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 LX200GPS Series SCT
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The Meade LX200 GPS is probably the world's finest all round performer - it’s a great instrument to use visually and has some features that make it the perfect choice for a foundation for advanced astro-photography projects. With well-designed accessories there are virtually no limits to the forms of astro-photography that can be accomplished with these superb instruments. |
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The best and quickest way to get into the fascinating world of astro-photography is to use a modern digital camera. Don’t worry if your camera is quite basic - you’ll be amazed at the results! Let us show you just how simple it can be to fit your camera to your LX200GPS
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ETX125 Nikon950 digital camera and DigimaxT 40 (AC520 and AC521)
All images taken by
RJ Dalby FRAS unless otherwise stated.
Click on Lunar image for full view |
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For truly stunning wide-field deep-sky images of star fields, nebulae and galaxies using standard film cameras (or new digital SLRs!) check out our piggyback camera bracket. Remember, the telescope well need to be equatorial mounted for this kind of astro photography.
The tiltable piggyback mount has a unique design and allows the camera to be pointed in any direction regardless of telescope attitude. Wide-field astro-photography is easy and rewarding and doesn’t need much additional equipment, apart from the piggyback mounting and the great telescope you already have; the only other gadget you’ll need to try this kind of sky-shooting is a locking cable release. Simply select a short focal length lens (24, 28, and 35mm are great but a 50mm standard lens can be used), load the camera with ISO200 speed colour film (Kodak or Fuji transparency film is ideal) and attach the camera to the piggyback mounting. Working on a moonless night, align the telescope as normal and select a suitable target. Set the camera shutter speed dial to “B” for bulb, and with the telescope tracking simply open the shutter and expose the film for three minutes. Being careful not to kick the tripod or jog the camera when you open and close the shutter. Experiment with a series of exposures of the same target, increasing the exposure by three minutes each time. Work you way up to a 21-minute exposure, then move on to a new target and start the same sequence again. When you see the finished result back from the lab you will know a lot more about your telescope and your site. You may find that exposures over, say 9 to 15 minutes have stated to show trailing (stars that look like little lines rather than dots) and the images may show sky fog or light pollution. These are things that you can work on correcting - but meanwhile you’ll have shot your first good wide-field images.
For great film images using SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras you have a choice of fitting the camera to the visual back thread, or to fit the camera to the eyepiece holder. Photography through the eyepiece holder is normally more convenient, as the adaptors that fit the eyepiece holder are more versatile and can achieve many different image scales and magnifications by allowing other accessories to be used with them (Barlow lenses etc). Remember to remove the star diagonal before attaching the camera. |
Left: Wide-field image showing star cloud in the constellation of Cygnus (the Swan). So many stars are visible in this kind of image, it can be hard to recognise the familiar pattern of constellations, hence lines have been added to mark out the constellation. Shot using 50mm f1.8 Zuiko lens, Olympus OM-1 35mm SLR camera. Ten-minute exposure on Kodak Ektachrome ISO200 film. Camera piggyback-mounted on 10” Meade LX200 SCT using PH024.
Wide-field image in
the constellation of Scorpio. The bright orange star upper left is the planet Mars. Shot with 50mm f1.8 Zuiko lens on OM-1 35mm SLR camera piggybacked via our tiltable piggy-back bracket PH024 on a Meade 10” LX200 SCT.
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For prime focus photography (no other optics used except that of the main instrument) the Deluxe low-profile T thread camera adaptor (AC572) is ideal. The adaptor screws directly to the rear cell thread (visual back thread). A precise rubberised grip ring allows the camera to be rotated to any position, and of course the device is threaded for SLR T mounting rings. To increase the magnification when imaging the Moon and brighter planets etc, a photographic 2x teleconverter can be attached to your camera (available from camera shops). This type of camera connection is probably the most robust and secure available - but it is not the most versatile.
  
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Left: M20 SBIG ST-8 and AO-7 CCD image, 10” LX200 SCT.
Right: M27 SBIG ST-8 and AO-7 CCD image, 10” LX200 SCT.
Click either image for an enlarged view |
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If you just want to attach an SLR straight to the eyepiece holder of the LX200 GPS for general photography our Basic camera adaptor (AC457) may be all the equipment you’ll need. This low-cost adaptor will allow a T-ring camera adaptor (for your particular brand of SLR) to be fitted at one end; the other end is a straight 1.25” nosepiece and simply pushes into the LX200’s eyepiece holder. To increase image magnification a 2x Barlow lens and many other image amplification accessories (AC555, AC519 etc) can be fitted to the adaptor. |
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If you really want to try your hand at serious planet and lunar photography with your SLR camera, our combined Basic 1.25” camera adaptor and eyepiece projection unit (AC325) will allow you to get the magnification you need for a detailed target with ease. |
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When you feel ready to attempt deep sky imaging through the main telescope optics the right accessories are going to be essential for the task. The drive system in the LX200 is excellent, and with good periodic error correction training (PEC) and accurate polar alignment, it is easily possible to make 5 minute unguided exposures at f6.3 without showing any signs of trailing on film or CCD images. However, exposures longer than 5-minutes or working at higher f ratios (typically f10 with the standard instruments) some form of active drive correction will be needed. Your shopping list of equipment might include a a ring system and guide scope.
  
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Left: Wide-field deep-sky image showing galaxies M81 and M82. Shot with SBIG ST-7 CCD camera with 400mm Zen Apo Sigma lens piggyback-mounted on 10” Meade LX200 SCT using AC243 parallel rail-mounted ring system.
Right: M51 Starlight Xpress HX-9 CCD image, 12” LX200 SCT. Auto-guided by SBIG STV and Starchaser AG70 and Parallel rail and 5” ring system. (AC243)
Click either image for an enlarged view |
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Guide correction can be done by hand if you are patient enough but it is usually more satisfactory to use a CCD or video auto-guiding system - check out our wide range of accessories to assist deep-sky astro photography. |
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Probably the most sophisticated way to image planets with your LX200 is to use a webcam. Webcam results can be fantastic; however, great results take a bit of work - we’d recommend you try your hand at a few basic astro-photography projects first. Learn how to find and follow targets closely with the Autostar handset, as this will pay dividends when you move up to the rather more challenging task of webcam imaging. However, if you are ready to advance, we have everything you need to connect popular webcams to your Meade LX200 telescope.
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The planet Mars - Philips ToUcam Pro Webcam image - 10” LX200 SCT Image by D Peach and J Mills.
Click Picture for larger view |
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See more accessories for the LX200GPS |