Attaching my camera to LXD75 mount

[thorpef1]

Hey guys.

I was looking at getting a Vixen Polaire or similar but i thought i might aswell get a whole goto mount used for the same price.

So i am picking up a Meade LXD75 goto mount on the weekend.

At the moment i want to use it to mount my DSLR on it and get some widefield photography.
Later on im thinking of putting a scope on it (thinking ED100 or the likes)

Anyway, what equiptment would i need to mount my camera on it without breaking the budget.

At the moment i have a GSO dob so im not familiar with the dovetails etc.

A quick check looks like i would need a vixen style dovetail with a 1/4" camera screw and then a ballhead.

Is this the best way to do this?

Thanks,
Luke

[omegacrux]

Just a vixen rail should be enough
as the ldx is goto
so no need for ball-head

David

[thorpef1]

Thanks David.

As it currently doesnt have a scope on it ill just use my 8x50 to polar align it.
Can i buy a dovetail that i can put both the finderscope and camera on it or would it be best to align it and then take the finderscope off and put the camera on?

[omegacrux]

Yup dual vixen rails are available
or just bolt flat plate , 2 or 3mm is fine to the rail and mount the finder to that
that's what I have done .

David

[athua]

Hi Luke,

I have a Celestron C8 scope on an Advanced VX mount and I got the following dovetail mount from Bintel to mount my DSLR on the mount instead of the scope to take wide field photographs.

http://www.bintel.com.au/Mounts---Tripods/Mount-Accessories/Orion-Adapter-1/4--20-for-Dovetail-Mount/177/productview.aspx

The only issue you may face as I did was that the counter weight supplied with the mount (5kg) was too heavy for just the DSLR on it so you may have to look for a smaller counter weight for the mount to balance it. Having it imbalanced affects the tracking so exposures start getting star trailing very quickly.

[thorpef1]

Cheers for that guys,

Ill have a play around once i get it