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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 13:34:00 GMT
Hello All, I recently picked up a couple of Computar Zoom Lenses from our favorite bargain shop Fleabay as a bit of an experiment and the last and largest one has me somewhat perplexed! There is no Iris connection from the lens to plug into a camera and instead it has a box with a dial as in the image. I guess I could remove this and attach an Iris plug but which four wires would I use?? Has anyone experimented with one of these before or know how I could get hold of the lens manual? The Computar website will only give the lens spec sheet and that does not explain what the dial box is. The zoom and focus wires have a 5 pin plug on the end but that seems straight forward enough and to test it I just used a 9V battery. Anyway, as I say it is an experiment but the idea is to have a nice wide filed of view but also remote control so I can change the FOV while moving from target to target or Zooming in on the Moon etc. I figure if it works it should add another dimension to a broadcast but at worst it should still be a fun little project BTW, the little lens in the image is just to show the scale. The 10-300mm is an absolute beast!!
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scopemobile
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home town/country: Glasgow/Scotland
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Post by scopemobile on Feb 28, 2015 22:01:05 GMT
karl, could this site be any help to you, pdf technical information- security systems. www.ricoh-mv security.eu/media..../katalog2012. i got a second hand obsolete 8-120 zoom cosmicar/pentax lens about half the size of yours . downloaded the file to printer, it has 5 pages of wiring diagrams towards the end of the manual, bought a pentax 2 times converter on e bay which connects the lens to a sammy 4000, its all lying there, waiting on a support alluminium frame being made.john.
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scopemobile
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Posts: 99
home town/country: Glasgow/Scotland
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Post by scopemobile on Feb 28, 2015 22:17:57 GMT
john here again, on that 2012 manual ,their top of the range lens has....pair--pentax atmospheric interference reduction, plus image stabilisation, so if you are out in the desert in a heat haize, and a big road train rumbles by, that is the lens to go for. john.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 23:43:44 GMT
karl, could this site be any help to you, pdf technical information- security systems. www.ricoh-mv security.eu/media..../katalog2012. i got a second hand obsolete 8-120 zoom cosmicar/pentax lens about half the size of yours . downloaded the file to printer, it has 5 pages of wiring diagrams towards the end of the manual, bought a pentax 2 times converter on e bay which connects the lens to a sammy 4000, its all lying there, waiting on a support alluminium frame being made.john. Thank you John, looks like a very useful site for other bits too so I'll take a closer look. I'm liking the 55 x zoom but I'm guessing that would be astronomical Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2015 4:40:37 GMT
Hello All, I recently picked up a couple of Computar Zoom Lenses from our favorite bargain shop Fleabay as a bit of an experiment and the last and largest one has me somewhat perplexed! There is no Iris connection from the lens to plug into a camera and instead it has a box with a dial as in the image. I guess I could remove this and attach an Iris plug but which four wires would I use?? Has anyone experimented with one of these before or know how I could get hold of the lens manual? The Computar website will only give the lens spec sheet and that does not explain what the dial box is. The zoom and focus wires have a 5 pin plug on the end but that seems straight forward enough and to test it I just used a 9V battery. Anyway, as I say it is an experiment but the idea is to have a nice wide filed of view but also remote control so I can change the FOV while moving from target to target or Zooming in on the Moon etc. I figure if it works it should add another dimension to a broadcast but at worst it should still be a fun little project :) BTW, the little lens in the image is just to show the scale. The 10-300mm is an absolute beast!! Hi, I have a few motorised lenses used for the same purpose, I just found a data sheet online then wired up a control box for zoom & focus and wired the aperture wide open. It has a standard 5-pin connector on the end of a long cable.picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mDjMds_bEEYJInkGVgL3J9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlinkClear skies...Shevill
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2015 22:27:49 GMT
