Photography - Meade ETX series AutoStar Instruction Manual

Fig. 31a: Flip mirror control in
the "up" position.
Fig. 31b: Flip mirror control in
the "down" position.
Fig. 32a: Example of a format
1 photo.
Fig. 32b: Example of a format
2 photo.

PHOTOGRAPHY

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Fig. 30: Example of photography through the ETX using the #64 T-Adapter: (1) Short
section of #64 T-Adapter; (2) Extension section of #64 T-Adapter; (3) Knurled attachment ring;
(4) T-mount; (5) Flip- mirror control in "up" position; (6) 35mm camera body; (7) Format 1.
Photography with a 35mm Camera
Photography through your ETX model requires the addition of the optional #64
T-Adapter (see
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
to the telescope (Fig. 30), 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.
For through-the-telescope photography, turn the flip-mirror control (5, Fig. 30) to the
"down" position, allowing light to pass straight through the telescope and out the photo
port (Figs. 31a and 31b). With the flip-mirror control in the "down" position and the
photo port's dust cover removed, you can see the front lens of the telescope when
you look through the photo port. The #64 T-Adapter threads onto the photo port, fol-
lowed by a T-mount for the particular brand of 35mm camera being used, followed by
the camera body (with the camera lens removed).
The #64 T-Adapter consists of two sections (1 and 2, Fig. 30), which are threaded
together in shipment. You may use either of the following photographic mounting
formats to couple the camera body to the telescope's photo port thread.
• Format 1: Camera Body + T-Mount + Section (1) of the #64 T-Adapter (7, Fig. 30).
ETX-90PE 1250mm at f/13.8
ETX-125PE 1900mm at f/15
Format 1 utilizes only the short section of the #64 T-Adapter to permit close-coupling
of a camera body to the telescope. In this format vignetting will occur; the
photographic image will appear on film with a slight darkening at the corners of the
35mm frame (see Fig. 32a).
• Format 2: Camera Body + T-Mount + Sections (1) and (2) of the #64 T-Adapter (see
Fig. 30).
ETX-90PE 1450mm at f/16
ETX-125PE 2310mm at f/18
Format 2 utilizes both sections of the #64 T-Adapter threaded together to form a rigid
unit. In this configuration there is no field vignetting; images are illuminated to the
edges of a standard 35mm frame (see Fig. 32b).
To frame an object in the viewfinder of the 35mm camera body, slightly loosen the
knurled attachment ring (3, Fig. 30), which threads the #64 T-Adapter to the
telescope's photo port; rotate the camera body to achieve proper framing of the
object; then re-tighten the knurled ring.
Photography through a long lens, such as the ETX, requires special technique for
good results. The photographer should expect to use several rolls film in acquiring this
1
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, page 42). With the #64 T-Adapter attached
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3
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