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 ETX-90, ETX-105 and ETX-125EC
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The Meade ETX telescopes, although primarily visual instruments, are great platforms for all sorts of astro-photography when used with well-designed accessories. |
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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 ETX.
 
Click on the images above for enlarged views
All images taken by RJ Dalby FRAS unless otherwise stated.
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Left: ETX125 Nikon950 digital camera and DigimaxT 40 (AC520 and AC521)
Right: The recent transit of Venus (8 June 2004) shot with Canon digital IXUS mounted on a ETX105 with Ultra (PH047) |
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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 brackets - there is one for each model. They are designed to make a perfectly balanced fit, and will not risk scratching the tube and damaging the declination bearings like other products. |
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.
All images taken by
RJ Dalby FRAS unless otherwise stated.
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For great film images using SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras you have a choice of fitting the camera to the threaded camera port, or using adaptors to fit the camera to the eyepiece holder. Photography through the eyepiece holder is normally easier as there is less risk of the camera colliding with the fork arms, and also 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). |
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For prime focus photography (no other optics used except that of the main instrument) the Combi camera adaptor is ideal. The adaptor screws directly to the rear cell of the ETX. Not only is it threaded for SLR T-mounting rings, it will also hold a 1.25” eyepiece for straight-thru-the-scope viewing. Later on, as your imaging skills progress, you can add the AC330 extension tube and the device becomes a powerful eyepiece projection unit for highly magnified photography of bright targets (the Moon and brighter planets etc).
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Left: A twin image presentation of the sun shot in white light and Ha (narrowband) light. The left-hand image was shot with a ETX125 and FI095 Solar filter using a Canon D30 digital SLR camera and Combi camera adaptor AC306. The right-hand Ha image was shot using an ETX70-AT equipped with a Coronado ASP60 filter system using a Canon Digital IXUS camera mounted using the Ultra PH047.
Click on image for
a large view |
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If you simply want to attach an SLR straight to the eyepiece holder of the ETX 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 ETX’s eyepiece holder. To increase image magnification a 2x Barlow lens (or other image amplification accessory 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 detailed target with ease.
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The planet Jupiter with satellites Io and Europa. 10” Meade LX200 SCT plus SBIG ST-7 CCD camera. Some further details on image. |
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Probably the most sophisticated way to image planets with your ETX is to use a webcam. Webcam imaging 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 ETX telescope.
 
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Left: A transit of Mercury across the solar disc. One a in sequence shot with a Philips ToUcam Pro Webcam + AC378. Image by N Szymanek. Click Picture for full sequence view
Right: 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 the full catalogue of accessories for the Meade ETX 90, 105 and 125EC |