40849 Universal Digital Camera Adapter
Instruction Guide
Telephotography with Digital Compact Cameras/Camcorders
(Eyepiece Projection)
The nature of image capture with digital cameras allows many Opticron telescopes to be
converted into long focal length telephoto lenses for wildlife photography.
There are however limitations to this conversion as viewing eyepieces of generally 20x to 60x
magnification are not specifically designed for taking photographs with digital cameras. As a result
it is often not possible for a viewing eyepiece to project a large enough dia. path of light into the
lens of the camera and onto the Charged Coupled Device CCD within. This results in a partial
image being created in the camera and a condition known as vignetting or circular image within
the available rectangular image frame. This vignetting can be 'cropped out' of the final image
using Image or Photo software but the final image obtained is still equivalent to using a narrow
field eyepiece.
A common way to 'eliminate' this problem is to reduce the effective aperture of the camera lens
by using the optical zoom function. This however has its own problems, as the final magnification
using a 20x eyepiece will increase by a factor of the optical zoom function. E.g. 20x eyepiece plus
3x optical zoom = 60x magnification.
Therefore if you are thinking about using your telescope to take digital photographs and want to:
a. minimise vignetting [circular image within the available rectangular image frame] b. be able
to take photographs at magnifications of less than 60x - choose an eyepiece around 20x
magnification or less.
Tips for Taking Pictures
• Focusing for different distances is performed by the focus wheel or knob on the telescope
• Remember to set the flash function to OFF
• You may find setting the camera to macro mode will improve the final image
• If the camera has a remote control you may find this useful in reducing system shake
PO Box 370
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Unit 21
•
Titan Court
•
Laporte Way
Luton
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Bedfordshire
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LU4 8YR
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UK
Telephone: 01582 726522
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Facsimile: 01582 723559
