80mm Wide View Spotting Scope (#52260) 102mm Wide View Spotting Scope (#52270) INSTRUCTION MANUAL INTRODUCTION A spotting scope is nothing more than a telescope that is designed to look around the Earth. Unlike astronomical telescopes, which produce inverted or reverted images, spotting scopes produce correctly oriented images. Celestron offers several different models, each of which uses the highest quality optics to produce the best possible images. How to Use this Manual This manual explains the proper use of your Celestron spotting scope --from initial set up to ongoing use. This manual is broken down into several sections. The first covers attaching your spotting scope to a stable platform, like a photographic tripod, so that the standard accessories can be attached. The second section is on using your spotting scope. Topics include how to attach the standard accessories, how to locate objects, etc. The last sections deal with general information. Topics include visual and photographic observing hints, astronomical uses for your spotting scope, and maintenance information. Before you attempt to use your spotting scope, read this manual carefully. A Word of Caution! Your Celestron spotting scope is designed to give you hours of fun and rewarding observations. There are, however, a few things to consider before using your spotting scope that will ensure your safety and protect your equipment. · · · Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or with your spotting scope. Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result. Never use your spotting scope to project an image of the Sun onto any surface. Internal heat build-up can damage your spotting scope and/or any accessories attached to it. Never use an eyepiece solar filter or a Herschel wedge. Internal heat build-up inside your spotting scope can cause these devices to crack or break, allowing unfiltered sunlight to pass through to the eye. Never leave your spotting scope unsupervised, either when children are present or adults who may not be familiar with the correct operating procedures of your spotting scope. Never point your spotting scope at the Sun unless you have the proper solar filter. When using your spotting scope with the proper solar filter, ALWAYS cover the finderscope. Although small in aperture, this instrument has enough light gathering power to possibly cause permanent and irreversible eye damage. In addition, the image projected by the finder is hot enough to burn skin and clothing. · · 2 GETTING STARTED The high magnification of your spotting scope makes it very difficult to handhold and, as a result, it must be attached to a stable platform. The 102mm Wide View has a tripod adapter block, which is located on the bottom of the spotting scope tube. Remove your spotting scope from the box and attach it to any of the mounts described below. Photographic Tripod For best results, attach your Celestron spotting scope to a photographic tripod like the Celestron Photographic Tripod (#93596) or any fairly rigid photographic tripod. To attach your spotting scope to the tripod: 1. Remove the instrument platform from the tripod. To do this, rotate the platform lock clockwise. Pull the back of the instrument platform out first, then pivot the front out. Since the platform lock is spring-loaded, hold the clamp in position and pull the platform up, off of the tripod head. 2. Place the tripod adapter block (on the instrument) over the 1/4x20 screw on the tripod head. Keep in mind that the platform is not on the tripod at this time. Tighten the screw (located on the under side of the platform) until tight. Just in front of the 1 /4x20 screw is a small peg used to secure video cameras to the tripod. If you are not using a video camera, this peg, which is spring-loaded, will push down into the tripod head. 3. Rotate the platform lock clockwise. Slide the front of the platform in first, then pivot the back in. 4. Push the platform lock counterclockwise until it touches the under side of the tripod head. This will hold the platform in place. Once mounted on the tripod, you are ready to attach the standard accessories. Slow Motion Control The Photographic Tripod Slow Motion Control (#93804-DX) is not a mount, but a fine pointing tool that fits between your spotting scope and a photographic tripod head. Unlike the rough adjustment handles found on photographic tripods, the Photographic Tripod Slow Motion Control uses fine adjustment knobs to allow for precision pointing. What next? With your spotting scope firmly attached to a stable platform, you are ready to attach the standard accessories and begin using your spotting scope. 3 The Wide View Spotting Scope This section covers the correct set up and operating procedures for your Celestron 80mm or 102mm Wide View spotting scope and includes information on visual and photographic observations. The Wide View spotting scope uses a classical refractor optical design with a twoelement (achromatic) lens made of crown and flint glass. Unlike other spotting scopes which have built-in correcting prisms, the Wide View uses a diagonal to produce a correctly oriented image. This allows you to use your spotting scope like a conventional telephoto when a camera is attached. The basic Celestron Wide View comes standard with the following accessories: 80mm Wide View 20mm Plossl Eyepiece 1 1/4" (20x) 10mm Plossl Eyepiece 1 1/4" (40x) 45° Erect Image Diagonal ­ 1 1/4" 8x20 Erect Image Finderscope Lens Caps 1/4 x20 Mounting Adapter 102mm Wide View 25mm Plossl Eyepiece 1 1/4" (20x) 10mm Plossl Eyepiece 1 1/4" (50x) 45° Erect Image Diagonal ­ 1 1/4" 8x20 Erect Image Finderscope Lens Caps 1/4 x 20 Mounting Adapter Take a few minutes to study the diagram on the following page to help familiarize yourself with the various parts of your spotting scope for set up and ongoing use. Eyepiece Finderscope Mounting Bracket Objective Lens 45º Erect Image Diagonal Focuser Knob Photographic Tripod (Optional) Figure 1 ­ Wide View spotting scope shown on optional tripod 4 Removing the Lens Cover To protect your spotting scope, the objective lens, focuser, and accessories are fitted with protective covers. All are tension-fitted and easily removed by pulling off. The covers should be removed as each piece is installed. Once removed, place the covers in the box to ensure they won't get lost. Attaching the Standard Accessories With your spotting scope attached to a sturdy mount, as described earlier in this manual, you are ready to attach the standard accessories. To do this: 1. Remove the protective cover from the focuser of the spotting scope, the 45º Erect Image Diagonal, and the eyepiece. 