Canon 1000D Help

[AdamSegarty]

Hi,

Sorry but I'm a total novice to Astrophotography!

I recently bought a Canon 1000D camera and also a 2" eyepiece adapter to connect it to my 10" DOB. I have no problem connecting it to the telescope. However, when I try to find an object in the sky and take an image, I always seem to get an image of the primary/secondary mirror? How do I focus the camera to view the stars to take a photo?

I have tried focusing with the telescope rack, but nothing changes.

Please help!

[Veracocha]

This link might help.

A Beginner's Guide to DSLR Astrophotography

[AdamSegarty]

Thanks, I'll have a look!

[AdamSegarty]

It is helpful to change settings on the camera, but I still can't focus my camera on objects through the eyepiece slot Do I need an eyepiece in the adapter or something?

[Bizibilder]

If you wait a few days till the moon is visible in the evening try to focus on that (or use a far off church tower or pylon if you can see one) - its far easier than a star!! Then mark (with a felt tip pen) where "focus" is on your focussing tube - this will give you a rough guide for the future. You will find that the focusser movement from "out of>perfect>too far in" focus is actually very small and is quite easy to simply overshoot until you are used to it.

[Viv]

Not sure if it's the same with a dob - but could be worth a try.

when you connect your camera, use a 2 x barlow as well.

I have to do this with my explorer 200P

[Sparrow]

A common problem with DSLRs hooked up to a newtonian is that there is insufficient inward travel of the focuser to achieve focus - I'm thinking it's probably the same problem for a dob. To confirm this, point at a bright star and take series of short exposures, each time adjusting the focus inwards - you should be able to see the circle reducing. If you adjust the focuser all the way in and still have a circle, then this is definately the problem.

Solutions - either move the primary mirror up the tube (not something I fancy doing personally) or consider a low profile focuser. Using a barlow might enable you to achieve focus but remember that this is reducing the field of view, increasing the effective focal length and will make imaging so much harder.

[Revs]

Can you post a link to the adapter you're using, please.

[Revs]

I think I know what's wrong here. Are you using an adapter like this...?

if so, the problem is that these adapters don't allow the camera to get close enough to get focus. What you need is a T-Ring adapter and the 1.25" EP adapter that came with the scope, which unscrews in to 2 pieces and the T-Ring adapter screws in to one of them, like so...

http://stargazerslounge.com/1598275-post5.html

This allows the camera to get a good inch closer in and you should be able to achieve focus.

Hope that helps

[AdamSegarty]

Thanks for all the replies! I do have that 2" adaptor, so it seems that is the problem!

[AdamSegarty]

I've just been out to test the focal length, it seems my camera is too far away from the focal point. So I will have to buy that T-Ring, thanks for the help!!

[Revs]

Glad to be of service let us know how you get on.