The Astro-Physics designed Guider Bracket greatly expands the versatility and functionality of the Baader 10 x 60 Vario-Finder Scope.  By removing the Finder Scope’s 45° prism and reticle-eyepiece and substituting T-2 extension tubes, the finder transforms into a straight-through guidescope.  This unique Guider Bracket provides the robust, flexure-free structure to hold even the heaviest guide cameras.   Whether you use a feather-light camera, such as the SBIG ST-i, QHY5L-II and Starlight Xpress Lodestar, or a heavy-weight, such as the SBIG SG-4, this Guider Bracket will help you master autoguiding.

An enlarged Quick-Release Base (QRBASEG) provides the rigid foundation on which the bracket rests.  The male dovetail base-rail allows the bracket to be positioned for proper balance, while providing an attachment point for the stabilizing guide ring.  The guide ring is the key to rigidly holding the focuser’s draw tube and the guide camera flexure-free.

As your Astro-Physics mount precisely tracks around the sky, the protective felt lining of your telescope’s rings can allow a minute amount of scope flexure, affecting the otherwise perfect star shapes.  Because this entire guidescope configuration is attached directly to your telescope (rather than the scope’s rings), guiding will follow your scope’s movement, not that of the scope’s rings and mounting plates.  This will ensure that you get the imaging results you seek.

The Guider Bracket rail can be directly attached to many Vixen-style and D-style universal dovetail plates for mounting convenience. See this link for the attachment hole pattern.

The image to the left shows a heavier SBIG ST-402 camera being used as a guide camera. Inspite of the weight, the Guider Bracket rigidly supports the drawtube without flexure. Using an SBIG SG-4 Stand-alone Autoguider and a DSLR on the main scope makes for a superb, computer-free imaging setup!

Vario-Finder and Guider Bracket Kit includes:

• 10 x 60 Baader Vario-Finder, includes the Finder's 45° erecting prism and reticle eyepiece for use as a finder.
• 10 x 60 Quick Release Guider Bracket (S1060QRGB)
• Base for Quick Release Guider Bracket (QRBASEG)
• T-2 Extension Tubes - 40 mm (BP25B) and 15 mm (BP25A)

  Weight: 2 lb. 5.7 oz. (1.07 kg)

If you already own the Baader 10 x 60 Vario- Finder (1060VQ), or a similar size guidescope, then this Guider Bracket will be perfect for improving your autoguiding technique.  It is lightweight, yet provides a flexure-free mounting configuration that removes the problem of flexure in your guide scope’s focuser. The bracket is shown with the QRBASEG, purchased separately.

The Guider Bracket can also be used with any guidescope that has a body length of at least 3 1/4"  (83 mm) and a diameter between 2 1/4" (60 mm) and 2 5/8" (67 mm), allowing room for adjustability.

The Base for Quick Release Guider Bracket (QRBASEG), shown with the bracket, is the recommended attachment method so that guiding will follow your scope’s movement, not that of the scope’s rings and mounting plate.  However, the dovetail base-rail has ¼"-20 tapped holes for attaching to our 7" and 10" Sliding Bars (SB0800 and SB1000), our 15" Sliding Bar (SB1500), a Losmandy Adapter (LMDVA), or to many D-style and Vixen-style universal dovetail plates should these mounting methods be necessary. See this link for the attachment hole pattern.

Please click this link for a clearance diagram.

Additional accessories needed may include a 40 mm T-2 Extension Tube (BP25B) and/or a 15 mm T-2 Extension Tube (BP25A), depending on the guidescope and camera you use.

Weight: 9.9 oz. (.28 kg)

This base is designed with a dual-radius curve in order to fit onto the predrilled holes of all Astro-Physics refractors or other commercial telescopes that utilizes the same hole spacing. Fortunately, the spacing between the holes of most finder brackets is the same. The dovetail design of this base accepts these items:

• 10 x 60 Quick Release Guider Bracket (S1060QRGB)
• 10 x 60 Quick Release Finder Bracket (S1060QRM)
• 8 x 50 Quick Release Finder Bracket (S850QRM) - discontinued
• Male Dovetail Base (A3251-B and earlier versions) along with whatever accessory you have attached
• Modified TeleVue StarBeam (STARFMD) or modified Qwik Point finder, which already include our part #A3251-B male dovetail piece

The bracket is attached via two screws. The second set of attachment holes is provided for shifting the base forward or backward as needed. The base can be rotated 180° for either right-handed or left-handed use. Additionally, we have provided a central locking screw hole so that our traditional finder brackets can be used with this base (simply shift the forward thumbscrew back). The included stop screw can then be installed at the end of the base for use with these brackets (it is not used with the Guider Bracket).

