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Need help?Do you have a question about the Orion SteadyPix EZ and is the answer not in the manual?
Position the smartphone on the SteadyPix EZ plate with the camera lens centered in the hole.
Clamp the SteadyPix EZ onto the telescope eyepiece, ensuring proper alignment and grip.
Capture detailed images of the Moon, including craters and mountains, using the adapter.
Photograph planets like Jupiter and Saturn with higher magnification for sharp images.
Photograph deep-sky objects like nebulae and clusters, often requiring long exposures.
Capture images of sunspots with proper solar filters, a fun and dynamic activity.
Use the SteadyPix EZ for daytime photos and videos of distant terrestrial subjects.
The Orion SteadyPix EZ Smartphone Telescope Photo Adapter, model #5347, is a versatile accessory designed to enable users to capture high-magnification digital photographs and videos through a telescope using their smartphone's built-in camera. This adapter provides a secure and precise coupling between a smartphone and a standard 1.25" telescope eyepiece, ensuring optimal alignment for clear and focused images. Its improved design emphasizes simplicity of use and robust construction, making it compatible with a wide range of smartphones, including larger models, measuring from 4.7"x2.4" up to a maximum of 8.3"x4.7".
The primary function of the SteadyPix EZ is to facilitate afocal photography, where the smartphone's camera captures the image projected by the telescope's eyepiece. This eliminates the common challenge of manually holding a phone up to an eyepiece, which often results in blurry, off-center, or poorly framed shots. By securely fixing the smartphone in the correct position relative to the eyepiece, the adapter allows for consistently well-framed and focused images, shot after shot. This stability is crucial for achieving sharp details, especially when dealing with the subtle movements inherent in astronomical observation or distant terrestrial viewing.
Beyond still photography, the SteadyPix EZ also transforms the smartphone into a mini display monitor, offering a live view of the image projected by the telescope onto the smartphone screen. This feature is particularly beneficial for sharing real-time observations of celestial objects like the Moon or planets with friends and family, providing an engaging and accessible viewing experience without the need for multiple people to peer through the eyepiece individually.
The adapter's compatibility extends to various optical instruments, including telescopes (refractors, reflectors, and Cassegrain-types), spotting scopes, binoculars, and even monoculars, as long as they utilize a standard 1.25"-diameter eyepiece. This broad compatibility makes it a valuable tool for both amateur astronomers and nature enthusiasts.
For optimal performance, the manual recommends removing any case or bumper from the smartphone before installing it in the SteadyPix EZ. This is because even if the phone fits with a case, the case might prevent the camera lens from getting close enough to the telescope eyepiece, leading to a constricted "keyhole" field of view on the phone screen. By allowing the camera to be as close as possible to the eyepiece, the image from the telescope will fill much more of the phone's screen, providing a wider and more immersive view.
The eyepiece clamp included with the SteadyPix EZ is designed to accommodate eyepieces with housing diameters ranging from 31mm to 55mm. If an eyepiece has a rubber eyecup, it may be necessary to remove it temporarily to ensure proper clamping and positioning within the adapter. The eyecup can be re-attached once the photography session is complete.
Setting up the SteadyPix EZ involves a few straightforward steps. First, the smartphone is positioned against the adapter's plate with the screen facing up. The phone's camera lens is then centered in the adapter's round hole, and the side and end clamps are slid inward to grip the phone securely. These clamps are rubber-covered and angled inward to prevent slipping. Once the phone is secured, the eyepiece clamp knob is rotated counterclockwise to move the three clamp posts outward, allowing the eyepiece to fit over the hole in the SteadyPix. The eyepiece is placed with its top end down, resting against the adapter, and then the clamp knob is rotated clockwise until the three rubber-covered clamp posts firmly grip the eyepiece, centering it over the hole. It's important not to overtighten the clamp.
After the eyepiece and phone are attached to the SteadyPix EZ, the alignment should be checked using the phone's camera app. A distinct, bright "field of view" circle should appear on the phone's display. If necessary, the phone's position can be adjusted by loosening and re-tightening the phone clamp knob until the field of view is precisely centered on the screen. Finally, the entire assembly (eyepiece with SteadyPix and phone) is inserted into the telescope's focuser or diagonal and secured firmly with the locking thumbscrews. With the telescope aimed at a bright object and the camera app active, the telescope's focuser is used to bring the object into focus on the smartphone's display.
When taking photographs, several usage features and considerations are highlighted. The resolution of the smartphone's camera, measured in megapixels, directly impacts the sharpness and detail of the photos. If the phone has a flash, it should be turned off when shooting through a telescope eyepiece. To prevent image blurring caused by the vibration of tapping the phone to take a picture, using an exposure delay or self-timer feature is highly recommended. A delay of a few seconds allows any vibration to dissipate before image capture. If the phone's native camera app lacks this feature, numerous third-party camera apps offer it.
The SteadyPix EZ is particularly effective for capturing images of the Moon, allowing for beautiful wide shots or detailed close-ups of craters, mountains, and maria. Single snapshots work well, and multiple shots can be stacked later using software like Registax to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range. Video capture is also possible, with the option to stack a series of the sharpest individual video frames.
Bright planets such as Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are excellent targets for afocal photography. Using a higher power eyepiece and potentially a Barlow lens can boost magnification, though a steady atmosphere (good "seeing") is crucial for sharp planetary images. The smartphone's display allows for immediate sharing of these views.
Deep-sky objects, while more challenging, can also be photographed. Brighter objects like the M42 (Orion Nebula) or M13 (Hercules Cluster) are good starting points. For these objects, a mount that tracks the sky's motion is often necessary to take "long" exposures using third-party apps that offer this capability (e.g., Slow Shutter by Tomoki Kobayashi). Stacking multiple images is typically required to achieve a good final image.
For solar observation, the SteadyPix EZ can be used to capture images of sunspots, but only if a proper solar filter completely covers the front of the telescope. This is a critical safety measure to prevent permanent eye damage.
Beyond astronomical applications, the SteadyPix EZ is also useful for nature and terrestrial photography, enabling users to take through-the-telescope photos and videos of distant subjects in daylight.
Maintenance features are not explicitly detailed in the provided manual, as the device is primarily a mechanical adapter. However, general care for optical accessories would apply, such as keeping the device clean and free from dust, and storing it in a safe place when not in use to prevent damage to its clamps and surfaces. The rubber-covered clamps should be inspected periodically for wear to ensure they maintain a secure grip on both the smartphone and the eyepiece. The device is pre-assembled, suggesting minimal user-level maintenance beyond proper handling and storage.
General| Type | Smartphone Adapter |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Foldable | No |
| Mounting | Eyepiece clamp |
| Construction | Metal and polymer |
| Weight | 0.2 lbs |
