Dobsonian focus

[Mamsoth]

Hi SGL, I am new to imaging, (very new in fact ) and have been using my celestron refractor so far, however I want to try out my 12" skywatcher dob on the moon and planets. I've already tried with my webcam and can't get near focus. I am really reluctant to do anything to the primary mirror and so I was wondering if anyone has a solution to the problem without having to go near any of the telescopes delicate mirrors?

[kniclander]

If the problem is not enough in-focus a barlow may help. If it's the opposite, an extension tube?

[Llamanaut]

hi mamsoth, had the exact same problem with my dob, its down to the focussing plane, its overcome with a x2 barlow, however (theres always a however) you can just get away with taking lunar pics using the dob but anything else is more luck than skill, planets move too quickly to use a dslr successfully without a drive of some kind. You may be able to get away with webcam imaging and then stack the single frames which will overcome the drift but so far all my attempts have been blurred by movement