Meade Mastering Photography with LXD 75 Telescopes

d C B

Fig. 22a: LXD75-Series T-Adapter attached to focuser assembly and camera.

(1)Camera Body, (2) T-Adapter,

(3)Focus Knob.

Focuser

Extension

Tube

Fig. 22b: Focuser Extension Drawtube with eyepiece holder and eyepiece attached.

Fig. 23: The Lunar

Planetary Imager.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography through an LXD75 Schmidt-Newtonianand Newtonian Reflector telescope requires an LXD75-Series T-Adapter (supplied) attached to the telescope (Fig. 22a). Through-the-telescope photography is possible with any 35mm camera body with a removable lens. In this way, the telescope effectively becomes the lens of the camera.

Unthread the focuser extension tube (Fig. 22b) from the focuser drawtube to remove from the focuser assembly. The T-Adapter (2, Fig. 22a) threads onto the focuser, fol- lowed by the camera body (1, Fig. 22a).

To orient an object in the viewfinder of the 35mm camera body, use a small jeweler’s screwdriver to slightly loosen three adjustment screws around the outer knurled ring of the T-Adapter. Rotate the camera body to achieve proper orientation of the object; then re-tighten the adjustment screws.

Photography through a long lens such as the LXD75-Seriesrequires special technique for good results, and the photographer should probably expect to waste a roll or two of film in acquiring this technique. Long-lens photography has its own rewards, how- ever, rewards that short-focus lenses cannot duplicate.

A few tips on photography with the LXD75-Seriestelescopes:

1.Use a cable-operated shutter release. Touching the camera body to initiate shut- ter operation almost certainly introduces undesirable vibrations.

2.Focus the image with extreme care. While observing the subject through the cam- era’s reflex viewfinder, turn the telescope’s focus knob (3, Fig. 22a) to achieve the sharpest possible focus. Note that some 35mm cameras may have an optional focusing screen (available from the manufacturer) for use with a long telephoto lens. This screen provides a brighter and clearer image to focus, and is highly rec- ommended.

3.Correct shutter speeds vary widely, depending on lighting conditions and film used. Trial-and-error is the best way to determine proper shutter speed in any given application.

Note: The camera used with your telescope may have an exposure meter that is still active when the standard lens is removed and the body is con- nected to the telescope with the T–Adapter. If used for terrestrial photog- raphy, the camera meter should be acceptable. If used for astrophotogra- phy, the meter probably will not provide good results since camera meters are not made to compensate for a dark sky.

4.Terrestrial photography through the LXD75-Seriesis sensitive to heat waves rising from the Earth’s surface. Long distance photography is best accomplished in the early morning hours before the earth has had time to build up heat.

5.Photography of the Moon and planets through the LXD75-Seriescan be especial- ly gratifying, but points 1 through 4 should be particularly noted in this case.

Photography with Meade’s Autostar Suite™

The Autostar Suite with Meade LPI™ (Lunar Planetary Imager) and Planetarium soft- ware turns your Meade LXD75 telescope, Autostar and PC into even more powerful astronomical instrument. LPI (Lunar Planetary Imager, Fig. 23) combines the power of an electronic astronomical imager with the simplicity of a web cam.

•Achieve great results the first time out on the Moon, planets, brighter deep-sky objects and terrestrial targets.

•Easy to use with real-time display of object on your PC screen. Just center, focus and shoot.

•Magic Eye software-assisted focusing.

The Autostar Suite Software includes powerful tools to help you get the most from your Meade LXD telescope:

•Sophisticated planetarium program with over 19 million objects.

•Select objects from the 19 million objects in the planetarium display and the telescope slews to those objects.

•Create your own Guided Tours.

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