5 replies to this topic

[Arun K]

I’ve recently invested in a serious mount for astrophotography: Celestron Advanced VX mount and tripod. While I don’t have a dedicated optical tube yet, I plan to use my Celestron Astromaster 130EQ for now until I can upgrade.

At the moment, the only object I can capture with this setup is the Moon, as I need to use a 2x Barlow to achieve prime focus. I know there are galaxies I could attempt to capture, but given the limitations of the 130EQ, the Moon seems like the most practical target for now.

 

Till the time I buy a new telescope tube, I’d like to use the mount as a star tracker to take some short night sky images with my Canon 200D Mark II and the kit lens. I’m a bit unsure about how to mount the DSLR directly to my telescope.

 

Here’s what I have:

1. Celestron Advanced VX Mount:Dual saddle plates (CG-5 and CGE)
2. Celestron Astromaster 130EQ: Comes with a CG-5 dovetail bar
3. Canon 200D Mark II: Not familiar with the underside screw specifications
4. Manfrotto Tripod: Comes with a quick release plate for the DSLR

Could anyone guide me on how to attach my DSLR to the telescope? As a beginner, I’m not sure I’m using my gear effectively, so any tips on configurations or techniques to get the most out of my gear would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks in advance!

[rblackadar]

The camera takes a 14" x 20 screw, same as the two center holes on the Astromaster dovetail. So, if you remove the rings from that dovetail you could mount the camera to it with a suitable screw, probably one with a tapered head that doesn't stick down below the dovetail. A thin wooden or rubber shim might help as well, to get the camera position right and help keep it tight on the dovetail. An issue you may have, especially with longer lenses, is that it will want to come loose at the odd angles you get on the EQ. There are various DIY ways to minimize or defeat this -- I've resorted to zipties on occasion.

[rblackadar]

Oops, make that 1/4" of course.

[rblackadar]

Alternatively, the camera could just ride on top of the Astromaster OTA (rotated so the finder and focuser are not in the way) using the screws provided in the rings. This is maybe not the ideal config but requires next to nothing to try.

[KLWalsh]

ADM Accessories sells various dovetail bars and clamps, including clamps for attaching DSLRs to dovetail bars, for doing what you want to do.
Take a look at their website and maybe you’ll find a component that suits your needs.
Keep in mind that a heavy camera + lens combination connected only at the 1/4-20 screw hole can put a lot torque on the 1/4-20 screw. This might cause the screw to loosen as the mount slews (Guess how I know this…) causing the camera to slip. A two-point system is advised, to secure a heavy camera + lens combo.

[bignerdguy]

The only issue with using the OTA to take pictures through is the fact that most Newtonians have issues focusing and to solve this you have to move the secondary mirror down closer to the primary mirror.  Like a lot of the others here have already mentioned you can get away with it if you use the OTA or its dovetail bar as the mounting point and use your regular camera lenses as the way to take photos.  Easiest is the dovetail bar mounted directly to the tripod attachment point on the bottom of the camera and then the camera sitting on the mount where the OTA normally sits.

Edited by bignerdguy, 27 October 2024 - 06:27 PM.