camera connected telescope

[prbaxter]

so if I connect my camera (with its built in lens) up to to the telescope and don't use an eyepiece will it be able to focus on the image?

kind of like afocal without an eyepiece... I guess.

[dmahon]

There are three methods of astrophotography:

Prime focus

Eyepiece projection

Afocal

Keep the telescope eyepiece in, and you are describing the latter.

If your lens is fixed, I think that is the only one available to you - I am not sure if the camera lens could be used in lieu of the eyepiece for the second option, which is what you have suggested doing. It is normally done with an eyepiece but without a camera lens. Try it.

[Boondock Saint]

That is a question I've been wondering myself.

[Merlin66]

The short answer is no....

You either need to focus the camera without it's lens (prime focus/ eyepiece projection/ barlow) or use it behind an eyepiece of pretty long focal length ie 28 to 32mm

(The eyepiece gives a collimated, parallel beam of light which the camera lens can then bring to a focus)

HTH

[prbaxter]

my webcam seems to be able to function without the need for any lenses or eyepieces.

This got me thinking about the camera...

[Merlin66]

Yes but...have you removed the built in lens from the webcam???

Then it's just like any other camera body without a lens....

[prbaxter]

i guess....

so If i removed the lens from my camera, then it would work. like any other camera body.

[Merlin66]

Bingo!

You got it!