Re: [APML]: Beginner w/piggyback question

[patrickg@nosc.mil (Patrick W. Greenlee)]

> I am just starting into astrophotography.  If I put my camera
>onto the piggyback rail on my C5+, there is no way for me to adjust the
>tilt of the camera.  Is there any sort
>of adapter that will allow this?
>
>James

Nice pix, James.

There are ball and socket swivel attachments that have locking/release
mechanisms for doing that.  They have the right thread to attach to the
tripod socket of your 35mm and are threaded to accept the mount's male
thread.   I use one 35mm at prime focus and another mounted piggyback and
frequently want to aim off axis with the piggy back to compose a shot.  You
probably only NEED one axis of freedom (clock or counterclockwise rotation
but the ball thingy alows aiming off axis with respect to the OTA as well
(you might want to compose the piggy back picture differently while
tracking a certain way with the 'scope).

If you are a tinkerer and can get hold of a Panavise inexpensively (even
new the Panavise junior is inexpensive) you could make your own.  Even
simpler would be an adapter made of fairly heavy gauge aluminum bar stock
drilled and bolted together with, say, 3/16 bolts and wing nuts.  Use lock
washers (external tooth not split or internal tooth) between mating
surfaces to control slipping and reduce the finger torque required to clamp
down on a setting.  This would be, in effect, a miniature alt-azimuth mount
and would give you left and right tilt as well as for and aft tilt.

Patrick

P.S.  Where were you shooting, noticed the Texhoma in your info?