Webcams are cheaper than digital cameras. Why not use one of them for astronomical imaging?
You can! Some people have been quite successful at doing basic imaging with webcams to produce relatively good quality results. However, because the better digital cameras come with features that are not available on webcams, the best that can be achieved with digital cameras exceeds the best that can be done with webcams. This FAQ focuses on digital cameras because that’s where my focus was, but some portions of this FAQ (such as the image processing section) apply equally well to webcam imaging. If you are interested in webcam imaging, check out the QuickCam and Unconventional Imaging Astronomy Group (QCUIAG), which has a membership approaching 1000 people (see their web page at http://www.astrabio.demon.co.uk/QCUIAG/.