Hello All, I recently picked up a couple of Computar Zoom Lenses from our favorite bargain shop Fleabay as a bit of an experiment and the last and largest one has me somewhat perplexed! There is no Iris connection from the lens to plug into a camera and instead it has a box with a dial as in the image. I guess I could remove this and attach an Iris plug but which four wires would I use?? Has anyone experimented with one of these before or know how I could get hold of the lens manual? The Computar website will only give the lens spec sheet and that does not explain what the dial box is. The zoom and focus wires have a 5 pin plug on the end but that seems straight forward enough and to test it I just used a 9V battery. Anyway, as I say it is an experiment but the idea is to have a nice wide filed of view but also remote control so I can change the FOV while moving from target to target or Zooming in on the Moon etc. I figure if it works it should add another dimension to a broadcast but at worst it should still be a fun little project BTW, the little lens in the image is just to show the scale. The 10-300mm is an absolute beast!! Hi, I have a few motorised lenses used for the same purpose, I just found a data sheet online then wired up a control box for zoom & focus and wired the aperture wide open. It has a standard 5-pin connector on the end of a long cable.picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mDjMds_bEEYJInkGVgL3J9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlinkClear skies...ShevillThanks Shevill, have started a control box for Zoom and focus and I'm adding a potentiometer to slow it down though it has not slowed it by much! The issue I have is the larger lens does not have a normal iris plug I can coonect to the camera but I'm sure the net will throw up the answer eventually. Out of interest, how did you get on with your set up, was it okay? If I get mine working I'm going to get the SCB-4000 to work with it's a 1/2" lens and no good for the SCB-2000! Thank again.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2015 23:58:17 GMT
Thanks Shevill, have started a control box for Zoom and focus and I'm adding a potentiometer to slow it down though it has not slowed it by much! The issue I have is the larger lens does not have a normal iris plug I can coonect to the camera but I'm sure the net will throw up the answer eventually. Out of interest, how did you get on with your set up, was it okay? If I get mine working I'm going to get the SCB-4000 to work with it's a 1/2" lens and no good for the SCB-2000! Thank again. Hi, reduce the voltage to the minimum while the things still work, the reduced voltage will help slow things down. Regards, Shevill.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 22:03:05 GMT
Thanks Shevill, have started a control box for Zoom and focus and I'm adding a potentiometer to slow it down though it has not slowed it by much! The issue I have is the larger lens does not have a normal iris plug I can coonect to the camera but I'm sure the net will throw up the answer eventually. Out of interest, how did you get on with your set up, was it okay? If I get mine working I'm going to get the SCB-4000 to work with it's a 1/2" lens and no good for the SCB-2000! Thank again. Hi, reduce the voltage to the minimum while the things still work, the reduced voltage will help slow things down. Regards, Shevill.
Hello Shevill, and thank you.
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scopemobile
Member
Posts: 99
home town/country: Glasgow/Scotland
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Post by scopemobile on Mar 2, 2015 22:42:06 GMT
shevill, brilliant album of the cameras and assemblies, i think yourself and ken should start teaching "practical video astronomy" on the open university, get a government grant, build a campus, we could become students and get cheap student flights to the southern hemisphere for 2 weeks summer school,or is it 2 weeks winter school to catch the long nights, to get us away from our cold ,wet ,and cloudy north. john.
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Post by davy on Mar 3, 2015 0:15:01 GMT
Did you get word on the eq6 unc..
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2015 2:47:34 GMT
Hi Scopemobile,Interesting point you raise, many years ago when I retired from medical related work (Histopathology, Forensic Science, Medical/Surgical research) I did teach various courses in photographic and video techniques at the local college, and other training centres. I was able to do this because in my early medical school training days in Leeds, UK, the university had a strong policy of multi-skilling its staff, and were prepared to fund suitable candidates to undertake further tertiary studies related to their current work. In my case, being in pathology diagnosis & research, I did a lot of of photomicrography, macro and auto-radiography, macro etc, etc. which entailed another 4 plus years of study to qualify as a scientific imaging specialist, at no cost to me other than time! In total 12 years study but the rewards I enjoy every day.
This photographic background was very well employed throughout both my working medical career and parallel astronomical interests in astrophotography. Being so multi-skilled has opened many doors which would have been otherwise closed. Once you have learnt the basics of photographic theory in many fields, it is equally applicable in all form of imaging, the interrelationships between aperture, exposure, optics etc. remains a constant factor whether digital, analogue, astro or medical/scientific photography in various wavelengths.
You might like to browse this link to my nearly 200 various Picasa web albums, many related to astronomy, photography, telescope & building observatories etc.
picasaweb.google.com/109921669020426367250
Clear skies...
