Orion SkyQuest XTG 12"

[Legin (Nigel)]

Hello,

I recently purchased an Orion SkyQuest XTG 12".

First of all it is an amazing observing telescope be it rather heavy to cart in and outdoors every observing session. Hard to beat the views though.

Being a Dobsonian I know it is not the ideal scope for any kind of astrophotgraphy. But I wouldn't mind being able to photograph the sun (filtered of course), Moon and maybe the brighter planets like Venus, Jupiter, Saturn.

I have tinkered with an Orion Starshoot solar system imager IV and it has captured some reasonably ok'ish video. To be honest it is what it is but I find the camera is very limited. Most of my videos are out of focus and you can not take images only avi.

I tried hooking my DSLR up using an adapter and a T-Ring but I could not focus to the prime focus. It works via afocal but I find that the exposures increase a fair bit and the focus is near but impossible at times. Prime focus on my older (much smaller telescope) is so easy I hardly even think about it.

So I got to thinking. Either I need to get a better CCD camera or move the primary mirror forward by maybe 40mm.

Hmmm is it just a matter of drilling some new holes and relocating the primary mirror? Will this cause issues with the secondary mirror? Plus I don't want to ruin it in any way for visual work. The telescope excels at that.

In regards to a CCD camera I was thinking something like "The Imaging Source DBK 21AU618.AS" or something similar to it. Hmmm maybe the 41.

I know Dobsonians are for viewing but hey I thought I could maybe grab a few moon shots and such.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions.

[raymo]

Hi Nigel, I am not familiar with your particular scope, but many newts
have the prime focus problem. On Skywatcher newt focusers you can unscrew the 1.25" eyepiece holder, exposing a male thread. A DSLR
T ring will screw onto that thread enabling prime focus with some back
focus to spare with my Canon. Maybe you can do the same with yours.
raymo

[Allan]

To get your DSLR working you could move the mirror up. Yes it would involve cutting the tube and drilling new holes to secure the mirror cell. And most probably require a bigger secondary. That would be a bit sad because you end up with a bigger central obstruction which affects the performance some what.

Video imaging I think is the way to go with Dobs and is what I am going to start doing with mine. Not sure which unit I am going to buy, but I think Mallincam and The Imaging Source units are a step up from the Orion products. The higher end units may give you better results than you are currently enjoying.