Telescopes

Special Note for using a digital camera with a telescope..

Remember, when using a digital camera with a fixed (non-removable) lens you must shoot through an eyepiece to form an image. This is called "Afocal Coupling". To accomplish this you will need 2 basic parts. First a means to adapt your eyepiece to a T thread. And second, an "Attachment Kit" to take you from that T thread to your particular camera model. Our compatible eyepiece adapters are the "Digital T Ring", "AdaptaView", "Universal T Adapter" and our Afocal Eyepiece for cameras with larger lenses. For example say you have a Canon A50 digital camera and a Meade ETX90 (with the standard Meade 26mm 4000 Series Super Plossl eyepiece). The Digital T-Ring (part # DTR1) will fit the eyepiece and Attachment Kit (part #AK21) will adapt it to your camera. If your camera has a larger lens it is important to use an optically compatible eyepiece to keep vignetting (dark edges around the image) to a minimum. There are 2 main factors to consider, the closer the lens is to the top of the eyepiece the better (or a lens with lots of eye relief) and a larger eyepiece lens is better. For example a 25mm Plossl would be a much better choice than a 9mm Plossl. In most cases at least some vignetting is to be expected and can be cropped out of the final image. When selecting an eyepiece for this purpose low power is generally better, don't worry so much about magnification as the camera zoom can greatly increase magnification and a barlow can always be used too. It is more important to have an eyepiece that "optically couples" well. If you have a camera with a large lens (filter size larger than ~37mm) I would highly recommend looking at our Afocal Eyepiece. It is a special eyepiece for digital camera imaging. Just add an "Attachment Kit" for your particular camera and you are all set.

Digital T Ring Adapters

Easy as 1-2-3!

1. Select a suitable eyepiece and slip off the rubber eyeguard.

2. Place the Digital T Ring on top and secure it with the included wrench.

3. Thread your eyepiece into your cameras step ring.

Your eyepiece becomes an afocal T adapter!

These Digital T Rings fit a wide variety of eyepieces and offer many advantages. Primarily used for attaching point & shoot type digital cameras to telescope eyepieces. They offer easy installation, light weight, virtually automatic centering, and the ability to couple more closely than just about any other adapter design. We offer 2 different sizes. Size #1 is by far the most popular and fits Meade 4000 Series Plossls, most 1.25" Meade SWA's and UWA's, Meade ETX 60/70 eyepieces, Celestron NexStar Plossls (newer type with rubber eyeguards only), Orion Sirius Plossls, ScopeTronix Plossls, Generic Series 300/400 Plossls, and many more imported eyepieces with removable rubber eyeguards. If in doubt simply pull the rubber eyeguard off the eyepiece you intend to use and measure the diameter of the top of the eyepiece. Not for use with eyepieces without rubber eyeguards. Note: Once installed you will have an eyepiece with a male T thread on top. You will also need an "Attachment Kit" to attach the Digital T-Ring to your digital camera. Manufactured of aluminum with a black anodized finish. Set screws and allen wrench are included.

Astrophotography Kit
for SLR/DSLR Cameras

Here is everything you need for both "Prime Focus" and "Eyepiece Projection" astrophotography packaged together in one money saving easy to purchase kit. Fits any telescope with a standard 1.25" eyepiece port.

Included in this kit: Our fixed "Eyepiece Projection" adapter with integral "Prime Focus" adapter, a T-Ring to fit your brand of camera and a parfocalizing ring. The Parfocalizing ring allows you to match an eyepiece to your cameras focus point for easy accurate high power focusing.

Deluxe Astrophotography Kit
for SLR/DSLR Cameras

Here is everything you need for both "Prime Focus" and "Eyepiece Projection" astrophotography packaged together in one money saving easy to purchase kit. Fits any telescope with a standard 1.25" eyepiece port.

Included in this kit: Our variable "Eyepiece Projection" adapter with integral "Prime Focus" adapter, a T-Ring to fit your brand of camera and a parfocalizing ring. The Parfocalizing ring allows you to match an eyepiece to your cameras focus point for easy accurate high power focusing.

Use your best eyepieces for photography!

