Astrophotography: Prime Focus

I started out in astrophotography with a small 90mm refractor telescope, an aluminum tripod and a Nikon D90 DSLR.  It is not the most optimal set-up, but it can still be used to get moon shots, constellations,  or even some of the bright deep sky objects.

When a camera's lens is removed and camera body is hooked directly to a telescope it is called prime focus.  There are no eyepieces involved.  This is the method I use the most for photographing the the stars.  Your telescope becomes the camera's lens.  Have you ever been to a sporting event and seen those big long telephoto lens?  We basically have done the same thing except our lens is made to look at the stars.

For prime focus you need a few components.

1:  DSLR with the camera lens removed
2.  T-ring
3.  Camera to telescope adapter

Each brand of camera has its own T-ring.  So if you use Nikon cameras then you need to make sure you get the Nikon T-ring.  Likewise, a Canon camera needs a Canon T-ring.   Most place that sell astrophotography gear will have this T-rings and adapters.    After you have the items, the T-ring screws onto the adapter and the T-ring end will be able to be secured onto the Camera body and the adapter end will slide into the scope.

At this point you have have a perfect telephoto lens designed to take photos of the sky.