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NV & Filter Wheel/charger/slider

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#1 AllStarez

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Posted 17 July 2020 - 04:28 AM

Hi everyone,

 

When i first thought about getting a NV device, i imagined it into a fully grab-n-go configuration, the one you can hide into a pocket or a small bag, for wild field rides in the sky. Of course i would also use it with my trustful TV 76 when need be, but the priority was to be as simple (and as light) as possible.

 

Thanks to discussions with CN members (thanks Gave, Eddgie and JoKo), i think i have found a good alternative for an ultimate grab-n-go setup. First, i have gradually abandoned the idea of using a filter wheel because of its lenght (and weight); it wasnt really compatible with my lenses and didnt reach focus to infinity, and then works properly and fully.

 

see below for an example :

171-D8832-ACF8-4-DFA-BFA7-BE6-F7-B3-B1-F

 

And then (thanks to Eddgie) i heard about TS-Optics T2 Filter Changer, which you can find here for a full description : https://www.teleskop...e-Bauweise.html

 

With only 18mm optical lenght, 85 mm diameter and a small 100 grams weight, this filter changer accept 1.25 and 2 filters. Ok, this is not a filter wheel and you will have to change of filter, but you dont need to unscrew the lens or adaptator, and thats great to my opinion. I have 3 ‘filter drawer’ : one for 685nm, 12 and 7nm, and it takes a second to insert into the « charger » and change from one to the other.

 

see below how small it is now :

B8-DDE699-38-E5-4572-8-CF8-1-A0-BF936-B8

 

3344-A4-B3-03-C8-41-CE-8760-798-E201-D23

 

To get the full set up even shorter, i decided to use M42 lens (here a 135mm f/2.8 OWEN lens) to connect it directly to the TS Charger, and then to the other side of the charger a M42 5mm extension ring (That way, the on/off button of my OVNI-M wont touch the charger) and a M42 to C-Mount adaptater :

 

ED924177-137-A-45-BF-9-AC4-865-AED052122

 

 

The lens+charger part with a filter inside :

9-F2-B21-C9-01-FC-491-C-AA92-7-EDEA13678

 

for my Nikkor lenses, i have ordered that kind of short adaptator « Nikon to M42 », anyway shorter than my Nikon to C-Mount one :

99-D8-E894-F2-EF-4895-822-D-96-C41-C319-

Hopefully it will works fine... If not, there’s plenty of M42 lenses out there, including light zooms (80-200, F/3.8) smile.gif

 

How good it is and does it works ?

 

I truly hope so, because I still have to test it on a clear night (here in Brittany its pretty bad).

when i get a chance i’ll post more information, but i thought it was a good idea to share the set up for people looking for a filter wheel alternative

 

// work in progress //


Edited by AllStarez, 17 July 2020 - 06:26 AM.

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#2 Eddgie

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Posted 17 July 2020 - 06:35 AM

Very good to see that you are refining your configuration.  Looking forward to hearing how it works out.


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#3 AllStarez

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Posted 18 July 2020 - 05:20 AM

Thanks for the link Eddgie waytogo.gif

Good news is that it works just fine with my 135mm M42 mount lens, hooray. I can reach focus to infinity without any trouble.

 

It doesnt work with my Nikkor and Canon lenses and the Nikon/Canon to C-Mount adaptator, still too long to reach focus unfortunately. I will try with the smaller Nikon to M42 adpatator, the precious milimeters could help and makes it works bow.gif



#4 Eddgie

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Posted 18 July 2020 - 08:49 AM

Thanks for the link Eddgie waytogo.gif

Good news is that it works just fine with my 135mm M42 mount lens, hooray. I can reach focus to infinity without any trouble.

 

It doesnt work with my Nikkor and Canon lenses and the Nikon/Canon to C-Mount adaptator, still too long to reach focus unfortunately. I will try with the smaller Nikon to M42 adpatator, the precious milimeters could help and makes it works bow.gif

Well, one down and three to go.

 

If i have not mentioned it, at one point, I was considering using one of the flange rings from an old camera lens or an adapter and simply removing it from the lens or adapter and mounting it directly on to a filter drawer but many lenses have something that projects down past the end of the flange. So, I realized that was not going to work.

 

And you may want to check for the same thing. To use a thin adapter, you have to be sure that the lens does not have an optical element that would extend past the mating face of the flange.  Some lenses have very long components that barely leave room in the Nikon to C mount adapter for the filter.



#5 AllStarez

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Posted 18 July 2020 - 11:44 AM

Im still waiting for the M42-to-Nikon adpater (and not adaptator sorry ); i suppose i’ll receive it when im back from holidays in 2 weeks. But if it doesnt work, it wont be a major problem since there’s plenty of M42 lenses, and pretty good and fast ones... (super Takumar and likes).

 

i have found that one, im wondering how it works...

Cyclop M1 (Helios) Night Vision 85mm f/1.2. There’s also a 100mm f/2

 

s-l300.jpg



#6 AllStarez

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Posted 20 March 2021 - 07:50 AM

Hello,

 

I thought i had to update that topic from last year.

