RASC Hamilton Getting a DSLR modified...

[Mark Kaye]

At 22:35 6/28/2012, you wrote:

>He also offers a choice of two different replacement filters.  One is
>made by Baader and the other by Astrodon.  These filters allow you to
>use the camera for normal daytime use, as long as you use a custom white
>balance.  The Astrodon filter is $30 more expensive, but Astrodon has a
>superb reputation for producing the highest quality filters for
>astronomical use.  So, despite my predilection for choosing the less
>expensive items, I went with the Astrodon filter.

    I own a Baader IR/UV blocking filter.  It is completely clear to 
the unaided eye, but I know it blocks IR as I have a web cam that is 
not chip filtered for IR and with some lenses, it washes out 
completely due to IR, but when I put the Baader filter in front, it 
works normally.  Some webcams filter the chip and let the lens be 
unfiltered, while others filter the lens and leave the chip 
unfiltered.  That makes some cameras unsuitable for using with IR 
illumination, if the chip is filtered.
    Does the Astrodon filter IR?  I cannot use my refractor for CCD 
work unless I filter out IR and UV.  While the scope is beauty 
focusing visible light, it quickly goes into out of focus once you 
get outside of the visible range, especially at the red end and makes 
the scope very hard to focus.  I suspect that unless IR is filtered, 
most lens systems will not give sharp images.  Of course, mirrors are 
not affected by this, but Schmidts and Maks are.

>After two days of no updates, and with visions of modified cameras being
>lost, this evening, it showed up in Miami!  Apparently, though, it's
>normal for the US Postal Service to send things hundreds of miles out of
>the way.

    You have to love express service.  I bought a base for my C11 and 
had it shipped express because I wanted it by the end of the week 
when I was travelling down here to install it.  It did not arrive in 
the "guaranteed" delivery time or two days later, for that 
matter.  It arrived sometime during the week I was away and because I 
was not at home to get the package, I then had to go to the post 
office to get it.  The express mailing rate was more expensive than 
the part and while they guarantee delivery, it is an empty 
guarantee.  They only guarantee that I will get it, on what ever time 
frame they wish, despite the huge extra bucks they charge.  I got the 
parcel, so what do they care?  The one advantage of the postal 
service is that there is not a bondage fee to pay for storing the 
item at the border while they delay your shipment.
    Good luck with your package.  Since the company that shall not be 
named believes Canada is in the southern hemisphere, maybe it is a 
myth for all of California and your package is in Miami because that 
is about as far south as you can get before shipping it to the nether 
regions.  Just what you wanted to hear...

    Clear skies!
                MK

The Observatory by the Lake
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mark.kaye/index.htm  
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