Help with prime focus set up.

[slotdrag]

I have a celestron C8N 8" reflector on a CG5 mount non motor drive. I also have a sony FD100 digital camera and a sony handy cam. I would like to do prime focus photos. What do i need to do this. Please the least expensive way.

[Bokmakierie]

Hi Slotdrag,

I am not a prime focus expert but as far as I know you will have a problem with this method if you do not have a motor drive. At best you will only be able to do short exposures ( below 1 second or so) .
I use the afocal method which is not expensive and very satisfying if you do not set your standards too high. Look at what I have done with my 9" home made Dob and an inexpensive digital camera.
http://home.telkomsa.net/mybirding/Afocal.htm
The prime focus experts will certainly give you better advice I think.

Phil

[ozark1]

You're going to need the motors I'm afraid. The Celestron motors should do (£130) not the really posh ones.

The Sony FD100 has a CCD chip as does the handicam. The FD100 can take pictures at the eyepiece (eyepiece projection). You'll need an adaptor for the telescope eyepiece and one for the camera. The handicam needs the same setup - the technique here is to take a short video and back integrate.

Forget "Prime Focus" (It's wrong anyway) - or even "Newtonian Focus" until you have a camera or CCD without a lens. Both are expensive items

[Dave Mitsky]

A DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera is necessary to do "prime focus" imaging. With your camera you can easily take afocal (not eyepiece projection) shots of bright objects like the Moon.

http://www.fvastro.org/articles/digital/

Hand-held afocal shots through the eyepiece are possible but you'll really need some sort of camera adapter in the long run.

http://www.scopetronix.com/

Capturing some of the brightest deep-sky objects afocally has been done but it requires stacking images.

http://www.dur.ac.uk/nigel.metcalfe/astro/afocal.html

Dave Mitsky

[Bokmakierie]

Here are a few examples from my collection of afocal images just to illustrate what can be achieved by simply holding up the camera to the eyepiece and shoot.
The planet images are by no means earth shattering but pleasing nonetheless. With excellent seeing and stacking of several of your best shots, I am sure that you could do even better. But a clamp is a must if you have a shaky hand like I do.
http://home.telkomsa.net/mybirding/Afocal.htm

Clear skies

Phil

[slotdrag]

Thanks every body i have been shooting through the eyepeice. Just thought i might try some different way to shoot.

[Bokmakierie]

Thanks every body i have been shooting through the eyepeice. Just thought i might try some different way to shoot.

My apologies!! I never realized. Preaching to the converted

Phil