Orion 5228 instruction manual Focus the camera, and shoot the picture

Figure 3. By orienting the camera and SteadyPix assembly as shown you will bring the center of mass of the assembly as low as it can get. This will prevent the SteadyPix and camera from rotating downward.

To set up and use the SteadyPix:

1.If you examine the bottom of your digital or SLR camera, you will notice a threaded adapter that will accept the SteadyPix’s 1/4"-20 camera fastener. Attach the camera to the SteadyPix by inserting the camera fastener into this adapter. Certain inexpensive cameras may not have this threaded socket and cannot be used with the SteadyPix. Figure 4 shows a camera about to be attached to the sup- port plate. Figure 5 shows several different cameras attached to the SteadyPix. If the SteadyPix’s 1/4"-20 cam- era fastener does not thread all the way into your camera's threaded adapter, use one or two washers to take up the extra space between the camera space and your camera. Now set the SteadyPix and camera assembly aside while you aim your telescope.

2.Locate the object you wish to photograph in your tele- scope. Before attaching the SteadyPix, focus the image in the telescope’s eyepiece using the telescope’s focuser.

3.Remove the eyepiece from the telescope.

4.Loosen the eyepiece clamp knob until the clamp is wide enough to fit around the barrel of the eyepiece. Then place the clamp over the eyepiece and tighten the eyepiece clamp knob until the SteadyPix is secure on the telescope. For some eyepiece designs, the barrel may be too large for you to fit the regular eyepiece clamp over the eyepiece. If this is the case then you should try using the larger clamp that came with your SteadyPix. (See Part 4. Changing the eyepiece clamp.)

5.Place the eyepiece back into the telescope with the SteadyPix and camera assembly attached.

6.Loosen the 1/4"-20 camera fastener knob, then slide the camera along the camera support plate towards the eye- piece. Loosen the shaft knob just a bit and adjust the camera support plate so that the eyepiece will line up with the camera lens. Do this by rotating the camera support plate around the eyepiece clamp shaft. Raise or lower the plate as well to match the level of the camera lens with the level of the eyepiece. The camera lens and eyepiece will likely need to get quite close to each other to work properly, but make sure they do not touch or else damage to the eyepiece or camera lens may occur. Figure 6 shows sev- eral cameras in position next to the eyepiece, on the telescope, and ready to shoot.

7.Look at the camera’s viewscreen or viewfinder to see if the object is there. If not, some more adjustments may need to be made. Try bringing the camera lens closer to the eye- piece, or adjust the camera support plate by loosening the shaft knob and moving it left or right and up or down. Note that unless your eyepiece has long eye relief, the views- creen or viewfinder may have a constricted view of the object you wish to photograph. Keep making minor adjust- ments until the image from the eyepiece takes up as much space in the viewscreen or viewfinder as it possibly can. Be sure to tighten the 1/4"-20 camera fastener knob and shaft knob when you are ready.

8.Focus the camera, and shoot the picture.

Some telescopes mounts, such as Dobsonian mounts, may move very easily if any pressure is put against the eyepiece. The act of placing the SteadyPix over the eyepiece and ready- ing it for shooting may cause the telescope to move off of its target. You may find it easier to attach the eyepiece and cam- era to the SteadyPix in advance, then find the object you wish to photograph with a separate eyepiece with similar character- istics. Then replace that eyepiece with the SteadyPix, camera, and eyepiece assembly you have prepared in advance.

Figure 4. A camera about to be attached to the SteadyPix. The SteadyPix’s 1/4"-20 camera fastener will thread easily into the camera’s adapter.

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