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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Photographing the moon
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Showing posts 26 - 37 of 37, (reverse)
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 11/03/2005 05:19:35 AM · #26
Originally posted by MQuinn:
The Meade ETX-90EC can be made into a goto scope just by adding the autostar controller. I have had a ETX-90 for the past 5 years, Its a great scope to take pictures of the moon. I made a simple mount to go into the eye piece, got some great photos..


Can't you get a T-Mount for the Meade ETX series Scopes?
11/03/2005 05:35:31 AM · #27
This is a picture I took a few weeks ago that started my wanting to take more pictures of the moon and other astronomy stuff



I used the Sigma lens (70-300mm) at 300mm f/5.6, using 1/640s shutter and ISO 1600.
The image has been cropped and a unsharpen mask has been applied to make it sharper for the web.
 11/03/2005 06:19:34 AM · #28

11/03/2005 09:52:49 AM · #29
Originally posted by dsherwin:

Can't you get a T-Mount for the Meade ETX series Scopes?


Yes you can at least for the 125. The trouble is that mounting a camera on the back of the tube limits the range of motion if you polar align the scope and also makes the scope severely out of balance.
 11/17/2005 03:02:46 PM · #30
Hi,

Thanks for all the answers I got, I am going to save up some cash get the Meade ETX-125 next time when I visit the US

As a stop gap measure, I am looking at the possiblity of using either a 2x teleconverter or a set of extension tubes.

Which are better extension tubes or teleconverters?
 11/17/2005 03:19:39 PM · #31
Originally posted by dsherwin:
Hi,

Thanks for all the answers I got, I am going to save up some cash get the Meade ETX-125 next time when I visit the US

As a stop gap measure, I am looking at the possiblity of using either a 2x teleconverter or a set of extension tubes.

Which are better extension tubes or teleconverters?


I've been extremely underwhelmed by this setup with an NGC-series Meade. I have the T-mount for my pentax. The weight of the camera is just too much for the gearing of the telescope. It's nearly impossible to adequately balance for getting a good photo. The plastic teeth of the telescope's gears get stripped very VERY easily too, so it's almost impossible to work with.

Message edited by author 2005-11-17 15:23:11.
 11/18/2005 04:04:42 AM · #32
Originally posted by northrop3:
Originally posted by dsherwin:
Hi,

Thanks for all the answers I got, I am going to save up some cash get the Meade ETX-125 next time when I visit the US

As a stop gap measure, I am looking at the possiblity of using either a 2x teleconverter or a set of extension tubes.

Which are better extension tubes or teleconverters?


I've been extremely underwhelmed by this setup with an NGC-series Meade. I have the T-mount for my pentax. The weight of the camera is just too much for the gearing of the telescope. It's nearly impossible to adequately balance for getting a good photo. The plastic teeth of the telescope's gears get stripped very VERY easily too, so it's almost impossible to work with.


The NGC series are refractors and have a altazimuth, single-tine mount.
The mount does not look capable of handling much more than the scope.

The ETX series are Maksutov-Cassegrain scopes with motorized altazimuth mount and it looks capable of handling the weight of a Canon 350D.

I haven't read of any issues with mounting a camera on an ETX-series on any of the astronomy forums I browse.
 11/18/2005 05:18:51 AM · #33
to quote myself from another recent thread:
Originally posted by Gauti:
Maybe not perfect, but quite good (even if I say so myself):

details by the photo itself.
11/18/2005 11:28:30 AM · #34
Originally posted by dsherwin:


I haven't read of any issues with mounting a camera on an ETX-series on any of the astronomy forums I browse.


I have the 125 and 20D. You can rear mount it using T-adapter and the motors will lock the location and track but the scope is way out of balance and I am sure this is stressing the drive motors. I certainly wouldn't slew the scope with the camera attached. Also if you are using polar alignment anything high in the nortern sky is unavailable because the camera would collide with the mount.

The setup is fun to play with and if you have the scope and camera the investment in T-mount is minimal but I think if you really are interested in astrophotography you probably need a bigger scope with a CCD camera. Of course my dream system for that is about $75K which is why it remains a dream.
 11/18/2005 11:47:50 AM · #35
Chad Purser has some great moon shots...





11/18/2005 12:54:00 PM · #36


Okay....now I am officially envious...
 11/18/2005 05:51:40 PM · #37
I even made a spoof of myself:


can you guess which is the moon and which is the guinness?
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