· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article    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] Forum Archives · Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Astrophotography and Sketching >> Beginning and Intermediate Imaging Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 tjemi member Reged: 12/06/08 Posts: 10 Loc: LA, Ca and Tijuana, BC, Mexico Cannot Focus       #3426080 - 11/02/09 07:07 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello all, I have a Zhumell 12' Dob and a Panasonic G1 mico4/3 camera which I have tried using for taking shots of the moon. I am using T-mounts, but could not get the moon in focus. It seems like the more I moved the camera toward the eyepiece the image cleared up, but at a certain point I could not focus further and the image was still very blurry. I have tried doing some searches here and on google, but am not sure how to proceed. Thanks. Post Extras:       nofxrx Vendor (HyperCams & Mods) Reged: 07/12/05 Posts: 2501 Loc: Palm Bay,Florida Re: Cannot Focus [Re: tjemi]       #3426169 - 11/02/09 07:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi, Most of the time Newts need more "IN" focus for use with a camera. There are several ways to fix this. 1)buy a new,low profile focuser like a MoonLight CR2. 2)Move the mirror "up" in the cell by using the collimation screws to move it up as far as possible,then re-collimate the optics and see if it helped. 3)take and drill new primary mirror cell bolt holes ~3/4" above the pre-existing set.This is EASY,many think they will ruin there telescope..you wont. Just simply remove the bottom/primary mirror.measure and mark at 3/4" or so center to center.Then drill a hole just large enough for the threads on the bolts to fit.re-mount the primary mirror cell.re-collimate.See how much it helped. Those are about your only options IF the problem IS your optics....if it is your cam to eyepiece distance,then a new adapter may be needed.I found that using an adapter like this one helped me out the most when I tried eyepiece projection: http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=photo_accessories/~pcategory=astro-imaging/~product_id=05338 Good luck!! Oh,and WELCOME TO CN!!! -------------------- Brent Oliver WO-66SD*WO-Megrez102ED-Special Edition*Super C8 Plus* CGE Pier-Mounted Some Cameras,some Filters HyperCams&MODS My Gallery Post Extras:       Igor super member Reged: 04/20/06 Posts: 126 Loc: Croatia Re: Cannot Focus [Re: nofxrx]       #3426858 - 11/03/09 04:51 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If you are using eyepiece and camera with its objective (afocal projection) then there should be enough IN focus travel because otherwise you wouldnt be able to look through scope with your own eyes. So the problem is most likely with camera-eyepiece combo. What eyepiece focal length are you using? You should try to focus by looking through eyepiece and then focus image with your camera (if it has manual focus option). -------------------- GSO 250/f5 dob Skywatcher Explorer 130p @ EQ3 Baader modified 350D and bunch of old M42 lenses Edited by Igor (11/03/09 04:55 AM) Post Extras:       John Wunderlin Vendor - Spike-a Focusing Mask Reged: 10/01/04 Posts: 699 Loc: Mineral Point, Wi Re: Cannot Focus [Re: Igor]       #3427579 - 11/03/09 02:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Also make sure the camera is well centered in the eyepiece. If you're off to one side, you're effective uncollimated and you may not be able to get it focused. -------------------- John Wunderlin Vendor - Spike-a Bahtinov Focusing Mask Empire Ranch Observatory Iowa County Astronomers Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 1 registered and 2 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: 152 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*Observing* -----   NEO   General Observing   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics