Question about Zenit 312m Camera / Tasco Galaxsee Telescope

I'd like to buy a camera for use with my Tasco Galaxsee 280 Power (46-076280
D=76mm F=700mm) Telescope.
I bought a book a while ago called "Astro-Photography" by H.J.P. Arnold and
I found a camera in it called a Zenit 312, which when I found on a website
is about £110
It says it comes with an 'astrophotography outfit' :
Mechanical Shutter
'B', 'T', 30th, 60th, 125th, 250th and 500th second exposures
M42/Pentax Screw lens mounting
TTL viewing and meter
Tripod bush
Weight 500 grams
Focusing Screen Matt with fresnel and split image
Accepts 1.25" Eyepieces for Eyepiece Projection Photography
Can be also used for Prime Focus Photography
Cable release has Locking Facility
Camera is also available with a 58mm f2 lens or as body only

The website address is
http://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/t...astropho2.html

Can anyone tell me if this will work with my scope, or if there are better
cameras available (under £200)?

"David" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
I'd like to buy a camera for use with my Tasco Galaxsee 280 Power
(46-076280
D=76mm F=700mm) Telescope.
I bought a book a while ago called "Astro-Photography" by H.J.P. Arnold
and
I found a camera in it called a Zenit 312, which when I found on a website
is about £110

Well, 110 GBP for an astro-camera looks like not so cheap.. There are some
*mandatory* requirements for a camera to be used in astrophotography as, in
order of importance:
1) a mechanical shutter, to avoid either battery slaughters and led light
from internal light meter ruining your photos;
2) "B" or "T" exposure times;
3) the possibility to lift the mirror before to open the shutter, to avoid
vibrations.
Many "old" cameras bear these feautures, and it is very easy to find them
second-hand. Among the various brands and names I may suggest the
Olympus-OM1, Pentax K-1000, Yashica FX-3 super. I have a Fujica STX-1N (no
lifting mirror, this model) and a Yashica FX3 super 2000 which I bought for
less than 70 euros each, lens included. I used them either for piggy-back
and prime focus photography and I am satisfied with them.
For prime focus photos you need also a T2-ring, to couple the camera to the
scope, while for eyepiece projection it is necessary to use a telextender
too.
Surf the net for "astrophotography" and you'll find thousands of sites
dealing with it.
Good luck,

--
Beta Persei
45° 35' N
08° 51' E

On 2003-10-06, David wrote:

Can anyone tell me if this will work with my scope, or if there are better
cameras available (under £200)?

I used a Zenit in the distant past. I didn't think they made them
any more as Zenit was made by a Soviet state industry. Zenit is a
low quality camera. You might be better off looking in second hand
shops for a good used camera. You want a camera with interchangeable
lenses and a mechanically timed shutter. Things like interchangeable
focusing screens and mirror lockup are nice, but not required.

--
When the fog came in on little cat feet last night, it left these little
muddy paw prints on the hood of my car.