Re: ATM schmidt camera

[andydtg@phoenix.net]

Tom Krajci wrote:

>Usually the hard part of astro cameras is getting the following 
>to happen:
>
> - Cover a good sized piece of film
> - Mnimum image aberrations over the entire film area
> - Flat field
> - External film plane
>
>The Schmidt camera absolutely kicks butt on the first two but pays 
>the price by not solving the last two.  Could someone tell me if 
>there is a more simple, elegant design that does better for the first 
>two requirements?

I'm building a Baker-corrector, as described in ATM book 3, it'll
be a 16" f3.6 with a 4 deg flat field on 4 x 5 film, folded to a
'newtonian' external focus. It will have an 18" dia corrector
plate and a 6" dia focal plane reducer.

It's other advantages are the primary is an f5 paraboloid so
it can still be used as a newt and/or cassegrain, as in my case.

I'll post results in a year or two when it's done...<g>





Andy Saulietis / DTG Alt-Az-Fp Drive Systems
HDPE Worm Gears, Custom designs & Machine work
12617 Harriet Ln
Santa Fe, TX 77510 USA
409-925-8854 Voice/Fax
e-mail: andydtg@phoenix.net