2. Loosen the thumbscrew on the focuser of the spotting scope so that the opening (i.e., inner diameter) is unobstructed. 3. Slide the chrome barrel of the 45º Erect Image Diagonal into the focuser barrel. 4. Tighten the thumbscrew on the focuser to hold it in place. 5. Loosen the thumbscrew on the eyepiece holder of the 45º Erect Image Diagonal. Make sure that it does not block the inner diameter of the eyepiece holder. 6. Insert the chrome barrel of the eyepiece into the 45º Erect Image Diagonal. 7. Tighten the thumbscrew on the 45° Erect Image Diagonal to hold the eyepiece in place. Figure 2 Attaching The Finderscope Your spotting scope comes with a 8x20 erect image finderscope to help you locate distant objects that might be difficult to find in the narrow field of view of the main spotting scope. 1. Attach the finderscope and bracket by sliding the rubber O-ring over the objective lens (narrow) end of the finderscope and roll it 1/3 of the way up the finderscope body. Then insert the object lens end of the finder through the rings in the bracket until the O-ring 5 presses tightly between the finderscope and the inside of the bracket. Tighten the three adjustment screws until they make contact with the finderscope body. See figure 3a. 2. Slide the finder bracket (attached to the finderscope) into the mounting bracket on the spotting scope. Tighten the thumb screw on the mounting bracket to hold the finderscope in place. See figure 3b. Finderscope Adjustment Screws Figure 3a Figure 3a Figure 3b Aligning the Finderscope To align the finderscope: 1. Choose a target in excess of one mile away. This will eliminate any possible parallax effect. 2. Point the spotting scope at your target and center it in the eyepiece of the spotting scope. 3. Adjust the screws on the finder bracket until the cross hairs in the finder are centered on the target. 4. Tighten each screw a quarter turn so the finder does not come loose. Using Your Wide View Spotting Scope Visually With the standard accessories attached, you are ready for your first look. 1. Point the front end of the spotting scope at a distant object. 2. Locate the object in the finderscope. 3. Look through the spotting scope and turn the focus knobs until objects come to a sharp focus. Center your target using the slow motion controls of the tripod. 4. Repeat this process for each object you observe. 6 Focusing For objects closer than the one you are currently observing, turn the focus knobs towards the eyepiece and for objects further away, turn the focus knobs away from the eyepiece. Changing Eyepieces You can vary the power of your spotting scope simply by changing eyepieces. To change eyepieces: 1. Loosen the thumbscrew on the 45° Erect Image Diagonal. 2. Remove the eyepiece currently in the spotting scope. 3. Insert a new eyepiece into the 45° Erect Image Diagonal. 4. Tighten the thumbscrew on the 45° Erect Image Diagonal to hold the eyepiece in place With the new eyepiece in place you will need to refocus your spotting scope (unless the eyepieces have the same focus point, something known as being parfocal). Once again, turn the focusing ring until the image is sharp. Celestron offers a wide variety of eyepieces as optional accessories. To determine the magnification of each eyepiece used with your spotting scope, see the section "Calculating Magnification" at the end of this manual. In addition to eyepieces, you may also use a Barlow lens to increase magnification. A Barlow lens is a negative lens that increases the focal length of a spotting scope. Used with an eyepiece it increases the magnification. The amount of the increase depends on the lens itself and its position in the optical system. Celestron offers Barlow lenses for 1-1/4" eyepieces (#93506 & #93507). Using Your Wide View Spotting Scope Photographically Your Spotting Scope can be used photographically as well as visually. To turn your spotting scope into a telephoto lens all you need is a T-Ring for your particular camera make (i.e., Nikon, Minolta, Pentax, etc.). The T-Ring replaces the 35mm SLR camera's normal lens. 1 ¼" Accessory Adapter (for 102mm WV) Built-in T-Adapter Threads Focuser Tension Screw 2" Focuser Barrel Focuser Knob 7 Figure 4 Attaching a Camera To attach a camera to your Wide View Spotter: 1. Remove all visual accessories. 2. Thread the proper T-Ring onto the built-in T-Adapter threads at the end of the eyepiece holder. 3. Mount your camera body onto the T-Ring the same as you would any other lens. Focusing The Camera The focusing mechanism is the same photographically and visually. However, due to the high magnification, the micro prism focuser in your camera may "black out." If this is the case, you will have to use the ground glass portion of your focusing screen, which itself may be dark. For the best results, take your time. Look at your subject carefully to make sure that you have the sharpest possible focus. To achieve a very sharp focus, consider using a focusing magnifier. These devices are readily available from your local camera store. If you can not get a sharp focus, check to see if your subject is closer than the near focus distance listed in the "Technical Specification" section. Storing Your Wide View Spotting Scope To minimize the need to clean your spotting scope, replace all lens covers after use. The spotting scope can be left on a tripod for display purposes or returned to its shipping carton. Since the rear cell of your Wide View spotting scope is not sealed, the eyepiece or protective cover MUST be placed over the opening in the rear cell when not in use. This will prevent contaminants from entering the optical system. Technical Specifications Below is pertinent technical information on your Wide View spotting scope that you may find useful. Optical System Aperture: Focal Length: Near Focus: with low power eyepiece Useful Power Range: Linear Field of View: Angular Field of View: F/ratio: Length: Weight: 80mm Wide View Refractor 80mm (3.15") 400mm (16") ~13' 12x to 189x 131' with 20mm Eyepiece (53' with 10mm Eyepiece) 2.5° with 20mm Eyepiece (1.0° with 10mm Eyepiece) f/5 15.5" 4 lbs. 11 oz 102mm Wide View Refractor 102mm (4") 500mm (20") ~17 15x to 240x 131' with 25mm Eyepiece ...