Orion STEADYPIX 5228 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

™

Orion® SteadyPix

Universal Camera Mount

#5228

Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975

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IN 167 Rev. B 03/09

Shaft
securing knob

Eyepiece clamp

Eyepiece

clamp knob

1/4"-20

Camera fastener

Camera spacer

Shaft

Camera fastener knob

Camera support plate

Figure 1. Fully assembled SteadyPix

Eyepiece clamp with shaft

Large eyepiece clamp

Camera
support
plate

Figure 2. Parts of the SteadyPix as they arrive in the box.

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Welcome to the exciting world of astrophotography. With the Orion SteadyPix universal camera mount,

you can shoot your own pictures of celestial objects with just a telescope and camera. The SteadyPix is
designed for use with today’s digital cameras, as well as traditional 35mm SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras.
By using the SteadyPix, you won’t need all the difficult set-up and extra equipment that astrophotography
normally requires.

Table of Contents

1. Assembly .............................................................................................................................. 3

2. About Afocal Photography .................................................................................................... 3

3. Using the SteadyPix ............................................................................................................. 3

4. Changing the Eyepiece Clamp ............................................................................................... 5

5. What to Photograph ................................................................................................................ 6

6. Warranty ................................................................................................................................. 8

Parts List

1 Camera support plate, with camera spacer,
1/4"-20 camera fastener, and shaft securing knob.

1 Shaft with eyepiece clamp and eyepiece
clamp knob.

1 Large eyepiece clamp.

Figure 2 shows the parts of your SteadyPix as they come
straight from the box.

1. Assembly

Loosen the shaft securing knob (see Figure 1) on the camera
support plate and insert the eyepiece clamp shaft into the
hole. Make sure the eyepiece clamp and camera spacer are
on the same side of the camera support plate, as shown in
Figure 1. Tighten the knob just enough to hold the shaft in
place for now. You will need to make further adjustments later
once yo ur camera and eyepiece are attached to the
SteadyPix.

Your SteadyPix camera mount should now appear as it does
in Figure 1.

2. About Afocal Photography

The SteadyPix lets you couple almost any camera to almost any
telescope to do afocal photography. In the afocal method, the
camera lens is aimed into the telescope eyepiece. SteadyPix is
not designed for prime-focus photography, in which the telescope
takes the place of the camera’s own lens (which is removed).

While it is possible to take pictures by holding the camera up

to the eyepiece by hand, small movements of the camera
make it difficult to maintain perfect focus and to keep the
image centered on the camera’s film frame. SteadyPix elimi­nates those problems by locking the camera lens in position
relative to the eyepiece. Such coupling also allows the camera
to move in synchrony with the eyepiece if the telescope is
motor driven.

To get the best pictures with the SteadyPix, we recommend using
an eyepiece with a long (around 20mm) eye relief. The Orion
Lanthanum series, for example, has very long eye relief. Long
eye relief will allow the camera to see the whole field of view in
the eyepiece. Some eyepieces, especially high-power designs,
may not have enough eye relief to project the entire field of view
into the camera lens, that is, even when the camera lens is right
up against the eyepiece, the views will still be constricted.

3. Using the SteadyPix

A cautionary note: The SteadyPix was designed to be as
light as possible. But since it attaches to your telescope by
the eyepiece, the weight of your camera may cause it to
rotate downward and potentially fall off the telescope if it is
not secured adequately. Always make certain the eye­piece (and diagonal, if appropriate) is secured in the
focuser with the appropriate thumbscrews.

Consider turning the whole camera and SteadyPix assem­bly so that it faces down (Figure 3). This will reduce the
chance of the SteadyPix assembly rotating downward due
to its weight.

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