4
to set up and use the steadyPix:
1. If you examine the bottom of your digital or SLR camera,
you will notice a threaded adapter that will accept the
SteadyPix’s 1/4"-20 camera fastener. Attach the camera to
the SteadyPix by inserting the camera fastener into this
adapter. Certain inexpensive cameras may not have this
threaded socket and cannot be used with the SteadyPix.
Figure 4 shows a camera about to be attached to the sup-
port plate. Figure 5 shows several different cameras
attached to the SteadyPix. If the SteadyPix’s 1/4"-20 cam-
era fastener does not thread all the way into your camera's
threaded adapter, use one or two washers to take up the
extra space between the camera space and your camera.
Now set the SteadyPix and camera assembly aside while
you aim your telescope.
2. Locate the object you wish to photograph in your tele-
scope. Before attaching the SteadyPix, focus the image in
the telescope’s eyepiece using the telescope’s focuser.
3. Remove the eyepiece from the telescope.
4. Loosen the eyepiece clamp knob until the clamp is wide
enough to fit around the barrel of the eyepiece. Then place
the clamp over the eyepiece and tighten the eyepiece
clamp knob until the SteadyPix is secure on the telescope.
For some eyepiece designs, the barrel may be too large for
you to fit the regular eyepiece clamp over the eyepiece. If
this is the case then you should try using the larger clamp
that came with your SteadyPix. (See Part 4. Changing the
eyepiece clamp.)
5. Place the eyepiece back into the telescope with the
SteadyPix and camera assembly attached.
6. Loosen the 1/4"-20 camera fastener knob, then slide the
camera along the camera support plate towards the eye-
piece. Loosen the shaft knob just a bit and adjust the
camera support plate so that the eyepiece will line up with
the camera lens. Do this by rotating the camera support
plate around the eyepiece clamp shaft. Raise or lower the
plate as well to match the level of the camera lens with the
level of the eyepiece. The camera lens and eyepiece will
likely need to get quite close to each other to work properly,
but make sure they do not touch or else damage to the
eyepiece or camera lens may occur. Figure 6 shows sev-
eral cameras in position next to the eyepiece, on the
telescope, and ready to shoot.
7. Look at the camera’s viewscreen or viewfinder to see if the
object is there. If not, some more adjustments may need to
be made. Try bringing the camera lens closer to the eye-
piece, or adjust the camera support plate by loosening the
shaft knob and moving it left or right and up or down. Note
that unless your eyepiece has long eye relief, the views-
creen or viewfinder may have a constricted view of the
object you wish to photograph. Keep making minor adjust-
ments until the image from the eyepiece takes up as much
space in the viewscreen or viewfinder as it possibly can.
Be sure to tighten the 1/4"-20 camera fastener knob and
shaft knob when you are ready.
8. Focus the camera, and shoot the picture.
Some telescopes mounts, such as Dobsonian mounts, may
move very easily if any pressure is put against the eyepiece.
The act of placing the SteadyPix over the eyepiece and ready-
ing it for shooting may cause the telescope to move off of its
target. You may find it easier to attach the eyepiece and cam-
era to the SteadyPix in advance, then find the object you wish
to photograph with a separate eyepiece with similar character-
istics. Then replace that eyepiece with the SteadyPix, camera,
and eyepiece assembly you have prepared in advance.
Figure 4. a camera about to be attached to the
steadyPix. the steadyPix’s 1/4"-20 camera fastener
will thread easily into the camera’s adapter.
Figure 3. By orienting the camera and steadyPix
assembly as shown you will bring the center of
mass of the assembly as low as it can get. this
will prevent the steadyPix and camera from
rotating downward.
