i have an 8" zhumell dob and a minolta x 700. i would like to try my hand at some photos but not sure what i need to adapt the camera to the scope. i know i need the t ring but is there anything else.
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ClownFish
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Reged: 04/26/05
Posts: 5600
Loc: Islamabad, Pakistan
ah.. so you have an Alt/Az mount. That's going to make faint objects (DSOs) virtually impossible to capture.
You will have the best chance imaging the moon, when it's not full. A full moon shows no craters. The moon will work because it's so bright that you do not need to track in equatorial mode.
To attache the camera you will need a T-Ring and a T-Adapter. - The T-Ring attaches one end to the camera and has a universal T-Thread on the other end. - The T-Adapter attaches the T-Ring/Camera to your scope's focuser.
Not really, the long focal length (F10) is way too slow for film, and the mount is not even close to the quality needed for long exposure astrophotography through a telescope.
Now IF the MOUNT is the ADS version, which is an EQUATORIAL MOUNT then may be able to use it for something. The Meade 70AZ comes on both Alt/AZ mounts and an EQUATORIAL one. The Alt/AZ mount will not work for long exposure astrophotography. You COULD use your camera in Piggyback fashion with a 50mm lens and use the EQ mount as a glorified "Barm-Door" mount and get some decent wide field shots.
For film imaging of faint nebula and galaxies, you need: - An Equatorial Mount - A fast (short) focal ratio lens, less than f/6