Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Cloudy Nights - Official Forums of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User   You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Astrophotography and Sketching >> Beginning Imaging Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Chris Graham mmmm...Haggis Reged: 04/01/04 Posts: 4869 Loc: Stirling, Scotland ToUcam Pro question (again) :)       #420186 - 04/27/05 03:51 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well i'm hoping to ge ta ToUcam Pro in the next few months but as i know you need to push your scope to the high f/ratios. My scope is a short 120mm refractor woring at f/5 so to get a decent size i would need to 4x the f/ratio or more. Problem is would my scope still be able to focus on the object? -------------------- -Skywatcher 8" Reflector on HEQ5 with Skyscan -Orion ED80 Refractor -70mm Guidescope/grab and go scope -Canon EOS 350D -Toucam Pro 2 Astronomy & Veggies Post Extras:       description Carpal Tunnel Reged: 11/09/04 Posts: 2159 Loc: Estonia, Tallinn Re: ToUcam Pro question (again) :) [Re: Chris Graham]       #420516 - 04/27/05 11:49 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Im pretty sure that you will get the things into focus. actually you don't need to push the scope to higher f/ratio but if you want to get a larger image scale it is needed. I use a 3x barlow for my 110mm f/7.3 scope and i have no problems with it.. -------------------- Post Extras:       Blueshark928 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 02/19/04 Posts: 2853 Loc: Crownsville, MD Re: ToUcam Pro question (again) :) [Re: description]       #420563 - 04/27/05 12:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You will most likely need to use your diagonal and/or extention tubes. -------------------- John SV-102APO SV-80/9d Losmandy G11 HX-916 Post Extras:       Hoser Pooh-Bah Reged: 02/10/05 Posts: 1104 Loc: Boston, MA Re: ToUcam Pro question (again) :) [Re: Blueshark928]       #420826 - 04/27/05 04:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You'll need to get an extension tube to replace your diagonal in the optical chain. I have a 660mm focal length refractor, at F 5.2 I use one of either a 2.5x or 5x PowerMate. You want to end up in the F20/30 range. Mind you, you'll need a good mount at that degree of magnification! -------------------- www.flemingastrophotography.com Brilliant diamonds in pea soup Post Extras:       Rat8bug Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/07/05 Posts: 1350 Loc: Michigan Re: ToUcam Pro question (again) :) [Re: Hoser]       #420842 - 04/27/05 05:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You will need to have VG seeing (or take and stack a lot of shots) also. With your 120mm x 5= 600mm focal length, your prime focus magnification will be 600/4.5 = 133x. This derived from the Sony ICX098BQ CCD that is used in the ToUCam pro, that has a 4.5mm diagonal. Using the 50x/inch rule, you will be under 236x. But since you have a short focus acromat, you'll need to use a filter for the CA. So the max barlow mag would be 2x, and I recommend the Celestron Ultima 2x barlow if you don't have one. http://www.barrie-tao.com/astro_photo.html Ciao...Barry -------------------- Nikon D40/D50/D70 DSLR WO 105mm Triplet APO WO Zenithstar 66SD APO (Black 'n Blue) WO 8 x 45mm APO Bino UO 20 x 80mm Bino Vixen 80SS Refractor Orion 127mm Apex Maksutov Vixen GP-DX with Skysensor 2000 SBIG STV and e-finder Post Extras:       Rushwind Carpal Tunnel Reged: 03/11/04 Posts: 2133 Loc: Newark, CA Re: ToUcam Pro question (again) :) [Re: Rat8bug]       #421253 - 04/27/05 11:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You can usually push the "magnification" higher for planetary photography than you would for visual use. My best Jupiter shots have been at f/30 on my 8" f/4.9, effective focal length 6000mm for effective magnification over 1300x. Yes, the seeing was pretty good the nights I was able to go that high, but using the 50x/inch rule, I should have gotten nothing more than a big fuzzy blob. I don't know why photos hold up to higher magnification. Perhaps someone can explain that part. But they do. The 5" refractor will probably take a lot of magnification before the light loss gets too bad; take it out for a spin and see what you get! The suggestion of an Ultima barlow (or Orion Shorty Plus) is a good one; mine basically lives on the nosepiece of my planetcam. Jimbo -------------------- Order of the Unblinking Eye G-11 D70 ST4 8"f/5 AT66ED (Rig) I used to shoot film. Post Extras:       Chris Graham mmmm...Haggis Reged: 04/01/04 Posts: 4869 Loc: Stirling, Scotland Re: ToUcam Pro question (again) :) [Re: Rushwind]       #421449 - 04/28/05 03:40 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have been taking to some other folk and they say that i should have no problems with focus. I suppose i just gotta try it out. -------------------- -Skywatcher 8" Reflector on HEQ5 with Skyscan -Orion ED80 Refractor -70mm Guidescope/grab and go scope -Canon EOS 350D -Toucam Pro 2 Astronomy & Veggies Post Extras:       Paul Rix Carpal Tunnel Reged: 11/06/04 Posts: 2910 Loc: Zanesville, Ohio,USA Re: ToUcam Pro question (again) :) [Re: Chris Graham]       #430390 - 05/06/05 08:04 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I took a nnumber of images with our ETX70, NexImage and stacked 3x and 2x barlows. I was very pleased with the resulting images. With a 120mm scope you should get even better results. -------------------- Climbing the Learning Curve Meade 10" LX200 Classic: WO 66SD. Philips SPC900NC, DMK21AU04.AS, Meade DSI Pro and DSI Pro II. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 9 registered and 4 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  Charlie Hein, knuklhdastnmr  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 426 Jump to *International Year of Astronomy 2009* -----   Global Coordination   Cornerstone Projects   Special Projects   Special Task Groups   Global Activities   National and Regional Activities   IYA 2009 in Africa   IYA 2009 in the USA*Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Beginners Forum   Celestial Events   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Celestron SkyScout and Meade mySky   Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   General Observing   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Other* -----   Science of Astronomy & Space exploration   AstroWebsites   Space Rocks*Speciality Forums* -----   AstroArt   Astronomy Software & Computers   Stellar Media   Astro Outreach, Clubs and Star Parties*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements Home

Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics