I went to the Nikon Small World exhibit at a local lab where I happened to work this summer, and I found it to be amazing. Especially since some of the pictures are done with low magnifications, easily do-able by amateurs (read: me).

 

So, I did some preliminary research and most techniques sounded fairly involved, which is obviously to be expected. But one said that placing any ol' disposable to the eyepeice and taking a picture would produce a decent picture...obviously I'm skeptical. At least there should be a buffer tube over the lens and the eyepeice to eliminate excess light, right?

 

So if anyone knows if that would work (I highly doubt it) or what woul work, I would appreciate knowing.

AFAIK, it would kind of work... I've done the same with with binoculars before... but as you say, there is the light problem, and the camera doesn't create a seal around th eyepiece, so your not going to get a full picture.

That's what I thought. So, would a camera and a buffer work, or is it more involved? I saw an article in an old Amatuer Biologist column that used a camcorder and a biffer to take video, so a camera and a buffer should work for pictures.

should be fine. i got my webcam hooked up to my telescope the same way. just need some clear sky now.

Very nice, thanks for the advice.