telescope adapter for digital compact.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I'm trying to persuade myself to buy a Sony DSC-P150 or P200?

It just occured to me that I'd like to be able to attach it to my telescope
(Meade ETX90), either for bird watching, or even basic astronomical photos.
I'm sure I've seen an adapter for sale somewhere.

Presumably the camera's got to have a long exposure capability.
Someone told me these Sonys close the lens after a minute or so (power
saver?). This would be no good if the adapter is clamped to the lens!

Anyone know if they're any good?


Martyn

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Bert Hyman" <bert@visi.com> wrote in message
news:Xns960656C74FBB3VeebleFetzer@news.visi.com...
> Bill@microsoft.com (Martyn) wrote in
> news:111p39nhg59nq5b@corp.supernews.com:
>
>>
>> I'm trying to persuade myself to buy a Sony DSC-P150 or P200?
>>
>> It just occured to me that I'd like to be able to attach it to my
>> telescope (Meade ETX90), either for bird watching, or even basic
>> astronomical photos. I'm sure I've seen an adapter for sale
>> somewhere.
>
> http://www.scopetronix.com/
>
>>
>> Presumably the camera's got to have a long exposure capability.
>> Someone told me these Sonys close the lens after a minute or so
>> (power saver?). This would be no good if the adapter is clamped to
>> the lens!
>
> There's probably a way to disable this embedded in the camera's menu
> system somewhere. You'll most likely want to use an external power
> supply when you're doing this.
>
>> Anyone know if they're any good?
>
> You mean the adapters? Lots of people use them with varying degrees
> of success, but they're the only solution short of buying a DSLR or a
> special purpose sensor made for the task. This last option isn't too
> unreasonable any more if you're not interested in really high-end
> work.
>
> Meade has their "AutoStar lunar & planetary imager" for $150 and the
> "Deep Sky Imager" for $300, while Celestron has their "NexImage"
> device for $100. The AutoStar LPI and the NexImage are both glorified
> webcams, but with special-purpose software.


Thanks.
More reading for me to do.
And more toys to buy.

Martyn

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Although my work along this line is specific to the Nikon CoolPix line
of camera, thus is probably unsuited to your camera, I invite you to
check my web site for my own approach. Not in the least bit wobbly,
either. Go to:

http://home.mindspring.com/~omcdaniel/Index.htm

(Be careful of the spelling and letter case.)

Since bird photos do not require long exposures, nor do shots of the
moon (my only astronomical attempts) this is a non issue for me.

Olin McDaniel



On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 18:08:50 +0000 (UTC), pete lynch
<etep@beowulf.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>Go to the scopetronix website. They do lots of adapters
>for mounting various cameras onto telescopes.
>My personal experience is that the kind which clamp on to
>your camera and hold it near to the eyepiece are a bit
>too wobbly for "serious" work.
>
>Oh yes, while they're an american company, they are happy
>to ship to the rest of the world.
>
>Pete
>
>In article <111p39nhg59nq5b@corp.supernews.com>, Martyn wrote:
>>
>> I'm trying to persuade myself to buy a Sony DSC-P150 or P200?
>>
>> It just occured to me that I'd like to be able to attach it to my telescope
>> (Meade ETX90), either for bird watching, or even basic astronomical photos.
>> I'm sure I've seen an adapter for sale somewhere.
>>
>> Presumably the camera's got to have a long exposure capability.
>> Someone told me these Sonys close the lens after a minute or so (power
>> saver?). This would be no good if the adapter is clamped to the lens!
>>
>> Anyone know if they're any good?
>>
>>
>> Martyn
>>
>>
>
>
>--
>..........................................................................
>. never trust a man who, when left alone ...... Pete Lynch .
>. in a room with a tea cosy ...... Marlow, England .
>. doesn't try it on (Billy Connolly) .....................................
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 10:51:58 -0000, "Martyn" <Bill@microsoft.com>
wrote:

>
>"Olin K. McDaniel" <omcdaniel.abcd@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>news:421d4da4.28074751@news.east.earthlink.net...
>> Although my work along this line is specific to the Nikon CoolPix line
>> of camera, thus is probably unsuited to your camera, I invite you to
>> check my web site for my own approach. Not in the least bit wobbly,
>> either. Go to:
>>
>> http://home.mindspring.com/~omcdaniel/Index.htm
>>
>> (Be careful of the spelling and letter case.)
>>
>> Since bird photos do not require long exposures, nor do shots of the
>> moon (my only astronomical attempts) this is a non issue for me.
>>
>> Olin McDaniel
>
>
>Nice pictures.
>Well done !
>
>Basic question, how do you focus it? Camera focus, telescope focus ?
>
>Martyn
>
Actually, you must focus both. After thousands of shots, I've about
evolved to 3 basic approaches.

1- If the subject is always going to be at the same distance from the
telescope, I focus the scope first to my eye, with the camera removed.
Then, I try to let the camera do its thing with Autofocus. This works
best if the subject and lighting have sufficient contrast. When this
approach is feasible, it yields the best total focus.

2- If I must adjust the scope's focus with the camera still attached,
because the subject has moved out of DOF, then I cheat a little. I
use all the zoom available, including max digital zoom, to focus the
scope best and remove all digital zoom at that point to let the camera
again try for autofocus for taking the shot.

3- Finally, if conditions don't allow those, then I admit I'm in
trouble and will try Manual focus on the camera. Usually, less than
50% of these are properly focused.

Maybe you really didn't need all that detail, but that's my way.

Olin