Starting in early October of 2013, we started to ship bases that were approximately 3/8" (9.5 mm) taller, so that the guide bracket rail will more easily clear the mounting rings of our refractors. This will allow the scope to rotate without interference.

The mounting hole spacing is approximately 1 3/8" (34.9 mm) side-to-side and uses 10-32 x 5/8" Phillips Pan Head screws for attachment. The length is 2.30" (58.4 mm) and the height of the bottom of the dovetail above the radius of the base's foot is 1.25" (31.8 mm). A 1/4"-20 tapped hole on the bottom of the QRBASEG can be used to attach it to a dovetail plate.

Weight: 4.4 oz. (.13 kg)

We have designed this Takahashi Adapter to allow our Guider and Finder Brackets to be used with Takahashi and other brands of telescopes that require flat surface attachment, as well as with custom applications.  The adapter can also be mounted to almost any brand of universal dovetail plate (or flat surface), allowing our Guider and Finder Brackets to be quickly removed / installed when transporting.  Please reference the hole-pattern diagram when choosing this adapter. 

Once the adapter has been secured to your Takahashi scope or other flat surface, the following Quick Release Bases can be attached to the top of the contoured base: 

• Base for Quick Release Guider Bracket (QRBASEG)
• Base for Quick Release Finder Brackets (QRBASEM)
• Base for Quick Release Finder Bracket - previous models that you may already own.
  

Photo shows the older QRBATAK and Guider Bracket mounted on a Takahashi FSQ-ED for reference. Note: The QRBATAK is shown as silver for easy identification. It and the newer QRBATAK-A are annodized black as a finished product.

Use with Guider Bracket
Owners of Takahashi refractors (yes, this includes the FSQ) can now create their perfect imaging / guiding system…compact and precise!  For guiding, order the QRBATAK-A with the following items:

• QRBASEG - purchase individually if you already own the S1060QRGB bracket 
• 10x60 Vario-Finder with Quick Release Guider Bracket Kit (1060VGKIT) - includes the QRBASEG, S1060QRGB guider bracket, 10x60 Vario-Finder, and two T-2 extensions (15mm and 40mm).

Although the QRBATAK-A can also be mounted to dovetail plates, we don’t recommend this option for critical guiding.  Instead, we recommend attaching the QRBATAK-A directly to the imaging scope rather than an accessory plate, whenever possible.

Please click this link for a clearance diagram.

The Baader T-2 Extension Tubes are available in three lengths: 40 mm (BP25B), 15 mm (BP25A) and 7.5 mm (BP25C). A combination of these extension tubes will be necessary when the 10 x 60 Baader Vario Finder is converted into its guidescope configuration.  Depending on the back focus spacing of your autoguider camera, you will most likely need to use the BP25B and/or the BP25A extension tubes.  We have found that the two combined provides the optimal spacing distance for the cameras that we use (your system may differ).

Features:

• Flat field for imaging and visual
• Very effective high-tech coatings eliminate ghost images
• Screws into front nosepiece of cameras and diagonals
• Ideal for medium size CCD sensors
• Greater than 98% light transmission
• Large field optic eliminates vignetting even with f/6 optics

The Barlow’s flat field is optimized for APS-C and smaller sensors (such as the 8300 and 3200 sensors). Using this Barlow with an f/8 refractor provides round stars over 90% of the field and over 80% of the field with an f/6.3 refractor.

Please click this link for additional information and sample images taken with this fine optic.

Expand your field!   Reduce your f/value, speeding up the collection of photons!  And do it with pin-point stars all the way to the corners of your full frame 35 mm sensor!

