Camera and Lens
Supported Cameras
1. The camera with a bulb setting or having a function to make an adjustment for setting a desired exposure time
2. The camera that can be mounted using a 1/4 tripod screws (conforming to the JIS standard)
Any camera that meets the above two conditions can be used. Generally, a digital single-lens reflex camera,
film-type single-lens reflex camera or lens-shutter camera with a mechanical bulb function is used.
A new digital camera with a power-operated bulb and other recent models (digital cameras) can also be used, but a
majority of such cameras are subject to significant battery consumption in the bulb mode or require dedicated cables
(electromagnetic release, cable switch, etc.). Read your camera's manual and check the applicability beforehand.
This product is a portable equatorial telescope for observing stars, so the use of a super-telephoto lens may not be
suitable. As a rough guide, telephoto lenses of up to 300 mm (35 mm in full size) are usable. If a telephoto lens is to be
used, use the tripod mount ring on the lens side to mount the lens. Do not combine a camera or lens that would result
in an extreme front-rear balance. (The use of a zoom lens or a telephoto lens without a tripod mount ring is not
recommended.)
Tripod
For the tripod, our Skymemo Tripod II WH is recommended. It can be installed easily using two finger screws, and
adjustment of the polar alignment is simple. If a photographic tripod is to be used, use a sturdy one of medium size
or larger. A tripod with a ball-head is not suitable.
Power source
The Skymemo RS uses four C batteries. For normal conditions, alkali manganese dry batteries or manganese dry
batteries are recommended. Nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries and nickel hydrogen batteries are also usable, but such
batteries only provide low voltage (1.2 V x 4 = 4.8 V), which may not be enough to illuminate the pilot lamp. Either way,
the battery capacity will drop significantly when the outside air temperature is low, especially when it drops to below 0°C.
Therefore, take proper measures to keep the batteries at appropriate temperatures.
Do not use with any other power (e.g. AC adapter or lead battery). Otherwise, electronic circuit might be
damaged by reverse voltage or overvoltage.
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