Prime Focus

[KAYVEE62]

Could anyone tell me if it's possible to get prime focus with a Skywatcher Explorer 200p/ dslr combination ? , I know the 200pds will , but the cost just keeps increasing , if I go for the 150pds will I always be thinking that I should have gone for the 200p as it will enable me to see better images .

[Cornelius Varley]

Yes, you should be able to. The focuser has a direct SLR connection on the focuser. Unscrew any eyepiece adapter that you might have attached to the focuser and you will find a t thread. Screw a t-ring into this and then attach your DSLR body. eg

[Alien 13]

There is realy no such thing as better images just different what the 200p will give is a greater FL but at the expense of being harder to guide you could argue that in real life situations even the 130PDS could in fact be "better"

Alan

[Garethr]

No problem getting focus on a 200p

My Canon1100D is only about a third of the way out on the focuser

Gareth 

[KAYVEE62]

And would you be able to use an ep projection adapter with an ep for prime focus photos or would that be taking the focal point farther away from the mirror ?

[Cornelius Varley]

And would you be able to use an ep projection adapter with an ep for prime focus photos or would that be taking the focal point farther away from the mirror ?

The camera needs to be as close as possible to the telescope, as in the video. Using an ep projection adapter wouldn't work.

[KAYVEE62]

Would it work on the pds models ?

[Cornelius Varley]

Would it work on the pds models ?

Probably not.

[Charic]

I have used a D5000 attached to the Skyliner, and achieved focus, on the Moon  but the Skyliner is different to the Explorer  by one focal ratio.

I don't remember the combination of tubes and adapters, but it worked, its just that a Dobsonian mounted Skyliner was not meant for astrophotography, but I intend to convert this Xbox Live Vision camera, take some video, capture the stills, stack them, and see what results, all  manually tracked on axis by hand?