Video cameras and scopes

[NIGHTBOY]

I have a panasonic sd900 that films in 1920 1080 50p. I've just got the t ring to attach it to the scope so I'm hoping to get some good footage of he moon tonight. What I'm wondering is, can the zoom on the camera be used o zoom in on the image???

[Laurie61]

Hi, I'am assuming the T ring you have is to attach the camera to an eyepiece as the camera wont work just with its own lens and the scope? With the afocal method, using an eyepiece, you can use the optical zoom on the camera to frame or magnify your target.   

[NIGHTBOY]

I'm pretty sure you don't use an eye piece when usin cameras.

[Cornelius Varley]

I'm pretty sure you don't use an eye piece when usin cameras.

It depends if the camera has a fixed lens or not. if the lens can be removed then prime focus imaging is possible. If not, then you need to image through the camera lens and an eyepiece attached to the telescope (afocal imaging)

[NIGHTBOY]

looks like that maybe the case then as ive just tried it and all my video camera picks up is the cross that holds the mirror on . So what adapter do I need so the camera can connect to the eye piece??

[Schorhr]

Something like http://m.ebay.de/itm/261038326101?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1 but a Camcorder probably won't Fit depending on it's size.

[NIGHTBOY]

What would do it is....

A tube about 3.5 inches long with a 46mm male thread at one end and a 46mm female thread at the other end.... I wonder if such a tube is avalible.... mmmmm

[Schorhr]

Some eyepieces such as the Hyperion have threads, but you could consider getting a used 450d, or modify a suitable webcam, but photography with a dobsonian is rather limited. So the camera has no de attachable lens?

[NIGHTBOY]

No, its a Panasonis SD900 Video camera and the picture on it is amazing. I have an adapter ring on it so the thread is 46mm, the thread on my scopes dslr adapter is also 46mm. If I had a 3.5 in 46mm tube I could fix it to the camera then slide it over the eye piece (when in the scope) and screw it onto the scopes adapter.

[NIGHTBOY]

2x T 2 40mm extention tubes would do it.

[Cornelius Varley]

You might be able to find a suitable adaptor here http://www.srb-griturn.com/index.asp

[NIGHTBOY]

Thanks Cornelius. I was looking at the T 2 extention tubes but after thinking about it they wouldn't slide over the thumb screws that hold the eye pieces in place... [removed word]!