Fed up off mucky knees using the polar scope?

[JamesF]

Nah. Most of my unfinished projects don't fit into boxes

James

[Earl]

Dont forget Yetis Polar scope with a diagonal.. also a rather good idea.

[studdedsole]

My unfinished projects fit in boxes as smashed up smaller parts once i've taken a hammer to them in frustration

[yesyes]

Agreed, once it's in a box, it's finished. By definition.

Edit: I should read all pages before replying. I was referring to:

Nah. Most of my unfinished projects don't fit into boxes

James

[g0ibi]

Have not done an action run as yet due to the cloudy weather, but bear in mind I will have a free hand to hold a red light without breaking my back!! As someone said the astronomy shed video's are well worth a look...

[Gina]

Nah. Most of my unfinished projects don't fit into boxes

James

Same with mine Trouble is, when I get the urge to return to a project, I can never find all the bits! I'd love to be organised and tidy but it just doesn't happen!

[stringbean]

Where can you get the SPC900NC webcam for this project?

[G6RAR]

You can find them at Morgan Computers.

Buy Cheap Astronomy at Morgan Computers

I think quite a few people on here have managed to get a few of these cameras when they were on special.

Cheers

Dave

[g0ibi]

Clear sky tonight so have tried 'scope-cam'! Worked well but only if the polar scope is partly illuminated! Worth a try, so I will order a red LED illuminator from RVO tomorrow. Will keep you posted,

[datman]

Hi

This is a splendid idea. At the minute I use a purpose made 4 x 75mm swivel wheel seat. I use a decked area so I can sit on it and scoot right under the tripod. Give the tripod legs a hug and the polar finder is just right, then scoot out a few minutes later. My bones are too old for bending.

I'll definitely give this a go though

[g0ibi]

I now have the LED device from RVO (Ordered Sat am arrived 9.30am Mon!) it works well with the web cam, but still need a clear night to check it out with Polaris!!

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

That looks very nice indeed! Must give it a shot some day.

[carastro]

Does any-one know if this will work with the telescope adapter attached to the SPC900. I am not sure if I still have the normal lens bits for it?

Carole

[yesyes]

Carole, I still have some spare lenses and silvery round plastic front bits from all the SPC880/90 mods I've been doing... I can post you a pair if you PM me your address.

[studdedsole]

Carole, I tried my camera with just the telescope adapter but it won't achieve focus on the polar scope reticule. I found you need to use the camera lens to achieve the correct focus.

[MushroomBill]

Excellent find. Thanks very much - its on the list of things to do!

[Macavity]

There is a "well-engineered" solution to support a Watec/Gstar Cam:

-- The "Polar E-Z" from: My Astro Shop (Website is still/ever down?)

I spotted the 1/3" 3.8-8.4mm F1.4 CS lens it uses (on order!) from:

Opticstar accessories. (Only £24.95, and useful for me anyway?)

Hoping I can "wing it" with my own (customised!) "Afocal Adaptor"...

[carastro]

Carole, I still have some spare lenses and silvery round plastic front bits from all the SPC880/90 mods I've been doing... I can post you a pair if you PM me your address.

Many thanks Yesyes, PM sent.

[sbooder]

I am building along the same lines only not a camera but a diagonal. I have an old diagonal from a cheap scope and I am at the moment mucking about with a box full of lenses to get the FL correct so I do not have to take off the Polar scope EP, I have come close and it may take a combo of lenses. I will keep you all posted as is expected and will provide pics too!

[yesyes]

Many thanks Yesyes, PM sent.

this will be sent out today... have given it to our gorgeous receptionist.. ;-)

[yeti monster]

Whilst Dions webcam polarscope is an excellent inovation, it does require a webcam and associated electroconmical gizmetry.

My solution was to utilise a spare Canon angle finder 'A', wot I happened to have kicking about the BIG shed doing not very much really........

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Really neat solutions being presented here. I think I have a Contax right-angle viewer for an SLR hanging around somewhere, I could dig that up as well.

In the mean time, to prevent getting dirty knees, I use a rubber pad used to keep the knees comfortable when tiling the terrace. Not as nifty, but it does work.

[sbooder]

I can not get low enough on my knees, it makes me look through the polar scope at the wrong angle and dose not give a true result. I have to sit on my aris!

[Budgie]

I got an un-flashed SPC880 for this mod and found that the canister from a 35mm roll of film is a nice fit over the polar scope of my EQ5 so I used that.

Even better, the base is thinner than the step on the focus ring so there's no need to sand the base. Just make the hope and glue the focus ring in place.

I found that I had to shorten the canister by about 15mm to get focus once it was fitted to the SPC880 but that's it.

[datman]

Hi

I tried this but was not overjoyed, as has been mentioned it only achieves focus using the afocal method i.e. with the webcam lens + polar scope lens.

I also came up with the same idea in the right angle finder. I am a happy boy now, my Ashai Pentax kit which cost a fortune and is now worth next to nothing is coming back to life. The right angle finder works well on the Polar scopes and finder scopes while my 135mm lens is now the eyeball for my guide camera. Yippee!