 

My Nikon and Canon lenses didnt work with the filter slider. I sold them since and use only M42/T2 lenses to keep my setup the shortest possible. Not a big deal considering i have found great (and rather cheap) lenses with great result : an Owen Automatic 135mm f/2.8 (X5) which work great and a Cyclop Helios 100mm f/2 (x4) that i really love using: it is ugly but **** good and better than any lenses i did use for now (more detailed views).

 

I have still to test other lenses with the slider : a Cosmicar TV 75mm f/1.4 (with a c-mount/M42 adpater) and two other ones i am currently waiting for : a  Computar MC TV 135mm f/1.8 (c-mount) and an Olympa auto MC 200mm f/3.3 (M42.T2). Hopefully it will reach focus and be good companions.

 

 

03216-E8-F-8-DE3-4832-BEDE-2-BEA52056110

 

B6074151-448-A-415-D-BDDB-A912-E564-F1-E

With the Owen lens

 

Another good possibility would be to use that adapter (i did buy two of them but it is currently not in stock) :

ts-optics-t2-filterhalter-anwendung-1000

 

https://www.teleskop...-mm-length.html

 

Only 10mm length, i could connect it directly to the lens and then to my NV device (Ovni M) with a M4 to C-Mount adpater


Edited by AllStarez, 20 March 2021 - 07:50 AM.

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#7 stnagy

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Posted 09 September 2021 - 08:34 PM

AllStarez

 

I am interested to hear which lenses you finally settled on. I am trying to build a similar set up, and it would be great to know what lenses ended up being able to reach focus with your TS filter changer. 

 

Thanks! 


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#8 bobo99

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Posted 10 September 2021 - 02:44 PM

Hello,

I thought i had to update that topic from last year.

My Nikon and Canon lenses didnt work with the filter slider. I sold them since and use only M42/T2 lenses to keep my setup the shortest possible. Not a big deal considering i have found great (and rather cheap) lenses with great result : an Owen Automatic 135mm f/2.8 (X5) which work great and a Cyclop Helios 100mm f/2 (x4) that i really love using: it is ugly but **** good and better than any lenses i did use for now (more detailed views).

I have still to test other lenses with the slider : a Cosmicar TV 75mm f/1.4 (with a c-mount/M42 adpater) and two other ones i am currently waiting for : a Computar MC TV 135mm f/1.8 (c-mount) and an Olympa auto MC 200mm f/3.3 (M42.T2). Hopefully it will reach focus and be good companions.


03216-E8-F-8-DE3-4832-BEDE-2-BEA52056110

B6074151-448-A-415-D-BDDB-A912-E564-F1-E
With the Owen lens

Another good possibility would be to use that adapter (i did buy two of them but it is currently not in stock) :
ts-optics-t2-filterhalter-anwendung-1000

https://www.teleskop...-mm-length.html

Only 10mm length, i could connect it directly to the lens and then to my NV device (Ovni M) with a M4 to C-Mount adpater

I too am curious on what you settled with. A handheld grab and go setup is what I'm looking for with my ovni.

Sent from my SM-G988W using Tapatalk

Edited by bobo99, 10 September 2021 - 02:45 PM.


#9 AllStarez

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Posted 11 September 2021 - 02:03 AM

Hi and sorry for the delay…
with the filter slider i only can use M42/T2 lenses, it wont work with Nikon, Canon or C-Mount lenses. The filter slider can be also used with any telescopes tho.

 

With times, im more using my c-mount lenses, i find them better and sharper (and faster), but then i have to unmount the filter and insert it into the Ovni (as mentioned here : https://www.cloudyni...lenses-filters/ ). Its not perfection, but i get used to it by now :)

 

One grab n go solution i really enjoy is using with my Ovni M an Orion Deluxe guide scope, light, easy & fast (f/3.2) for a good 6,2X (162mm focal lenght)



#10 bobo99

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Posted 11 September 2021 - 08:02 AM

There are c Mount to m42 converters. Is that something you've entertained or would that expand the optical train too much.

Sent from my SM-G988W using Tapatalk

Edited by bobo99, 11 September 2021 - 08:03 AM.


#11 AllStarez

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Posted 11 September 2021 - 11:11 AM

M42 lenses are pretty versatile and Can be used in multiple set up. But with c mount lenses everything is too much when talking about the optical train, and i think i tried every **** thing to get it as short as possible



#12 stnagy

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Posted 11 September 2021 - 06:45 PM

M42 lenses are pretty versatile and Can be used in multiple set up. But with c mount lenses everything is too much when talking about the optical train, and i think i tried every **** thing to get it as short as pos

Do you have any advice on M42 to 2 inch eyepiece barrel adapters for using that filter drawer with a telescope? 



#13 AllStarez

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Posted 12 September 2021 - 03:15 PM

Any one could just work, like this one : https://fr.aliexpres...2914641739.html

For my telescope i screw a coma corrector to the filter drawer, it works as a 2inch barrel adapter


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