The new Quad TCC (four element Telecompressor Corrector) when coupled with the Astro-Physics 130 Starfire GTX is an imaging machine at f/4.5 and a focal length of 585 mm.  It covers an approximate 3.5 x 2.4 degree field when using a full frame 35 mm sensor and an amazing 3.5 x 3.5 degrees when using a 16803 sensor!  There will be no need to mosaic your images, but when you do…Wow! 

Four carefully matched glass elements are carefully figured and then coated with the very latest multi-coatings to produce this optical wonder.  All mechanical parts, including the covers, are CNC machined and black anodized with a lustrous finish.

The Quad TCC takes advantage of our new 3.5” focuser to provide coverage of a full frame sensor.  130 Starfire EDFGT owners can celebrate with the knowledge that their 2.7” focusers can be upgraded with the 3.5” focuser and then also use the Quad TCC.

We believe in spreading the imaging fun around.  The Quad TCC will also work with Telescope Engineering Company’s APO 140ED f/7 scope, making it a 700 mm, f/5 flat-field imaging scope!  No fancy modifications are needed…simply attach our Drawtube Endcap (S35RFAA) to TEC’s Starlight Instrument focuser, then slip in the Quad TCC and you’re ready to go.  The TEC 160 and TEC 180 scopes with the Starlight Instruments 3.5” focuser can also employ the Quad TCC (a different backfocus spacer will need to be used).  The fun just goes on!

Don’t be left behind in the stellar dust…
...image it faster than ever before!

In most imaging setups it will not be necessary to modify the spacing distance.  However, there may be some sensor/camera combinations that can benefit by making slight changes to this spacing.  

A set of three 1 mm thick spacer rings is being offered that can be used in special circumstances to modify the backfocus spacing of the Telecompressor Corrector.

One can increase the spacing by adding one, two or three spacer rings to the rear threads of the Telecompressor Corrector.  Reducing the distance is done by switching to a shorter Backfocus Spacer (22.1 mm, 18.3 mm, 17 mm and 16 mm are available).  Adding rings to the 18.3 mm adapter will make the differences toward the 22.1 mm adapter. 

These rings are designed to slip over the 3.270" thread of the Telecompressor Correctors and CCD Field Flatteners.

The new 3.5” Field Flattener for the 130 Starfire GTX is a redesigned housing that utilizes the superb optics of the 67PF562.  It provides pin point stars to the very corners of your CCD or DSLR sensor. The 130 GTX images at f/6.7 with the Flattener. It accommodates today’s largest sensors (even the KAF-50100).

Conveniently, it uses the same camera adapters as the Quad TCC (and those of the flatteners and TCCs of the 160 and 175 Starfires).  We also recommend Precise Parts for custom adapters for every camera and filter wheel combination.  Machined aluminum covers are included.

• Spacer for the 0.67 CCD Telecompressor (CCDT67) to achieve precise and/or additional telecompression
• Moves the CCDT67 further into the optical path, requiring less focuser in-travel
• Use with our 1.25" Adapter (ADA125) when using 2" filters and needing more space for long barrel eyepieces, so as to not strike the filter
• Extends the eyepiece barrel length of 1.25"/2" eyepieces for use with 2" filters
• Use with the Advanced Convertible Barlow (BARADV) in front of the MaxBright Diagonal (PMDMAX) for increased magnification
• Facilitates focus with short focuser-travel systems like Newtonians
• Use with parfocal rings (obtained elsewhere) to accommodate eyepiece parfocality

This aluminum cover is felted along its inside edge. Order it to replace a red plastic plug or a cover that has been lost or damaged. Depending on your storage needs, it may also be used as a slip-on cover for any accessory with a 3.9" outer diameter, including the 2.7" to 6x7 Outer Bayonet Adapter (ADA2767).

If you purchased a 2.7" field flattener that included red plastic plugs, this cover is available as part of a set along with the threaded cover you will need for the other side of your flattener. Review our information above regarding the Cover Set for Astro-Physics 2.7" Field Flatteners (CSET27FF). It is included with all new field flattener purchases, so there is no need to purchase any covers if you are ordering a flattener.

