Telescopic photos: I have a 6" reflector telescope and want to take photographs using it and my Nikon D90. I purchased a T-mount and adapter ring to fit my camera to the telescope.

PhotoKenetic

I have a 6" reflector telescope and want to take photographs using it and my Nikon D90. I purchased a T-mount and adapter ring to fit my camera to the telescope. However I find that I cannot focus with this setup. It seems like I need a lens between the camera and telescope. What am I doing wrong?

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Need T-Adaptor on Camera
Takes place of lense
Then adaptor on Telescope Focus Tube
Camera Adaptor fits in and locks.

Use Telescope focus tube to focus telescope

Sarge

The adaptor to camera mount

Focus Wheel On Telescope

Camera Adaptor to Adaptor On Telescope.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

I use an older version of this adapter on my 8" scope:
http://www.telescope.com/Orion-SteadyPix-Deluxe-Camera-Mount/p/5338.uts?keyword=Camera%20adapter

I'm not crazy about the way it clamps on to the eyepiece, but when you use this mount, you get the magnification of the eyepiece and the camera.
I'm considering buying the one in the link above as it supports DSLRs better.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Really nice. My only problem with that is that the telescope I have probably won't support that rig free hand. The mount slips a little even with just the camera. Good luck and let me know how it work.
Sarge

dirty dave

I had the same problem with mine I put a 2x barlow lens in the scope then connected the camera and it worked was told by the manufacture that it was not nessary to but it was the only way it would focus for me

PhotoKenetic

Thank you Sarge9. It looks like the adapter tube I have is not long enough, as I can't use the focus knob to bring it far enough back to obtain good focus.

PhotoKenetic

Thank you dirty dave. How did you attach the 2x Barlow to your camera?

JackKLE Loc: Missouri , USA, St. Louis Metro

Apparently, the Focal Plane of the telescope is not at a position that will ALLOW the Camera to focus. The 'Travel' of the focuser is wrong, probably doesn't have enough travel. What you are going to have to do, is to change the position of the Focuser on the telescope tube, either toward or away from the Primary Mirror, to achieve focus. Most commercial Telescope focusers have around 3 inches of travel. If there's not enough "Out-Travel", then you need to add an extension tube between Focuser & Camera - if it doesn't get close enough "IN", then you'll need to move the Focuser to a new location on the scope's tube.

JackKLE Loc: Missouri , USA, St. Louis Metro

Actually, come to think about it, the part about adding an extension tube if the out-travel isn't enough is CORRECT, but if there isn't enough IN-travel, move the Primary Mirror & Mirror Cell FORWARD in the scope's tube, by the required distance to achieve focus. There will be fewer holes to have to position. It WILL change the Balance of the scope on the mounting, but most scopes have some latitude for this adjustment. If not, then the addition of small weights will take care of balance.

JackKLE Loc: Missouri , USA, St. Louis Metro

Actually, come to think about it, the part about adding an extension tube if the out-travel isn't enough is CORRECT, but if there isn't enough IN-travel, move the Primary Mirror & Mirror Cell FORWARD in the scope's tube, by the required distance to achieve focus. There will be fewer holes to have to position. It WILL change the Balance of the scope on the mounting, but most scopes have some latitude for this adjustment. If not, then the addition of small weights will take care of balance.

dirty dave

I went and took a picture for you to see the barlow goes in then the adapter then the camera then use your telescope focus to focus with( this is on a 12 inch dobsonian with a 2 inch eye piece that I am going to get rid of because it is too big to move around)( so if anyone is interested let me know)

picture taken with this set up have better ones just the first one I came across

PhotoKenetic

Thank you all for the comments. I will try the 2x eyepiece after the skies clear.

JackKLE Loc: Missouri , USA, St. Louis Metro

"P-K",
Can you take a picture of your setup? It would make it A LOT easier to advise you correctly, about this problem. But, I have been an Astrophotgrapher for 40 years and a Telescope Maker for over 50, so I've run into just about every problem you could think of. Why not call me on the phone? My cell# is: 314 640 3207 - Jack Kelley

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

Good advise. The telescope is your lens.

sarge69 wrote:

Need T-Adaptor on Camera
Takes place of lense
Then adaptor on Telescope Focus Tube
Camera Adaptor fits in and locks.

Use Telescope focus tube to focus telescope

Sarge

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

JackKLE wrote:

"P-K",
Can you take a picture of your setup? It would make it A LOT easier to advise you correctly, about this problem. But, I have been an Astrophotgrapher for 40 years and a Telescope Maker for over 50, so I've run into just about every problem you could think of. Why not call me on the phone? My cell# is: 314 640 3207 - Jack Kelley

Not trying to hijack this thread but I just ordered a couple parts yesterday to try with my scope/camera combination. Since you have the hands -on experience maybe you could advise me on my set-up. I bought the Celestron Regal F-ED 100mm 4.0 & I want to try my Canon T2i with it. I bought the Celestron universal 1.25" camera T-adapter & the Opteka T-mount adapter for Canon EOS cameras. Do you think this combo will work? What is the difference in astro photography & digiscoping wildlife (besides a few million miles)?