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Getting me a Canon DSLR

blinky

By blinky
in Discussions - Cameras

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blinky

blinky

Posted
Posted

OK so the missus has finally given in to the nagging and is letting me buy a Canon DSLR now :hello1:

So what do I need? Besides the camera, to connect to my scope?

I would like to be able to connect it to the Newt and the ZS66. The newt already has a thread on the 2" adapter bit, so do I just need a T piece and what one exactly??

I would also like to be able to control it from my PC, initially just to be able to set it up to automatically take exposures, again what cable is needed and is the software free?

Anything else I need?

Very excitied now!!!

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Sam

Sam

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Craig,

To mount my 400D on my Newtonian I had o by the Canon adapter and a 2" T adaptor that screws into the canon adaptor. The 2" adapter is one of these:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=ae2inchadapter

and the canon thing is one of these: http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=tadaptor

I found on the Newtonian to get focus I had to move the mirror forward a bit. For shots longer than 30secs you'll also need one of these: http://www.astronomiser.co.uk/300d.htm and if your laptop doesn't have a serial port you'll need a USB to serial converter.

If you want to use a 1.25" barlow etc you'll need to get a 1.25" T adapter rather than the 2" one - or you could get both. The software for controlling it is all on the web and is free. These links might help:

http://www.beskeen.com/projects/dslr_serial/dslr_serial.shtml

http://www.stark-labs.com/index.html

hope that helps.

cheers

Sam

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blinky

blinky

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Gonna get the 350D as it seems to be the easyst one to control from PC. Problem is astronomiser does not do parallel anymore and I dont have a serial port. Also I only have 2 USB ports. I was going to (long term) use 1 USB for the DSI(Autoguiding) 1 for the 350D and I take it I need another port for the shutter control?

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MikeP

MikeP

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Craig,

I bought an un-powered 4 port USB - worked a treat as long as the amount of power the attached devices needed wasn't much. I've now bought a powered 7 port hub and the problems I have been having seem to have gone away.

Mike

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blinky

blinky

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Kevin,

The circuit looks easy enough to cobble together. What application are you using to control the shutter? I am very interested in making this rather than the usb>serial method

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blinky

blinky

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Just downloaded DSLR Shutter, looks exactly what I was wanting! So you circuit and DSLR SHutter it is! I take it I just select LPT1 and thats all the configuration I need? Does it also send the Mirror lockup signal to the camera through the parallel port?

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George

George

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I can thoroughly recommend http://www.dslrastromod.co.uk/ I recently bought the Black body Canon 350D with filter replacement package @ £415. Camera performs flawlessly and Kevin is a top bloke.

My setup is over 3 metres from the laptop so I recommend you get a powered USB 2 hub, I got a 7 port jobby off Ebay for around 6 quid. I also use a USB to serial adapter which I got off Andy from Astromiser, I made my own serial to shutter cable and have no problems with this setup.

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blinky

blinky

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Have you tried to go to the webpage :wink:

I have just bought one from Astrobuysell. Getting the camera/lens 2 batteries and 2 chargers 1GB flash card, T Adapter and serial cable (possible USB>serial converter as well) all for £300!

He aslo says he used it with a ZS66 and it was perfect with it!

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Beyond_Vision

Beyond_Vision

Posted
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Just downloaded DSLR Shutter, looks exactly what I was wanting! So you circuit and DSLR SHutter it is! I take it I just select LPT1 and thats all the configuration I need? Does it also send the Mirror lockup signal to the camera through the parallel port?

Yes you select LPT1. The mirror lock up function I dont think is relevant to the Canon.

Regards

Kevin

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blinky

blinky

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I got an unpowered one from ebay for a fiver! The DSI needs power but I dont think the 350d will draw any power so hopefully it wil suffice.

Another question:

I have a 1.25" UHC Filter, If I use this with a T-1.25" adapter will I get loads of vignetting? Do I need to buy a 2" Filter?

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George

George

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If you have a 2" focuser its better to use a 2" nosepiece as using a 1.25" setup can induce vignetting so Im led to believe (I could be talking complete rubbish) thats how I have read the howto's anyhow :wink:

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