Fits many Tele Vue eyepieces!
(41mm Panoptic shown

AdaptaView
Premium Eyepiece Adapter

This versatile adapter will fit many premium eyepieces with a removable rubber eyeguard and a top diameter (with the eyeguard removed) between 1.25" and 1.75". It is known to fit the following eyepieces....Tele Vue 32mm Plössl, 40mm Plössl, 55mm Plossl, All Nagler Type 2's and Type 4's, All Panoptics, Radians and Ethos. It also fits Televue and Vixen Zoom eyepieces and the following Meade eyepieces: UWA-8.8mm and 14mm, SWA-24.5mm, 32mm, 40mm and 56 Super Plossl. Useful for both SLR/DSLR and Digital Cameras using the proper step rings or T Ring. To use this adapter you slip off the rubber eyeguard and secure the 3 thumbscrews into the groove that normally retains the eyeguard. Due to the weight of the camera nylon screws are not an option, any light marks that may be left after removal will be covered up by the eyeguard when it is replaced (the same steel screw system is used by TeleVue on their Radian adapter).

This unit is equipped with a standard male "T" thread on top (42mm .75). You will also need a T-Ring, Step Ring and/or "Attachment Kit" to mount to your camera.

Universal T Adapters

The Universal T Adapter fits a very wide variety of eyepieces found on telescopes, microscopes, spotting scopes, even many medical instruments such as slit lamps. Available in 2 different size ranges to cover most eyepieces. These adapters are manufactured of aluminum with a black anodized finish and have 6 nylon thumbscrews to center and secure it to the eyepiece. The thread is a standard male 42mm "T" Thread. You will also need a T-Ring, Step Ring and/or "Attachment Kit" to mount to your camera.

Tip: After centering and adjusting the adapter for your eyepiece put a mark on an adjacent upper and lower thumbscrew.
From now on only loosen these 2 screws for removal and it will be self centering the next time you use it.

1.25" Prime Focus T Adapter

This basic "T" adapter fits into a standard 1.25" telescope eyepiece port and has a standard 42mm male "T" thread on top. For use with SLR & DSLR type cameras at prime focus (using no eyepiece or camera lens). You will also need a T-Ring to fit your brand of camera. Manufactured of aluminum with a black anodized finish. The 1.25" end is also threaded for standard 1.25" eyepiece filters.

2" Low Profile Prime Focus T Adapter

This 2" "T" adapter fits into a standard 2" telescope eyepiece port and has a standard 42mm male "T" thread on top. For use with SLR & DSLR type cameras at prime focus (using no eyepiece or camera lens). You will also need a T-Ring to fit your brand of camera. Manufactured of aluminum with a black anodized finish. The 2" end is also threaded for standard 2" eyepiece filters (48mm)..

Basic Eyepiece Projection Camera Adapter

This basic eyepiece projection camera adapter fits into any standard 1.25" telescope eyepiece port and can hold a moderately sized eyepiece within it for eyepiece projection photography. Unlike "Prime Focus" astrophotography where you are using the telescope as a large camera lens "Eyepiece Projection" allows you to increase the power by inserting the appropriate eyepiece into the adapter "projecting" the eyepiece image into your SLR or DSLR camera. You can also unscrew the 1.25" nose and connect it directly to a T-Ring for prime focus shots. You will also need a T-Ring to fit your brand of camera. Manufactured of aluminum with a black anodized finish. The 1.25" end is also threaded for standard 1.25" eyepiece filters. This adapter is recommended for SLR & DSLR type cameras only. The eyepiece upper barrel can be no larger than 1.5" in diameter and no longer than 1.4" in length.

Variable Eyepiece Projection Camera Adapter

This Variable Eyepiece Projection Adapter allows you to do both Prime Focus and Eyepiece Projection astrophotography. By varying the length of the adapter you vary the placement of the film plane (or CCD sensor) in the light cone. The further back the higher the magnification. This is extremely useful for framing a shot just the way you want it. By changing the focal length of the eyepiece you can make major changes in magnification, by varying the adapter length you make smaller changes, think of it as a Coarse and Fine magnification control. This adapter fits into any standard 1.25" telescope eyepiece port and can hold a moderately sized eyepiece within it for eyepiece projection photography. For prime focus shots just unscrew the 1.25" nose and connect it directly to a T-Ring. You will also need a T-Ring to fit your brand of camera. Manufactured of aluminum with a black anodized finish. The 1.25" end is also threaded for standard 1.25" eyepiece filters. This adapter is recommended for SLR & DSLR type cameras only.

(The eyepiece upper barrel can be no larger than 1.5" in diameter. For larger eyepieces see our VariMax adapters)