ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS 5339 User manual

Orion®Variable Universal
Camera Adapter, 1.25"
#5339
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
IN 008 Rev. C 06/14
Customer Support:
www.OrionTelescopes.com/contactus
Corporate Offices:
89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076 - USA
Copyright © 2014 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
All Rights Reserved. No part of this product instruction or any of its contents
may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written
consent of Orion Telescopes & Binoculars.
The 1.25" Variable Universal Camera Adapter allows attachment of a
DSLR camera body to reflector, refractor, or Schmidt-Cassegrain tele-
scopes for either prime-focus or telescope eyepiece-projection, a.k.a.
“afocal,” photography. This accessory is useful for terrestrial and planetary
and lunar photography, and even deep-space photography.
This universal adapter is composed of two detachable parts: a prime-
focus adapter (or “T-adapter”) for prime-focus photography, and a vari-
able extension tube with a T-thread on the camera-attachment end for
eyepiece-projection photography (see Figure 1). The adapter slides into
the telescope focuser’s eyepiece/accessory collar or visual back as an
eyepiece or diagonal normally would. A T-ring for your specific camera
model (sold separately) is required to couple your camera body to the
T-threads (M42x0.75). A thumbscrew in the extension tube holds the tele-
scope eyepiece in place.

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This combination of prime-focus and eyepiece-projection camera adapter has a
sliding barrel design that allows variable projection distances. That is, the cam-
era can be slid forward or back relative to the eyepiece lens, which changes the
size (magnification) of the projected image on the camera sensor. This allows you
to vary the magnification and image scale without swapping telescope eyepieces
when performing eyepiece-projection photography.
The Variable Universal Camera Adapter is compatible with 1.25" telescope focus-
ers (or larger focusers equipped with a 1.25" adapter) and any 1.25" telescope
eyepiece with a housing diameter up to 38.4mm. The barrel of the T-adapter is
threaded for Orion 1.25" filters. The barrel of the variable extension adapter is inter-
nally glare threaded to ensure good contrast.
Assembling the Variable Universal Camera Adapter
The only assembly required is to install the two thumbscrews into the variable
extension tube. Then make sure the thumbscrews line up with the two retaining
grooves in the eyepiece projection body. There should already be a thumbscrew in
the eyepiece projection body itself; this thumbscrew is used to hold the eyepiece
in place inside the adapter.
Attaching the Variable Universal Camera Adapter
Refer to Figure 2 to see how to attach the Variable Universal Camera Adapter to
your telescope and camera.
T-Adapter (for Prime Focus Photography)
To use just the T-adapter, or nosepiece, unthread it from the eyepiece projection
body. Then thread a T-ring for your particular camera (sold separately) onto the
T-adapter. Attach your camera to the T-ring, then insert the T-adapter into the 1.25"
eyepiece/accessory collar of your telescope and secure it with the thumbscrew(s)
on the collar. Be sure to secure it tightly to prevent the adapter (and your camera)
from slipping out of the telescope during use!
Variable Universal Camera Adapter (for Eyepiece-Projection
Photography)
First install a 1.25" eyepiece in the adapter and secure it tightly with the thumbscrew
on the eyepiece projection body. Removing the variable extension adapter first
may make it easier to install the eyepiece; just loosen the two thumbscrews on the
variable extension adapter housing until it can be slid off, then reattach it once the
eyepiece is in place.
Caution: Loosening this thumbscrew while the camera is attached may cause
the eyepiece to drop loose and damage the camera and the eyepiece!
Then attach your camera’s T-ring onto the T-threads on the variable extension
adapter. Now insert the T-adapter into the 1.25" eyepiece/accessory collar of your
telescope and secure it with the thumbscrew(s) on the collar. Be sure to secure it
tightly to prevent the adapter (and your camera) from slipping out of the telescope
during use!
To adjust the magnification of the image, loosen the two thumbscrews very slightly
on the variable extension adapter and slide the camera forward or backward while
looking through the camera viewfinder (or the LCD in Live View) until the desired
magnification is achieved. Slight refocusing of the telescope may be necessary.
Then, tighten the thumbscrews and you are ready to take a picture.
Note that with the camera attached to the back of your telescope (or to the side
for reflectors), you may need to adjust the balance of the telescope assembly on
the mount.
Focusing
To focus the image when using eyepiece projection, view through your DSLR’s
viewfinder, or if your camera has it, use the Live View feature to see the image
Figure 1. The parts of the Variable Universal Camera Adapter
Figure 2. Schematic for connecting the Variable Universal Camera Adapter to a
camera and telescope
Camera
T-ring Telescope
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with a
telescope – unless you have a proper solar filter installed over the front of
the telescope! Otherwise, permanent, irreversible eye damage may result.
Variable extension adapter
T-adapter
Lock
thumbscrews
Eyepiece projection body
Eyepiece lock thumbscrew
T-threads

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on the camera’s LCD screen while adjusting the telescope’s focusing mechanism.
At night you will have to aim the camera at a bright object like the Moon, a bright
planet, or a bright star in order to set focus.
Calculating Magnification
Use the following formula to calculate approximate apparent focal lengths and focal
ratios when using eyepiece projection. All measurements are in millimeters.
EFL=
TFL • (DF– e) EFR= EFL
efl D
FL = Effective focal length
EFR = Effective focal ratio
TFL = Telescope focal length
D = Diameter of objective lens or mirror (Telescope aperture)
efl = Eyepiece focal length
DF = Distance between eyepiece lens and camera sensor plane
One-Year Limited Warranty
This Orion product is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a
period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the
original retail purchaser only. During this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted instrument that proves to be
defective, provided it is returned postage paid. Proof of purchase (such as a copy of
the original receipt) is required. This warranty is only valid in the country of purchase.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been abused,
mishandled, or modified, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty gives
you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights
under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights
governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.
For further warranty information, please visit www.OrionTelescopes.com/warranty.
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
Corporate Offices: 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076 - USA
Customer Support: www.OrionTelescopes.com/contactus
Copyright © 2014 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
All Rights Reserved. No part of this product instruction or any of its contents may
be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars.