As Per Request

[Canon Pete]

Someone asked me how my rig was set for attaching a camera lens to a Zoom eyepiece on telescope. In the original setup I used the supplied Clam Shell , here I have attached a new Dovetail. I still have to balance this particular setup out , not had the chance . These are just to show how the lens attaches to the zoom.

The pic below is the setup I used for that particular image of the moon. The EF-S Lens (18-55mm IS ) is attached via a Baader Adapter ring to the Baader Hyperion Zoom Lens . It looks scary and I fret when I do this ,lol
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/3287475725_04ae7ce0e6.jpg

Closer detail.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3288295548_edaac4fe87.jpg
Focusing is hard at times , even with Live View. Very very delicate.

Rig set up for Prime Focus ( way easier to do )
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/3287477229_5c736d3d96.jpg

Closer Detail
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/3288295900_1ba0d2b375.jpg

Rig set up for Piggy Back ( easiest of all to use )
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/3288297000_5b25ae0d8a.jpg

S'cuse the pics, had to use a wee compact camera to take.

Hope this helps peeps see how I done it now.

[umbra]

Nice rig! It does indeed look scary with the camera and lens attached to the scope. I'd be afraid it would break off at one of the mounts! It does also looks like it would be a PIA to focus that setup.

[Canon Pete]

Nice rig! It does indeed look scary with the camera and lens attached to the scope. I'd be afraid it would break off at one of the mounts! It does also looks like it would be a PIA to focus that setup.

My heart is in my mouth , constantly ,when its in tracking mode. I am like a gazelle , ready to leap to my cameras rescue if some thing goes wrong !!!. Valium should be supplied when imaging at times ,lol

[Nighthound]

Nice gear Pete. Do you use the helical for ease of focus? Just curious, I've never owned one. It really puts your camera way back in the light path, I wouldn't even begin to know how to calculate the actual focal ratio. How is it balancing this set up?

[Canon Pete]

Nice gear Pete. Do you use the helical for ease of focus? Just curious, I've never owned one. It really puts your camera way back in the light path, I wouldn't even begin to know how to calculate the actual focal ratio. How is it balancing this set up?

Steve , I'm not sure what you mean by the Helical ? What is it you have not owned ?

I could not achieve back focus with the draw on the focuser as supplied . 2" extension does the job at prime. With the afocal set up the sensor plane is further still away from the focuser , with having two lens ( EP and camera lens ) between focuser and camera back .

[Nighthound]

Ok, what appeared to me as an added helical focuser mechanism is actually a lens, which in theory is helical(twist-turn motion). Some manufacturers use helical focusers like Borg for instance.

Are you using a focal reducer/field flattener?

[Canon Pete]

I did wonder ( twist - turn ) if you were referring to the actual lens itself but had to ask.

As for FR/FF no , not at the moment . The C80 is 600mm ,f7.5. so , I may be looking to add an 0.8x FR ( 0.6x would probs be pointless ) possibly the William optics MkIII .

edit :- re balance , as said in OP I still need to balance setup . As I like to do visual stuff as well I usually have to balance each time I wan to image . I should really mark the the set up in some way , save a bit of time

[siddr20]

That was me who asked you :P


Rig set up for Piggy Back ( easiest of all to use )

So basically you are taking pics from just the normal stock kit lens, while the autoguider guides away?? Is that how it works?

[Canon Pete]

That was me who asked you :P




So basically you are taking pics from just the normal stock kit lens, while the autoguider guides away?? Is that how it works?

Not piggy back .

That moon pic was taken with the set up shown in the very first picture above. The kit lens was attached to the actual EP (eyepiece), known as Afocal Photography. because another lens is attached ( or held against ) the EP.

There is no autoguider being used. Its more a case of focus on target ( moon , dso , whatever) and set the tracking mode to suit.Shutter is fired via electronic cable.

I am hoping to get another scope ( which can be guided ) and use the laptop and both scopes to remotely take the pics . Just need to suss out which new scope and autoguide cam ( poss the QHY5 , not sure )

[Celestron]

WOW Pete ! Great setup rig !

[Canon Pete]

Thank you Ron , its getting there slowly but surely . Just need to keep bashing away at the imaging side of things . Only got the scope on Dec 10th so I'm still very much a noob at all this.

[siddr20]

Thanks for the quick reply :) Learnt something; but i think unless i dont try it myself its not going to make any sense hahah.

[ArcticShooter]

Amazing rig. Do you have a suitable chair when using this? :D

[Canon Pete]

Amazing rig. Do you have a suitable chair when using this? :D

Sadly no , I cannot find , for the life of me , one that I can attach to the rig :lol:

Kneepads are very useful in this pastime :lol:

[ArcticShooter]

Sadly no , I cannot find , for the life of me , one that I can attach to the rig :lol:

Kneepads are very useful in this pastime :lol:

I guess you could find an old recliner, some scrap metal and some welding. You will also need a motor and a regulator that follows the track :)
But the sad thing is that it will be stationary...

[Canon Pete]

Aha !!

If I add 360 degree spinning wheels to the recliner , the stationary problem is overcome .

Do you think we could patent the idea ? :lol:

[ArcticShooter]

Aha !!

If I add 360 degree spinning wheels to the recliner , the stationary problem is overcome .

Do you think we could patent the idea ? :lol:
No Problem. Send your gear over here and I have friends that can fix it by tomorrow :) Will throw in electric controlled reclining so you don't strain yourself :)

[Canon Pete]

No Problem. Send your gear over here and I have friends that can fix it by tomorrow :) Will throw in electric controlled reclining so you don't strain yourself :)


way to kind !!!

could I be so bold as to ask if a Observotary could be built around it , modular of course :lol:

[ArcticShooter]

Sure, but now we need an architect, which I happen to know. So you have to get permits so this will not happen this year :D

[ejicon]

any shots to see what these shots would look like :)

[Tdragone]

Kneepads are very useful in this pastime

Good Grief; where's the title fairy?

[SwingBopper]

Interesting setup. Why use Afocal rather than using a T-Mount directly to the scope? What is the advantage/disadvantage?

[Canon Pete]

Interesting setup. Why use Afocal rather than using a T-Mount directly to the scope? What is the advantage/disadvantage?

I use both , independantly of course , with Afocal depending on the lens and EP combination you can get greater image size/detail in final image acquired. So with say using a Zoom eyepiece you can really punch through.

With prime your stuck ( unless you have a TC ) with the FL of the scope used. Using EP's can give you greater range of shoots , especially if say a Barlow lens is also involved in the image train ....but then you're talking building scaffolding to support it all , lol.