Meade f/3.3 focal reducer help needed

[shane shaw]

G'day all, I have probably a silly question. i have a Meade 4000 series f/3.3 ccd focal reducer and its accompaning variable t-adapter.

The question is how do I connect this to my 12"

Am i right in assuming that the focal reducer attaches direct to the scope and my eos t-ring attaches to the camera this attaches to the t-adapter and the then onto the reducer .

is this correct ??? can u put an eyepiece in the barrel also ?

i have attached some of the gear please tell me I am right and this was a silly question

thanks

[tempestwizz (Brian)]

I see no-one has responded to your queery as yet. I'm not expert on the topic, but your assumption is correct pretty much.
The reducer screws straight onto the back of the scope. There are spacers that make up part of the T thread system, and you have to use what you need to achieve focus. There is an ideal distance (not sure what it is) that should be in the enclosed literature.
The 3.3 cannot be used for visual observing, and vignetting is severe. It is probably best for use with smaller ccds such as DSI or LPI. I think vignetting is too severe for a DSLR.

HTH
BAC

[Astrod00d]

Originally Posted by shane shaw

Am i right in assuming that the focal reducer attaches direct to the scope and my eos t-ring attaches to the camera this attaches to the t-adapter and the then onto the reducer .

is this correct ??? can u put an eyepiece in the barrel also ?

thanks

Hi Shane,

You're pretty much right. The reducer will thread onto the back of the 12" and then you use the T-adapter to attach your camera to the reducer.
The 3.3 reducer should have come with a variable T-adapter that will allow you to reduce the spacing between your camera and the reducer, this will help achieve focus.
Vignetting will be an issue with a DSLR, the 3.3 reducer is designed for a small ccd such as early DSI or webcam.
Meade say the 3.3 reducer is not intended for visual use, but it shouldn't hurt to attach an eyepiece and try it out.

Cheers,

Rob

[astroturf (Bryan)]

Howdy Shane
Does your Meade have a microfocusser? If so you will need a 2" / male sct adapter to clamp into it as you would a 2" diagonal
If you don't have a MF it will screw onto the visual back of the LX200

Having said all of that, the 3.3 will not give any good results (serious vignetting)
I tried the 3.3 with my Canon 40D & LX90 10" having bought it firstly to use with my DSI
I went straight out & bought a 6.3 meade reducer which works well

the mounting adapters supplied with the 3.3 have come in handy when using the 6.3 so it hasn't been a total loss
The 40d seems to work well with fittings as follows: canon adapter - t ring - 15mm, 30mm &sct Adapter(as supplied with 3.3) - 6.3 reducer. I'm told the ideal distance between FR & camera body is 105mm, what I have described is 110mm & everything works fine
hope this helps
Bryan

[shane shaw]

thanks for the tips guys