Shevill
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Post by Dragon Man on Mar 3, 2015 5:42:58 GMT
John, I love teaching. Any opportunity I get to pass along anything I have learnt and I do it. But, where Shevill has a highly educated and qualified background I have limited qualifications. Where Shevill's teaching method would encompass the technical know-how, and a more structured teaching method, mine is a haphazard 'hands-on' informal method with practically no technical information at all. I'm what you could call a backyard Mentor whereas Shevill is more of a well-informed and experienced Lecturer and instructor. But the good part is that both methods work. We just pass our knowledge along differently. I find that some people hunger for the technical nitty-gritty of every aspect. They thrive for mathematics, graphs, charts, tests, the 'Theory' along with the practice. Whereas others are happy to just get shown the quick way to do something and have fun experimenting, and don't care about the theory behind it. Come on down to Oz and we'll both bamboozle you
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2015 9:46:03 GMT
John, I love teaching. Any opportunity I get to pass along anything I have learnt and I do it. But, where Shevill has a highly educated and qualified background I have limited qualifications. Where Shevill's teaching method would encompass the technical know-how, and a more structured teaching method, mine is a haphazard 'hands-on' informal method with practically no technical information at all. I'm what you could call a backyard Mentor whereas Shevill is more of a well-informed and experienced Lecturer and instructor. But the good part is that both methods work. We just pass our knowledge along differently. I find that some people hunger for the technical nitty-gritty of every aspect. They thrive for mathematics, graphs, charts, tests, the 'Theory' along with the practice. Whereas others are happy to just get shown the quick way to do something and have fun experimenting, and don't care about the theory behind it. Come on down to Oz and we'll both bamboozle you :D Hi Ken,
Yes indeed, both approaches work, and we need both approaches. On one hand there is the need for accurate information to achieve a recognised qualification for work related projects, publishing scientific results etc. On the other hand is the need for sufficient knowledge on a non professional level in order to achieve good results given time and needs constraints, at a level which satisfies the end user, which I would guess is the majority of this group. Video astronomy is quite a complex process, involving equipment & technologies not a part of daily fare.
With such a vast range of equipment types now available, it is almost impossible to write a handbook on how to do it, mainly because few people will have identical equipment. Once a computer becomes part of the interface, then a whole new bag of worms is opened-often with no quick easy answer to a problem, often self induced (unwittingly), so a fairly steep learning curve! Imagine being given a knitting machine and asked to produce a complex patterned sweater?
We all have a role to play in passing on knowledge at whatever level we can and to keep it enjoyable. I always aimed my med lab science, adult ed, tech college courses. With this in mind, no two courses I ever taught the same way, the class members determined my approach to achieve the best outcome. At least we can now communicate with groups such as this, via the Internet on a global basis, something we could not do 20 years ago.
Clear skies & working equipment,
Shevill
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Post by johnno on Mar 3, 2015 13:00:53 GMT
Totally agree with you both, at our club we have guest speakers some who are Professor's and scientist's, lectures come and do talks all aspects of astronomy in line with Shevills skills and expertise to be quite honest how much I try to understand it just goes over my head, I just sit there totally bewildered and haven't a clue what they are talking about.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 1:25:55 GMT
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scopemobile
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home town/country: Glasgow/Scotland
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Post by scopemobile on Mar 4, 2015 10:28:19 GMT
davy- the eq6 i was trying for, the guy wanted to sell the 4 inch scope first, before the eq. understandable, you dont sell a car without its wheels, he said he'd keep me in mind if he downloads the scope. i was thinking of a bid for the bundle. john.
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Post by davy on Mar 4, 2015 13:09:30 GMT
Worth a go..good set up you could gie your best established nephew if you don't like it
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Post by Dragon Man on Mar 4, 2015 14:01:44 GMT
Worth a go..good set up you could gie your best established nephew if you don't like it Which cousin of yours would that be?
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scopemobile
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Posts: 99
home town/country: Glasgow/Scotland
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Post by scopemobile on Mar 4, 2015 15:14:47 GMT
swmbo has dastardly plans for anything i'm thinking of buying, or any unfinished projects lying about[junk to her],as soon as she gets an inkling of anything in the offing , she rushes out and hires a refuse skip. if alexander fleming's better half had got into his workshop/lab,she would have skipped all of his petri dishes full of mouldy old spores, and penicillin would,nt have been discovered. john.
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