PDA

View Full Version here: : Balancing a Newt for photography


LewisM
08-11-2012, 09:44 PM
Typical Refractor user, comes to use a Vixen R200SS for the first time with a camera, and of course with the focuser off to the side, it introduces all sorts of balance issues.

For now I have resolved the issue by placing the focuser with camera attached on the bottom of the tube, but that's not really convenient for setup (unless I pre-infinity focus before alignment, and rotate the tube after focus is achieved). I have read of putting the focuser on TOP, but that ruins my setup as I have a guidescope on the top rings on a bar.

I have considered making a weight that mimics the focuser directly opposite it on the other side of the tube - should that eliminate the need to have the focuser top/bottom?

I have seen MANY Newts with the camera to the side as usual, so how in heck do you get away with it, or are they all opposite weight balanced?

What a pain in the you-know-where! I may be tempted to stay a Refractorian or at least Catadioptric astronomer forever :)

But man oh man, what a scope! This Vixen is EARLY production - probably 20 years old. Never been realuminised, and the image visually is SHARP - and I mean REALLY sharp - better than Chinese ED refractor sharp!!! If it is like that visually, I am guessing when I finally get a clear night it'll be as good as people have raved about since it first hit the market.

strongmanmike
09-11-2012, 08:38 AM
Hi Lewis, I am not getting why it is a problem to have the camera under the tube..? This is the usual positioning for cameras on a Newtonian and generally means you don't really need any off axis balancing.

How are you focusing? By hand or electronic? On a star in software or using a Bahtinov mask and your eye through a viewfinder?

That's a great scope with much more aperture than any APO (you could afford) I am sure, so don't give up yet :thumbsup:

Mike

rmuhlack
09-11-2012, 09:24 AM
I have my camera under the tube as well (for the exact balance reasons you mention). I dont have a focus motor, so i focus by hand using a bahtinov mask whilst watching the display on BackyardEOS until focus has been achieved.