Special Equipment for Focusing the Celestron/Epoch Schmidt Camera
As we shall see in the next section, an infinity-focused telescope is an essential tool for setting the focus
of a Schmidt camera. If a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is used for the focus procedure, the telescope
must be modified to prevent the telescope from changing focus after being set to infinity. This is difficult
with the Schmidt-Cassegrain design because the telescope focuses by moving the primary mirror up or
down the central light baffle protruding through the Cassegrain hole in the mirror. As the telescope is
handled, the loose tolerances in the mirror mount allow it to rock slightly as the telescope's attitude
changes from vertical to horizontal. This slight movement is enough to dislodge the infinity focus. A
method must be devised to securely lock the mirror in place to guarantee infinity focus is maintained.
The Celestron-8 guide scope that I use in conjunction with my Schmidt camera was modified to lock its
mirror in order to prevent guide star movement if the mirror shifts. This was accomplished by adding
three plastic strips at 120-degree intervals inside the tube next to the edge of the mirror. Setscrews
protruding through the telescope tube can be screwed inward to press on these plastic strips so they
contact the edge of the mirror, thus holding it firmly in place. These plastic strips were fabricated from
thin flat plastic salvaged from a scrap plastic spool that used to hold electrical wire. The strips were
installed by lowering the mirror as close to the rear of the scope as possible to get it out of the way,
them removing the corrector plate to allow access inside the tube. Holes were then drilled into the tube
to secure the top of the plastic strips so they lay parallel to the optical axis. Another hole was drilled
and tapped next to the strips further down the tube. A ¼ setscrew was then installed so when it is
screwed inward, it gently pushes the plastic strip against the edge of the mirror.
To perform the optical focusing procedure, I made the handling fixture to hold the Schmidt camera and
the telescope horizontal relative to each other. For those not inclined to go through this effort, the focus
procedure can be done on a tabletop using large books to keep the optical tubes from rolling.
To fabricate the holding fixture I made eight 45-degree brackets out of one-inch strap steel. These are
attached to a 44-inch long piece of 1 X 10 shelf lumber. The brackets have a threaded hole in them so a
5/16 coarse-thread two-inch long jackscrew can pass through them. Four of these each supports the
telescope and the Schmidt camera fore and aft at about 90 degrees apart around the bottom of the tube
as they lay horizontally. The jackscrews have three layers of masking tape covering their tips so they
don't scar the paint on the optical tubes. The jackscrews are adjusted to level the two tubes and align
them so they are parallel and on-axis with each other. Once the focus at the center of the film holder has
been confirmed, these jackscrews allow the telescope to be slewed off-axis relative to the Schmidt
camera so the focus at the edges of the film holder can be checked. This is necessary because the film
holder might be tipped, rendering the edges of the field out of focus even if the center is in focus.
The Schmidt camera end of the fixture has a board attached to it at 90 degrees so the whole thing can be
tilted and set up on end with the telescope looking down into the Schmidt. This might be needed to
simplify working through the film-loading door while working with the focus adjustments. The base of the
Schmidt then sits on the 90-degree board and is held against the jackscrews with bungee cords. The
nose of the telescope rests on a 1/4-inch bolt protruding from the baseboard and its tube is also held on
the jackscrews with bungee cords.
Go to the previous page ---- Adjusting Mirror Collimation
Go to the next page -------- Checking Camera Focus
Back to -------------------- Table of Contents
