Comments on: If I hold my camera lens up to a telescope, can I take a picture of what I see? http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/ Thu, 17 May 2012 20:50:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Caoedhen http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1933 Caoedhen Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:05:49 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/#comment-1933 I've done this with telescopes, and the other direction, with microscopes. The trick (and it can be very difficult) is to get the camera lined up *exactly* with the center of the image through the scope. If it is off by even a degree or two, you get nothing. The higher the magnification, the more critical this angle becomes. This is why it is best to use a t-mount adapter if you have an SLR, or any of numerous options with a digicam, to get the camera in the right spot. I’ve done this with telescopes, and the other direction, with microscopes.

The trick (and it can be very difficult) is to get the camera lined up *exactly* with the center of the image through the scope. If it is off by even a degree or two, you get nothing. The higher the magnification, the more critical this angle becomes.

This is why it is best to use a t-mount adapter if you have an SLR, or any of numerous options with a digicam, to get the camera in the right spot.

]]> By: Martin G http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1932 Martin G Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:06:57 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/#comment-1932 It will sort of work, but it takes some special equipment to make to work well, As others have mentioned, it takes an adapter to hold the camera steady in the correct position, so you don't get blurring from the movement of the camera relative to the telescope. With the camera mounted on a telescope, it has to be balanced right, and the scope needs a good, steady mount to prevent shaking. Just like with telephoto lenses, every little bit of motion is magnified. The effective focal length for high magnifications divided by the diameter of the lens or mirror is going to give you a high f number, requiring long exposures (unless the scope has a very big lens or mirror). Not optimized for photography like an expensive telephoto lens, there is likely to be vignetting. For objects in the sky there is the effect of the earth's rotation, which is magnified. Except for very bright objects like the moon at low magnifications, you need a drive that corrects for this. It will sort of work, but it takes some special equipment to make to work well, As others have mentioned, it takes an adapter to hold the camera steady in the correct position, so you don’t get blurring from the movement of the camera relative to the telescope. With the camera mounted on a telescope, it has to be balanced right, and the scope needs a good, steady mount to prevent shaking. Just like with telephoto lenses, every little bit of motion is magnified. The effective focal length for high magnifications divided by the diameter of the lens or mirror is going to give you a high f number, requiring long exposures (unless the scope has a very big lens or mirror). Not optimized for photography like an expensive telephoto lens, there is likely to be vignetting. For objects in the sky there is the effect of the earth’s rotation, which is magnified. Except for very bright objects like the moon at low magnifications, you need a drive that corrects for this.

]]> By: Teri http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1931 Teri Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:20:03 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/#comment-1931 You can try it and see. I tried, and it didn't work so well. There are adapters to connect cameras to telescopes. Try a site where they sell telescopes and accessories. I think what you need it a t-adapter or t-mount. You can try it and see. I tried, and it didn’t work so well. There are adapters to connect cameras to telescopes. Try a site where they sell telescopes and accessories. I think what you need it a t-adapter or t-mount.

]]> By: David M http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1930 David M Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:20:23 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/#comment-1930 Without an adapter it will certainly be hit or miss but yes it will work. There are T mount adapters available that will allow you to connect your camera to a telescope for this purpose. There is also something called Digiscoping that involves connecting your camera to a spotting scope. This will allow you to get much closer than you would with just a telephoto lens. Digiscoping is quite popular with bird watchers. Without an adapter it will certainly be hit or miss but yes it will work. There are T mount adapters available that will allow you to connect your camera to a telescope for this purpose.

There is also something called Digiscoping that involves connecting your camera to a spotting scope. This will allow you to get much closer than you would with just a telephoto lens. Digiscoping is quite popular with bird watchers.

]]> By: Paul L http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1929 Paul L Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:34:46 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/#comment-1929 Check out. There are galleries at that site of pictures people have taken through telescopes all the time. The moon, Saturn, Jupiter, even the Sun (with a Solar telescope, that is) etc....I think though that you will need something that will hold the camera still long enough to take the pictures....probably some kind of tripod that you can put close enough to the telescope eyepiece. Check out. There are galleries at that site of pictures people have taken through telescopes all the time. The moon, Saturn, Jupiter, even the Sun (with a Solar telescope, that is) etc….I think though that you will need something that will hold the camera still long enough to take the pictures….probably some kind of tripod that you can put close enough to the telescope eyepiece.

]]> By: spacecadet100 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1928 spacecadet100 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:09:43 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/#comment-1928 Yes it is called afocal photography. If you got a fast shutter speed of 1/60 of a second or faster the picture should come out. Otherwise it might be a bit blurred. Yes it is called afocal photography.

If you got a fast shutter speed of 1/60 of a second or faster the picture should come out. Otherwise it might be a bit blurred.

]]> By: Alex S http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1927 Alex S Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:09:14 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/if-i-hold-my-camera-lens-up-to-a-telescope-can-i-take-a-picture-of-what-i-see/#comment-1927 I don't think it is practical although maybe technically possible. The camera lens would be too big probably to look into the telescope lens and you would have to get it lined up correctly so would need a tripod. Plus you'd probably need to macro focussing to focus on the what is being seen through the telescope. I'm no expert on this but why not try experimenting and see what happens, thats what I would do, you might get some interesting results? I don’t think it is practical although maybe technically possible. The camera lens would be too big probably to look into the telescope lens and you would have to get it lined up correctly so would need a tripod. Plus you’d probably need to macro focussing to focus on the what is being seen through the telescope. I’m no expert on this but why not try experimenting and see what happens, thats what I would do, you might get some interesting results?

]]>