Taken the plunge with a new Starwatcher Evostar- ED 80DSPRO Apo refracter (1 Viewer)

[RMWD]

wot sort of distance from camera to scope will you have .

im asking as ive also got the 50-500mm and to get a good frame filling shot the focus distance from the scope requires about 4" from camera to scope .

this might help with the m42 .

The M42 lens mount is a screw thread mounting standard for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily single-lens reflex models. It is more accurately known as the M42 × 1 mm standard, which means that it is a metric screw thread of 42 mm diameter and 1 mm thread pitch. It was first used in Zeiss' Contax S of 1949; this East German branch of Zeiss also sold cameras under the Pentacon name; after merger with other East German photographic manufacturers, the name Praktica was used. M42 thread mount cameras first became well-known in Japan under the Praktica brand, and thus the M42 mount is known as the Praktica thread mount there. Since there were no proprietary elements to the M42 mount, many other manufacturers used it; this has led to it being called the Universal thread mount or Universal screw mount by many. The M42 mount was popularized in the United States by Pentax; thus, it is also known as the Pentax thread mount, despite the fact that Pentax did not originate it.

ill post my set up later with a marsh harrier shot.

many thanks j

J thanks for your info on M42 threads.
Re the scope camera distance. I can get focus at 5o feet when the camera with its DSLR adaptor (1.5" long) is handheld about 1-2 cm from the scopes 2" empty eyepiece bayonet. I assume that another cm will get me closer. The scopes diagonal is too long a path to get focus at all. From this I think I need 1cm to 5cm to get focus in working distances. When the Barlow arrives it's 2" tube should be enough without other tubes I think.

Anyway ordered a Kenko teleplus 300 1.4 today. While I'm waiting for the extension tubes/Barlow I can play with my Bigma 50/500 and teleconvertor.

Cheers Richard

 

[Paul Corfield]

The barlow extension tube is enough extension on its own. It's the only extension I use and because the chrome barrel on it is quite long you have the freedom to push/pull it to suit what you want. It will get you down to less than 10m on its own.

After that I just use camera macro tubes to do anything else. Not sure why you would want screw on extensions to do the same thing as a camera fitting macro tube. They lock together and come apart very quickly where as anything you screw on wont be anywhere near as versatile or of much use at all. For instance with the macro tubes you can put them between the teleconverter and camera and thus have loads of different magnification from just one teleconverter. You wont be able to do that with screw on extensions because they will be after the teleconverter.

Paul.

 

[RMWD]

The barlow extension tube is enough extension on its own. It's the only extension I use and because the chrome barrel on it is quite long you have the freedom to push/pull it to suit what you want. It will get you down to less than 10m on its own.

After that I just use camera macro tubes to do anything else. Not sure why you would want screw on extensions to do the same thing as a camera fitting macro tube. They lock together and come apart very quickly where as anything you screw on wont be anywhere near as versatile or of much use at all. For instance with the macro tubes you can put them between the teleconverter and camera and thus have loads of different magnification from just one teleconverter. You wont be able to do that with screw on extensions because they will be after the teleconverter.

Paul.

Paul I think I've been a bit dense. I've got it now. :t:
I can add Nikon fit macro tubes between the camera and the DSLR adaptor. I can also use them between the teleconvertor if I want more magnification.
Excellent found some on ebay for 499 and ordered them today.

BTW Kenko Teleplus 300 1.4 TC arrived today. It doesnt seem to degrade the 50/500 lens image at all.

Thanks Again Richard