Celestron 5.5" F1.65 Schmidt camera

[Satchmo]

This instrument has a pinpoint field of 6 x 9 degrees and a theoretical resolution of 600 lines per mm.

The optics are in good condition and all comes in a well padded Celestron case. It comes with a custom mounted 6 X 30 finder. There are three film holders. One normal one. One focus compensated one which you can use for B and W with a Wratten 92 filter ( supplied ) and a modded holder which allows you to use roll film like slide ( which is the one I mostly used ) . There is all the hardware and a large counterwight to mount the instrument on an 8" SCT.

There is also a jig for advancing the right amount of film with the roll holder , and also a zippered pro changing bag for loading film. Stock 200 and 400 ASA E6 process slide film used to be optimal for me. 10 minutes in a dark sky would yield thousands of pinpoint background stars with a black background.

I believe with the low price of high resolution slide/film scanners that there is some life still in this old girl. Take up the challenge.

Everything you could ever know about maintaining and using a Celestron Schmidt camera can be found at :
http://www.robertreeves.com/repair.htm

I have not used it for years so I would love to see someone breathe some life back into this instrument.

Make me a reasonable offer ( or even an unreasonable one ) and see how you go :)

[Satchmo]

I will take seriously any offers over $400 for this collectable piece of equipment.:)

Mark

[avandonk]

With a small physical body cross section CCD detector at the focus this would make a very fast survey camera. A simple (or doublet) plano convex lens would flatten the field for the CCD detector. Just a thought as this is not a museum piece but can be adapted to work for state of the art detectors. I have too much on my plate to do this.

Bert

[Satchmo]

It actually does what it was designed to do really well. All you need is a roll of slide film and even a low cost film scanner so you can do some magic in Photoshop.

I'm weighing it up shortly , for potential postage to the USA. I'm sure there will be interest on Astromart.

[Ian Robinson]

If it were the 8" model ....

As it stands , there's not a lot of gain over my 300mm f2.8 APO (L or LD) lens and my 40D at 800 or 1600 ISO .

But .... I may be interested , just got some big bills due this month , rates (both of them) , and the winter power bill (a shocker this winter !!) so not going be very cashed for a few weeks.

Keep us posted .

[Satchmo]

SOLD to Ozonejunkie :)