Quick test on Meade Triplet (1 Viewer)

Musoman

PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter

• Aug 22, 2014

• #1

Finally got my custom ext tube back from my engineer pal, and have already flocked the inside.

In the non CPU lens data of my Nikon D300, there is no option to set 700mm focal length on manual lenses. I could either have 600mm or 800mm. So i set it for both and took 2 identical shots.

For the 600mm focal length, i chose f6.3 aperture in the set up, and for the 800mm focal length i chose the f7.1 aperture, to see which came out best.

The 200mm ext tube with Nikon F mount grafted on ( using tapped threads and 2mm stainless steel counter-sunk machine screws )

 

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Musoman

PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter

• Aug 22, 2014

• #2

And test shots - very boring, but i am still on crutches due to the leg operation and did not have the luxury of going outside.

These are with the manual data set in the camera as 600mm f6.3

1) The original just resized,

2) 100% crop without any PP,

3) No.2 but with some minimal PP

 

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  chubb original @ 600mm f6.3.jpg

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  chubb @ 100 crop 600mm f6.jpg

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  chubb @ 100 crop 600mm f6 PP.jpg

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Last edited: Aug 22, 2014

Musoman

PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter

• Aug 22, 2014

• #3

These are with the manual data set in the camera as 800mm f7.1

1) The original just resized,

2) 100% crop without any PP,

3) No.2 but with some minimal PP

 

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  chubb original @ 800mm f7.1.jpg

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  chubb @ 800mm 100 crop f7.1.jpg

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  chubb @ 800mm 100 crop f7.1 PP.jpg

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Musoman

PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter

• Aug 22, 2014

• #4

Well, i'm very happy with the results. I haven't even flocked the inside of the Meade 102 focuser tube yet.

Photo distance was 160ft according to Google Earth

Shot in Manual ( camera setting ) ISO 200 - A priority - Single Focus - Spot Meter - 160th SS ( Photo set 1 )


Shot in Manual ( camera setting ) ISO 200 - A priority - Single Focus - Spot Meter - 1/250th SS ( Photo set 2 )


Strange, i would have thought that 600mm @ f6.3 would have got the faster shutter speed, but EXIF states the 800mm @ f7.1 got the faster shutter speed

The sun must have come out on the 800mm photo set, and i didnt notice

 

Last edited: Aug 22, 2014

Musoman

PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter

• Aug 31, 2014

• #5

Extra test on the Meade, this time a moon shot.

Still happy with the results, and at some point i'm looking forward to getting out into the big wide world with the Meade

 

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  meade moon.jpg

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C

cango

Well-known member

• Sep 1, 2014

• #6

nice details on that moon shot. Amazing what can be achieved with todays "toys" What wouldn't Galileo have given for one of those, eh?

 

Musoman

PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter

• Sep 1, 2014

• #7

Not only would he have given his yearly salary for a modern scope, but a DSLR to go with it !

 

C

cango

Well-known member

• Sep 2, 2014

• #8

Musoman said:

Not only would he have given his yearly salary for a modern scope, but a DSLR to go with it !

Click to expand...

but no computer to process the files and no internet forums to upload to ;-)

 

O

OPTIC_NUT

Well-known member

• Sep 3, 2014

• #9

Musoman said:

Extra test on the Meade, this time a moon shot.

Still happy with the results, and at some point i'm looking forward to getting out into the big wide world with the Meade

Click to expand...

Very nice. Close up, a little more mottled than pixelated...
Time for the flocking, maybe a little extra hood....I think you've got even
more good stuff to come. The Moon really blasts things.

 

Musoman

PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter

• Sep 3, 2014

• #10

I havent flocked the main tube mr NUT, because being a triplet, I didnt want to disturb the collimation. I had no such problems when i used the SW 80ED, due to its construction, and so i flocked the whole tube.

The focuser on the meade isn't flocked, but there's 200mm of extension tube inside the focuser tube, and the 200mm extension tube is probably longer than the focuser tube itself. The 200mm extension tube is flocked though. So is the rather large dew shield

Could be some very slight shake in the shot ? Or perhaps the Nikon manual lens data is incorrect, which would be my fault too. You cannot set the manual lens data for 700mm ( 714mm to be precise ) as the camera body does not give this option. I can set manual lens data to either 600mm or 800mm with a choice of apertures.

 

Last edited: Sep 3, 2014

Musoman

PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter

• Oct 2, 2014

• #11

Only just managed my first trip out yesterday ( 1st Oct. ) due to still mending after my major op, but happy that i could give the Meade a workout.

I consider the photos a bit average, due to the distance - they were just too far away for my liking, even for 714mm, so i think the Meade will do better when I can get closer to the the subjects

These were shot from a bird hide at Whelford Pools in Gloucestershire

Lesser Black Backed Gull and 2 shots of a Widgeon

 

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