Philips has two nicely specified webcams on the market at the moment, the SPC-1000NC and the SPC-1300NC, both 1.3 megapixel (1280×1024 native resolution) devices.

Now, as many amateur astrophotographers will tell you, the earlier Philips Toucam models had lenses which unscrewed from a M12.5×0.5 thread allowing the easy fitment of a telescope adapter. Alternatively, ‘Micro Video’ lenses of different focal lengths could be fitted to the webcam.

The SPC-1000NC/SPC-1300NC may be a different issue as I’ve read an old post from the QCIUAG via a german astrophotography forum indicating the lens on these camera’s VGA sibling is captive (no M12.5×0.5 thread )

I’d be really grateful if anyone passing this way who knows with certainty whether the lenses can be removed or not post in the comments section below and let me know.

It would also be handy to know if the webcams are permanently attached to their bases or wether they have a normal tripod thread.