Planetary Photography w/Minolta Dimage s414

I have a mak-cas 130mm scope and the Minolta Dimage s414 digital camera. I
bought the digi-t adapter so the camera can do eyepiece projection
photography of the planets. Jupiter is very accessible for me right now.

For some reason I can't get this camera to produce anything more than a
roundish blob. I have tried both the manual picture and video modes.

Does anyone have experience with this camera, or could someone help me
figure this out? I know this scope is great for planetary viewing and have
seen pictures other people have made with it.
--
Tom
"Do, or do not. There is no try" (Yoda, 1980).

[quote=Tom]I have a mak-cas 130mm scope and the Minolta Dimage s414 digital camera. I
bought the digi-t adapter so the camera can do eyepiece projection
photography of the planets. Jupiter is very accessible for me right now.

For some reason I can't get this camera to produce anything more than a
roundish blob. I have tried both the manual picture and video modes.

Does anyone have experience with this camera, or could someone help me
figure this out? I know this scope is great for planetary viewing and have
seen pictures other people have made with it.
--
Tom

Sounds like a focusing problem. Suggest you use a low power eyepiece [25mm - 40mm fl] and focus at infinity [as best you can] BEFORE applying camera - itself locked on the infinity setting and bracket exposures. A focus tweak may be needed preferably via the eyepeice.

I was. It's a 40mm wide angle ep. Eye relief at 29mm. This makes the
situation more confusing to me.
--
Tom
"Do, or do not. There is no try" (Yoda, 1980).
"nytecam" wrote in message
...

Tom Wrote:
I have a mak-cas 130mm scope and the Minolta Dimage s414 digital camera.
I
bought the digi-t adapter so the camera can do eyepiece projection
photography of the planets. Jupiter is very accessible for me right
now.

For some reason I can't get this camera to produce anything more than
a
roundish blob. I have tried both the manual picture and video modes.

Does anyone have experience with this camera, or could someone help me
figure this out? I know this scope is great for planetary viewing and
have
seen pictures other people have made with it.
--
Tom

Sounds like a focusing problem. Suggest you use a low power eyepiece
[25mm - 40mm fl] and focus at infinity [as best you can] BEFORE
applying camera - itself locked on the infinity setting and bracket
exposures. A focus tweak may be needed preferably via the eyepeice.


--
nytecam

Seeing conditions? Switching the camera to macro or infinity mode?

Focusing precisely first with the eye then adding the camera? And
making sure the focuser doesn't move when the camera's being added?

Too long an exposure? Jupiter is bright enough that a very fast
exposure will work (fraction of a second). Otherwise, it will be a blob.

I'd also try taking pictures of distant objects during the day through
the scope. Get that working and you'll have confidence in the set up.

Hope one of those does it and report back to us!

Larry Stedman
Vestal