Meade 4501 and eyepiece conversion.

[TommyG]

I have a Meade 4501 and am trying to convert to 1.25 eyepieces.  I’ve tried two different converters but both extend the eyepiece away from the focuser and so I can’t focus on far objects; just close (less than 100 feet) objects. 

I notice the focuser eyepiece holder unscrews and wondered if there is a version that holds 1.25 inch eyepieces.  I’m trying to connect my Nikon D80 Digital camera to the telescope, and have all the pieces that are 1.25 inch.

Any suggestions?

I also have the older Equatorial mount and electronics.  It’s not the later models that can locate stars but just has direction controls to manually move the camera around.  Can the newer StarFinder or AutoStar type devices be adapted for my system?

[Mark Sibole]

Im not sure if any of the new focusers cn be adapted as the sizes may vary widely.
As fo adapting autostar it isnt possible or practical.
It would be more cost effective to upgrade the telescope .
Also if I remember correctly they used to make a .965 to 1.25 diagonal.
Try doing a google search and you may find 1 for sale at a good price.
Regards

Mark

[TommyG]

I tried a 45 degree Erecting prism but it puts the eyepiece even further back than the strieght 9.65/1.25 converter I bought.  I guess if I can't find a replacement focuser or a replacement for the eyepiece end, I'm stuck looking for a replacement telescope.

[Mark Sibole]

A 45 will make the focal length longer.
What type of adapter did you purchase??

Mark

[TommyG]

The 45 is a Zhumell and I don't remember the other.  I've been able to use the straight one with a Zhumell Universal Eyepiece Projection Adapter and my nikon D80 (with T-Ring).  I can get near objects and think I can fucus further as well (I'll test during the day tomorrow).  Of course that's with the eyepiece shoved in the Projection Adapter, even further out now than with the .965/1.25 adapter alone.  But put the eyepiece directly onto the .965/1.25 adapter and I can't focus anything past a couple hundred yards.

News at eleven...

[Mark Sibole]

Finding the proper adapter can be hard to do.
Im not sure if you said you had the .965 to 1.25 90 degree digonal.
I know the 45 will make the train to long.
If you dont  have the 90 degree diagonal you may need to to get focus.
here is 1 on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Hybrid-965-1-25-Diagonal/dp/B0000XMXGG

[TommyG]

I'll try the 90.  I noticed the last line of the description said "Requires no extra focus travel".  I hope that spells the difference.  The 45 didn't say that though I'm not sure how the 90 would be any different then the 45, but we'll see.

Thanks for the help.  I'll let you know if it works though I imagine the 90 will be tough to use on a reflector telescope.

[Mark Sibole]

Imaging through a 90 isnt to bad.
I know the 45 degree diagonal increases the focal length considerably more than a 90 does so this may help you out a lot.

Regards

Mark

[TommyG]

Unfortunatly, the 45 puched the focus out even more then the other two diaganals.  I read another comment in some other list about a person with the same exact problem.  He solved it by moving the mirror up slightly, thus puching the focus out far enough for the extentions to now be in range.  I'm a little nervous about messing with the mirror alignment so I'm still thinking on that for awhile. 

I saw an ebay seller that sells a replacemnt for the top of the focusser for 2-inch eyepieces.  You just screw off the old and put on the new.  I don't want to replace my 1.25 eyepieces and other stuff though.

I'll keep searching for a 1.25 version of that focuser top.