Please note that this cover should be gently pulled to remove it from your field flattener and not "unthreaded." While attempting to unthread it, you will actually be unthreading the bayonet lock ring from the field flattener body.

This machined aluminum cover has a 2.7" female thread for attaching to the focuser side of any 2.7" Astro-Physics Prime Focus Field Flattener. Purchase as a replacement for a red plastic plug or a cover that may have been lost or damaged.

If you purchased a 2.7" field flattener that included red plastic plugs, this cover is available as part of a set along with the felted cover you will need for the other side of your flattener. Review our information above regarding the Cover Set for Astro-Physics 2.7" Field Flatteners (CSET27FF). It is included with all new field flattener purchases, so there is no need to purchase any covers if you are ordering a flattener.

This part may also be used on any adapter, extension, or accessory that has a 2.7" male thread. Wondering if this will work with a specific part? Review the Accessory Reference Chart for 2.7" Threaded Covers.

• Allows the Photo-Visual Telecompressor (27TVPH) to be used with a wide variety of digital and CCD cameras.
• Maintains the full 2.7" unobstructed light path and does not vignette. This is particularly useful when combined with the Telecompressor (27TVPH) for connection to cameras.
• Allows rotation for easy framing of your image with hard-coupled configurations to DSLR and CCD cameras.
• Allows the use of the Astro-Physics adapters that were designed for the Pentax 6x7 bayonet system (used with our Field Flatteners) to be used without an Astro-Physics Field Flattener. Important Note: This adapter will no longer fit the outer bayonet of the original Pentax 6x7 camera (consider the ADA67P instead).

This adapter has a net spacing distance of 0.20" (5.08 mm).

The ADA2767 is black anodized, and the inner 2.7" clear opening has knife edge baffles that are painted flat black. The adapter is approximately 0.85" in overall length, but adds just 0.20" to the light path.

Diagram and General Instructions for Use of the 2.7" to 6x7 Outer Bayonet Adapter (ADA2767):
There are a full range of accessories and adapters that interface with the ADA2767. These are shown and described on this exploded diagram: 2.7" to 6x7 Outer Bayonet Adapter in PDF format. We suggest that you review this diagram carefully when determining how to best utilize this adapter for your particular imaging needs.

These adapters were developed with four primary goals in mind:

• To reduce the vignetting caused by the use of a standard 2" nosepiece on the large CCD chip of the STL-11000. These adapters couple directly to the STL Series camera’s accessory mounting block.
• To allow easy framing of your image
• To maintain the critical distances to the focal plane required by the Astro-Physics 2.7" and 4" Prime Focus Field Flatteners.
• To allow the unvignetted use of the 2.7" Photo-Visual Telecompressor (27TVPH) with the STL camera when the 2.7" to 6x7 Outer Bayonet Adapter (ADA2767) is also employed.

Two versions were designed to connect your SBIG STL series camera to the Astro-Physics 2.7" and 4" Prime Focus Field Flatteners:

These two adapters were designed to work with all of the 2.7" and 4" Field Flatteners that we have produced: from the Traveler’s 2.7" Field Flattener to the 206EDF’s big 4" model, with the exception of the field flatteners for the 175EDF and 160EDF which have their own separate adapters for the STL series cameras.

Additional Applications:
With these two adapters and the development of the 2.7" to 6x7 Outer Bayonet Adapter (ADA2767), a whole additional world of opportunities was opened for STL camera owners. You can now have a wide open light path to your STL camera, as well as easy image framing from any scope with an Astro-Physics 2.7" female thread - including large Meade and Celestron SCTs with our ADASCTLM27 and ADASCTLC27 adapter in place of the visual back. Best of all, you can now also use our Photographic-Visual Telecompressor (27TVPH) with your STL camera with the maximum available clear aperture!

Even though these adapters were designed for use with the Astro-Physics Prime Focus Field Flatteners, they both can be used with the 27TVPH Telecompressor or in any light path which does not employ a field flattener, and does not, therefore, have rigid spacing requirements. If critical spacing will never be an issue (i.e. an SCT with the ADASCTLM27 or ADASCTLM27), you might be better off choosing the shorter adapter. It is usually easier to add extensions than to cut the length of your light path!

