]

Greetings,
Nubie here (to the list). I got a X5 a month ago. I really enjoy the camera, 14.1 meg chip, 15 optical power (5x digital), small, VERY light-weight, but SOLIDLY built and I found one for $135 (Sears). I'm an amateur astronomer and I'm trying to take 30 sec. exposures on tripod, but can't get the camera to focus SOLIDLY on infinity, if I use more than 2x power.
I've called tech. support, they are working on it, but.... Joe suggested shooting in Macro, that didn't work. I've tried Manual, Exposure & Shutter priority, but at the best, those are hit or miss (1 in 15 tries).
I would like to hack the O.S. or settings in the camera, much the way the Canons can be altered, but have seen NO suggestions. This is a rather new camera model.
Can anyone help or lead me in the proper direction? :confused:

Thanks,
Starmon

[K1W1]

Toss it an buy a used DSLR, any used DSLR then get a telescope adapter ring and you will be able to take half decent photos.

I didn't even know what a GE X5 was until I did some Googling but having read a few reviews I now know that they do actually may bad cameras in 2010 which is something I thought had passed us by.

[MT SOL]

If you going to shoot starts, use "Landscape" mode or set the focus to Landscape mode. It's generally the focus mode with the picture of a mountain.

And don't use 30 second exposure on stars or any other planetary objects - they move around and will come out as blurry streaks.

[Starmon]

Thanks MT SOL,
I have a C-14 Telescope ($6000) with a tripod, mount and clock drive by Losmandy (100lbs.). It is very accurate and I have tracked & guided exposures up to 1 hour, very accurately. See the Pleiades image in my Album, that is a 20 minute guided image I did on 911, my problem is focus, with the X5. I would definitely try out the Landscape mode, but I can set the timer to 30 seconds.

[David Metsky]

With such a nice telescope, you will save yourself time, heartache, and eventually money, by purchasing a name brand used DSLR rather than banging your head against the wall with your current camera. And the results will be better.

[Paradox]

If a $6000 dollar telescope counts as 'Amateur' astronomy to you, I'm sure splashing out a few hundred on a used DSLR won't matter. I enjoy a spot of amateur astronomy too, but I use a pair of binoculars. :eek:

[Starmon]

Well, I guess the full story must be told now. Two months ago my little 5meg HP digital refused to work. I was hoping to get a camera that could fill both day & night imagery. As an unemployed data tech. I just bought the 'cheap' X5, on unemployment insurance, (no steaks for a couple of months). This is one reason I don't have the luxury of buying ANOTHER camera. I've done astro-p for over 10 years now. Starting with an old school SBIG ST-6 digital ($3300) TC241chip 8.6 x 6.5 mm 375 x 242pixels 23 x 27μ - F.O.V. 14.6 x 11 arcminutes. Then switching to a Pentax MX which is a good camera, but wanted high pixel density.
I've imaged very nice full FOV images on Shutter-priority at 30 sec. with and w/o clock drive. But, when I put more than about 2 power, the X5 will not focus reliably at infinity (<1 in 15).
This camera has a 48mm lens, day time imagery is splendid! It's a 14.1meg chip, 15 digital, ISO goes from 80-3200, shutter 30 secs to 1/2000, f/3 -7.3, 10 custom settings, etc, now you tell me, what other camera (DSLR) can you find for $135 that does that? I couldn't find one.
All I wanted to find out is if there were any SDK (software development kit) or an applet to allow for custom firmware programming or if someone out there could help me develop one.
Can anyone help?
In return I would be willing to answer any questions about astronomy up to college-
level (Algebra based) !! Think Cosmic, TomT

[tim11]

Hacking a camera so work differently from the way it was designed isn't wise. It may be possible but I doubt if any member here really knows how to. Good luck all the same.

[Starmon]

Thank you Tim,
I appreciate the straight forward reply. I kind of worried about that, but I do like to tweak technology and I was hoping for the best. So, I'll wait for some positive reply from my G.E. tech support guy- Joe. And hope there is not to much resistance to improvement of this product in their 'power-structure'. We evolve through beneficial change, otherwise it's just a mutation. T.C. T