Which DSLR adapter?

[vignesh1230 (Vig)]

Im trying to get into astrophotography with my nikon D3000 and i need a way to connect it to my celestron 130eq. Should i get a t adapter witb in build barlow 2x or should i get a bintel camera adapter which has eyepiece projection and prime focus? Barlow one + t ring costs $75 while bintel + t ring only costs $40ish. Im stumped.

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

this is my experience as a relative newbie myself but I would go for the cheap T ring adaptor that fits your camera so you can then slot it into where the eye piece (prime focus)fits. I have personally found it easier to do this first because when you add a barlow your mag goes up, field goes down and your stars/planets start moving a lot faster through the field, which if your tracking is not good then you are chasing the images all the time.
And you can always add a barlow later.
Have you also looked on ebay? usually very cheap T adaptors as well.
Have fun
Graham

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by vignesh1230

Im trying to get into astrophotography with my nikon D3000 and i need a way to connect it to my celestron 130eq. Should i get a t adapter witb in build barlow 2x or should i get a bintel camera adapter which has eyepiece projection and prime focus? Barlow one + t ring costs $75 while bintel + t ring only costs $40ish. Im stumped.

Most DSLR adaptors are mostly suited for 2" eyepieces, I believe the 130eq only has a 1.25" eyepiece. For that scope best suitable for webcam imaging.

Even that maybe difficult as you may not have enough focal travel. Barlow in most cases works though.

[KenNo2658 (Ken)]

I've got both a T adaptor for prime focus and a Tele-extender for use with barlows and eyepieces. I tried using the Tele-extender with a 40mm eyepiece and got no where. I simply don't have enough experience yet! My first try at prime focus now that I have my wedge and pier set up, proved that I have a long way to go!! Focus out, over exposed, vibration problems because I left the formwork for my concrete block in place. Didn't think that would transmit vibration from the deck to the block but it does!!

I strongly suggest you start with prime focus and iron out your bugs at that, then move up. Pretty simple really. Magnify your target and magnify your bugs!

Just a suggestion from a total newbie, from what I'm going through,

Ken

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

get yourself the right T piece and then go on to the Celestron site- my 1.25" - (1/1/4)adaptor is a Celestron part number #93625 which screws directly onto the T-ring of your camera then has a nozzle which slides into your 1.25" eye piece barrel, also is threaded for filters. My camera works at prime focus on my 80mm refractors and my 8" SCT
will post a pic soon
Graham

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Here's a picture (see attached)
but like mswhin63 says- sometimes there isn't enough travel on the focuser,
you gotta try though don't ya?
My very first (what got me hooked) photo's were not through but on the scope, using the equatorial mount and scope to drive the camera. You could do that- nice lens on camera, polar align scope and off you go-wide field shots of nebula and the milky way
so think of piggybacking your camera and lens also- search this forum for truly inspiring wide field shots of the milky way etc taken just like that.
Use these people on this forum because if you don't, you will end up with a cupboard full of weird bits of plumbing and odd plastic bits just like I did!
Graham

[vignesh1230 (Vig)]

I was just asking because ive heard that the celestron130eq does not focus without the barlow because it dosent have enough back focus. What do i do then?

[renormalised (Carl)]

If the Celestron needs a barlow to increase the back focus, then buy the T adapter with the built in barlow. Although, the Bintel camera adapter should also take barlows as well, short ones. Email the guys at Bintel, they'll help you out