Introduction: Make Simple Digital Telescope
Build your own high range telescope, using Webcam, PVC pipes and a scrap camera lens.
Requirements:
TELESCOPE
1. Lens (Long focal length)
2. Webcam CCD circuit
3. 50mm camera lens
4. 60/50mm (Diameter) PVC pipe and joints
TRIPOD
1. 20/25mm (Diameter) PVC pipe/Joints
2. Nut & bolts
3. Mount
Construction:
1. At first select a long focal length lens, better to use compound lens to avoid chromatic aberration. Here I used high range binocular lens, focal length is 180mm.
2. Next pick a 50mm SLR camera lens ( I have used 50mm SMC Pentax-A) and remove all the lens elements from it and keep only aperture mechanism, this is used as aperture to control the light.
3. Fix the selected lens in front of the camera lens hood, this will act as fine tune focusing (Secondary focusing). And fix about 4 inches length 50mm pipe at rear. (if u have Pantax-A lens, it fits inside 50mm pipe)
4. Take 50mm pipe joint and scratch its inner surface (to increase its inner diameter, about 2mm) so that 50mm pipe moves freely forward and backward , this is act as primary focusing.
5. Take a 60mm pipe , fix its joint at the rear end and fix the 50mm joint inside at other end. The length of the 60mm pipe you should keep according to the focal length of lens that you have selected.
6. Cut a 60mm dia foam sheet ( or similar material) and fix webcam circuit , its ccd sensor should be at the centre of foam sheet. Make the ccd area maximum dark , perpendicularly about an 35mm from ccd make 2-3mm hole, this act as secondary aperture.
(Checkout construction schematic, step -10)
Step 1: 50mm Pantax-A Lens
50mm lens hood with aperture after remove all the lens element.
Step 2: Webcam CCD
Webcam CCD circuit and a light proof mask.
Step 3: CCD Mask
Making CCD complete dark.
Step 4: Telescope Parts
1. Take 50mm pipe joint and scratch its inner surface (to increase its inner diameter, about 2mm) so that 50mm pipe moves freely forward and backward , this is act as primary focusing.
2. Take a 60mm pipe , fix its joint at the rear end and fix the 50mm joint inside at other end. The length of the 60mm pipe you should keep according to the focal length of lens that you have selected.
Step 5: Telescope
Lens fixing
Step 6: Telescope With Tripod
Telescope and tripod
Step 7: Target
The distance between the telescope and tower is around 200-250 mtrs.
Step 8: Captured Image
These are the photographs captured in my telescope by adjusting aperture and focus.
Step 9: Moon at Night
Capturing moon at night, not upto the mark, :-( but next time i will try with longer focal length lens....
Step 10: Telescope - Schematic
The schematic of my telescope.
First one: Construction
Second one: It works just like cropping an image, here from the alphabetic array letter 'M' is cropped using secondary aperture.
Step 11: With Tele-lens
You can also build it using Tele-lens.
19 Comments
Question 2 years ago
What was the total cost for making this telescope?
5 years ago
What kind of magnification does this make??
7 years ago on Introduction
Nobody has asked yet. What sort of images can we expect from something like this? Does anyone have any example pictures?
10 years ago on Introduction
I bought several little ccd cameras from deal extreme at a very low price and glued the guts of one inside an old Pentax camera body with a 55mm lens on it. The little ccd was placed where the film passes into the focal area. I used a dremel type tool to make a slot for the cords to come out and attached them to the appropriate power and video/audio cables. It works so very great. This progect has me interested in making a telescope with some other great lenses I have and use with another little ccd camera. These tiny ccd cameras are great for this and all are under $15!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Its great and one of feasible technique for digital telescope, and i think you removed shutter mechanism right? share your project here. My present project is using above same technique. I want to convert my classic Nikon FM2 into digital.
10 years ago on Introduction
That's really good. It's inspired me to have a go with my old Practica.
10 years ago on Introduction
I made something like this a few years back with an old telephoto, a nasty logitech webcam, and a garlic salt lid. Fun!
10 years ago on Introduction
Hey!!
Great one and made me wanna do something like it. I found a Tele-Auto 6.3/400 mm lens but as I know nothing about lenses would a thing like this work? Or would it be better to buy something thats called like: Sigma 70-300 mm F4-5,6 DL Macro Super?
Im have not worked anything with camera lenses before so any input would be great =)
Thanks for a good one!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Thank you Suiz...
Well, with 400mm lens u can do easily, no need to de-assemble it. You need to provide a dark area for CCD (Tube-B) and a lens mount (Tube-A).
The following schematic will help you, checkout...
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Big thanks =) I got the dark thing and I think your schematics over ratio is really good and gives a good understanding, when understanding it, over all. Im gonna actually buy my self a Logitech C910 HD webcam, after trying out with some discarded friends cams.
What I did not understand with this lens I was looking on was the 6.3/400 (and differense on a 70-300) but maybe that dont mean anything else than its just a 400 mm but I would guess its better than a 300.
As I been looking for telescopes to connect with computer none has by my meaning met any of the range and quality you actually can gain by doing it by your self.
Big thanks =)
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Good morning :-)
You have to play with light adjustment, with aperture. At day time larger F number will give good result. I hv checked with my 28-105mm Nikon lens, i captured in the morning around 7.30-8.00, sun. so image has come little dull. :-)
10 years ago on Introduction
WOW!! Thanks!
10 years ago on Introduction
There is no specified focal length. The longer, augment and difficulties increase.
That's all I can say. Good luck!
10 years ago on Step 2
where can you get that kind of webcam? and for how much?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
if u use high resolution webcam circuit u wil get clear image . any webcam u can use.
10 years ago on Introduction
cool! any idea where to get the camera lens
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
any scrap SLR camera lens, better to use 50mm lens, we just need aperture from it to control the light.
10 years ago on Introduction
WOW! This is really awesome.
I suggest you make an equatorial mounting (it is easy), so you can use it for look planets, stellar cloud, etc.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
ya it was difficult to point out moon at night without proper mount.
thank u...
and one more thing to watch moon surface how much focal length (lens) is required?