How to Use a Telescope Attachment Kit for a Camera

Maximize the power of your optics by adding a telescope to your 35mm optical or digital camera, spotting scope or microscope. Wildlife photographers, astrophotographers, laboratory researchers and those who are just curious to see what lies beyond the horizon can benefit from the use of a telescope attachment kit for their imaging devices. A telescope attachment kit may contain T-mount adaptors, camera-specific adaptors, eyepieces or other accessory parts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Telescope attachment kit
• Camera-specific adaptor, if not included in kit
• Optical, digital or cell phone camera, spotting scope or microscope and product model details

Find and Use the Right Telescope Attachments

1. Review the model number and product details for your telescope and determine whether a T-adapter needs to screw into its cell threads on the back or into the port on its eyepiece.

2. Check the product specifications on your camera to determine which T-ring and T-thread you will need to buy.

3. Purchase pieces separately or locate a kit that includes all the pieces you will need to attach your telescope to your camera.

4. Screw the T-adapter onto the rear cell threads of your telescope.

5. Attach the T-ring for your camera model according to manufacturer's directions. This may entail removing the eyepiece and screwing the T-ring onto the 42mm threads.

6. Thread the T-adapter to the T-ring, joining the telescope to the camera, and you are ready to use your enhanced optics for imaging.

Tips & Warnings

• The successful use of a telescope attachment kit depends upon knowing the model number of the camera and telescope that you have.
• A telescope added to a camera may replace the camera's lens with the more highly powered telescope magnification lens, creating a telephoto lens of great magnitude.
• Purchase a telescope attachment kit from the camera or scope optics manufacturer or through a company that specializes in T-adaptor kits.
• Some cell phone/camera manufacturers now offer proprietary telescope attachment kits that can add up to 6x optical zoom capability.
• Used T-mounts and rings are a great option, because these items can last a long time and show little wear. Check online camera message boards or optics shops for used bargains.
• Clean T-mount threads with a lens brush or soft, lint-free cloth before use.
• Keep attachment rings and adapters level when connecting your telescope to your camera. If kit threads are crooked, the device can become jammed and stuck.
• Keep T-ring and adapter threads clean so they'll screw on with a tight seal.
• Not all T-rings are created equal. Many telescope attachment kits are model-specific, so follow the manufacturer's directions for use.