Quick Ref: Focuser: 70,000 Camera: 32,000.

In this document will be the current focus positions and configurations for cameras and eyepieces on the Schulman Telescope.

Our camera and eyepiece focuser are mounted directly to the telescope rotator and fastened with 4 thumb screws. These screws should be placed ever 3 positions along the bracket.

With the main camera on there are no additional weight needs to achieve balance. Confirm that the back of the telescope looks like the below:

Image of Schulman back with camera

Our main camera achieves focus just around 32,000 counts in Maestro4.

The focuser is considered balanced when the two ~5lbs weights are mounted on either side of the rotator. They are each marked and labelled and can be seen below:

The focuser with most of the time be used with just eyepieces but, on occasion, other instruments and cameras may want to be installed. As such this section provides guidance on as many of these options as possible.

The Focuser uses no spacers (reconfigurable spacers that is) from the mounting point and achieves focus at 70,000 counts in Maestro4. That position was selected so focus is right at the middle of travel on the FeatherTouch focuser using a TeleVue 31mm eyepiece.

NOTE: Focus is only achieved at 70,000 when both the diagonal AND rotator ring are attached

To use a DSLR (Canon, Nikon, Sony) can be attached with their respective adapters with a few focuser changes. First, the Eyepiece and Diagonal must be removed. NOT the rotating thingy, just the diagonal. Once that is removed change the focus position to ~~~ counts and you should be very close to focus.

To use a Planetary camera, specifically our ZWO ASI183MC with ADC, remove the diagonal from the telescope (just like with a DSLR) and attach directly using the 2in adapter that is already mounted to the Planetary Camera. The camera will focus around ~~~ counts.