My LX200 Modifications
Current Modifications
Below is a list of all the projects/modificaions I've preformed to my LX200 setup. Feel free to do any of these yourself, but PLEASE NOTE: Some of the modifications WILL void your warranty!
To-Do list:
- Make a new Dew Heater to permenently mount to scope (Already started)
Piggyback Camera Bracket
Although piggyback brackets are not that expensive ($30-$60), if you have the spare parts laying around, then this is actually a simple project, and very useful.
The parts list is really quite small.
- Broken finder bracket
- Spare finder shoe
- Scrap 1/8 inch aluminum
- 1/4-20 screw/knob (Mine came from an old cheap mini-tripod)
First thing I did was to remove the broken rings from the finder bracket. I then used my Dremel (favorite Modification tool!) to grind the top surfact flat (as well as take most of the old paint off). Once the surface was flat, I drilled a few small holes into the top surface. These holes correspond to holes I also put into the 1/8" aluminum plate to mount on top. These holes are used to add more bonding surface and facets for the JB-Weld to adhere to.
The next step is bonding the finder bracket to the aluminum plate. JB-Weld to the rescue! (I did mentioned I love this stuff, didn't I?) Be sure to get the JB-Weld into the holes you made, as well as a nice bead along all connecting edges. After a day of drying, I used my Dremel to clean the weld and make it smooth (so it looks better for painting purposes).
The next step is to drill the hole and Tap it for the 1/4-20 bolt/knob. If you do not have the proper knob from an old tripod, I suggest you drill the hole LARGER than 1/4". Tripod mounting bolts have no threads on the last 1/4" near the bolt head. This allows them to thread through the bracket, then spin loose without falling out.
Lastly, I used a thin sticky-back cork that I adhered to the top surface so the camera/pan-head would not get scratched. (Thin textured rubber would be better, but I had the cork on hand.)
After mounting the finder shoe on the telescope, I insert my newly made piggyback bracket, and installed a pan-head (so I can adjust where the camera would aim). You'll notice that I installed the shoe backwards from the normal finder shoe. This was done to keep the camera further back, to allow me to still reach the viewfinder without straining over the telescope OTA.
Again, piggyback camera brackets are not that expensive, and some give you more flexibility in how to use it, but if you have the components as I did, making one yourself is a fun and useful project.
Enjoy!