Click here for detailed instructions on using these adapters.

The adapters are machined from single pieces of aluminum for strength and rigidity and bolt directly to the STL camera’s accessory mounting surface. This allows removal of the 2" nosepiece, and the much larger opening of our adapter leaves the camera's own internal filters as the only possible source of vignetting on the edges of the CCD chip. Clever radius-cut keyhole slots at the bolt attachment positions allow you to safely attach the bolts to the STL first, and then mount the adapter and twist it into position. The ADA671 and ADA672 are precisely machined here in our own CNC facility and black anodized for a rich finish. The internal knife edge baffling is painted flat black to maximize contrast in your images.

The ADA671 and ADA672 adapters each include four 6-32x1/2" socket head cap screws for attachment to the STL series camera.

This adapter is specifically designed to attach AP 2.7" and 4" Field Flatteners to QSI’s 500 and 600 series WSG medium format cameras and to maintain the critical spacing to the focal plane at the perfect 86.4 mm. It utilizes the larger QSI and SBIG STL 2.156" thread size in order to minimize vignetting when using fast focal ratio telescopes. (2" nosepieces and T-threads are often too restrictive for today’s larger sized detector chips when used with fast scopes.)

The versatility of this adapter takes a quantum leap forward when paired with the 2.7" to 6 x 7 Outer Bayonet Adapter (ADA2767):

• With the A3512 and the ADA2767 together, the QSI camera can be rigidly attached to many Meade and Celestron SCTs using either the Meade adapter (ADASCTLM27) or the Celestron adapter (ADASCTLC27).
• It can also be attached to the Photographic-Visual Telecompressor (27TVPH) with an added 1.25" extension tube (A3504-A) to produce the proper 0.75x compression. Of course, extensions of other lengths can be used to achieve different compression ratios.
• When using the 2.7" extension with internal T-thread (A3511) with the BARADV or the Baader FFC Barlow (BPFFC), it can be attached to several combinations of extension tubes, thus achieving various magnifications for lunar or planetary imaging.
• If not using a Prime Focus Field Flattener, it can be joined to the ADA2767 and attached to the standard 2.5" long extension tube (A1008-A) for direct use with the AP 2.7" focuser drawtube.

All the above options provide greater rigidity and less flexure than using a 2" nosepiece and its associated combinations.

This adapter has a net spacing distance of 1.33" (33.73 mm).

Use this adapter with the 2.7" or 4" Prime Focus Field Flatteners to obtain the best possible results with your 35 mm camera - pinpoint from edge to edge. See how this part fits into your photographic system in the exploded diagram (PDF file).

The interior is painted flat black and is threaded for 48 mm filters.

With T-ring

Without T-ring

Astro-Physics Eyepiece Projection Camera Adapter is a two-part adapter. Use this unit with your film camera or DSLR to achieve higher powers and closer images of an object. It is particularly useful for photographing the moon or planets. This adapter can also be used in conjunction with a small chip CCD camera when attached to the camera’s T-thread.

The eyepiece projection unit accommodates 1.25" eyepieces with maximum eyepiece housing height of 2.25" and a 1.5" maximum outer diameter. Shorter eyepieces with wider outer diameters may also fit due to the gradual taper of the internal diameter of the unit, from 1.7" to 1.52." Because of the various different eyepieces currently on the market, we are unable to list specific eyepieces that will or will not work with this unit. Some experimenting may be required!

Available as an individual part or pre-assembled with your camera-specific T-ring.

The Losmandy Three-Axis Camera Adapter is a very robust system for attaching your camera to a D-style (or V-style) dovetail plate.  By utilizing a dovetail plate on the top of your scope rings you will be able to aim your camera in almost any direction. 

The adapter allows +/- 45 degrees of tilt and a full 360 degree rotation.  No tools are required.  Take the wide field constellation photos that you’ve always wanted and image the Milky Way in its splendor!

• Works with both D- and V-style plates
• Three axis, 360 deg. camera rotation
• +/- 45 deg. camera tilt, 360 deg. unit rotation
• dovetail mounted, no tools needed
• Ht. from top of dovetail plate to top of camera mount: D plates=3.95"
• Wt. 2.7 lbs.