27 replies to this topic

[Kim2010]

It is included in my Baader Maxbright II.

 

 

[Astrojensen]

What? Do you ask how to use it? 

 

https://www.baader-p...ung_960px_3.gif

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[Spikey131]

It allows you to change accessories (like diagonals, barlows, tubes) rapidly and without repeatedly threading them.

 

It also allows Baader to make a tidy profit on a little ring of aluminum…..

 

OK, stainless steel, not aluminum.  For what they charge for them, it ought to be platinum.  I ought to know, I have three of them…..

Edited by Spikey131, 03 March 2024 - 02:38 PM.

[Astrojensen]

It also allows Baader to make a tidy profit on a little ring of aluminum…..

It's stainless steel, not aluminum. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[Eddgie]

As mentioned, it does allow for the ease of mounting and unmounting to the nose or diagonal via the Quick Connect Ring.

 

The other purpose it serves is to make it easy to rotate the binoviewer to different angles.  If you are observing on an Al-t Az mount this is not so big a deal, but if you are on a GEM or a Dob, after the scope moves, you will often have to rotate the binoviewer in the diagonal to get it into a more comfortable position to observe through.  The circular dovetail means that you can rotate the binoviewer into any position without having to loosen the retaining screw on the diagonal. One slip up on not getting the retention screw tight might result in a BV/Eyepiece dump event. With the circular dovetail, you simply rotate the binoviewer against the friction of the joint and away you go.  

Edited by Eddgie, 03 March 2024 - 08:36 AM.

[Highburymark]

It’s a little piece of design brilliance for easy binoviewing. Particularly for adjusting the angle of viewing, and as mentioned above, for changing accessories. I use two heavy duty changers with all my T2 diagonals and refractors, one either side of the diagonal. The only caveat is making sure the BV is not positioned so the weight causes it to unscrew. If that does happen, you may be thankful for eyepiece undercuts….

[RAKing]

It is a well-designed and engineered stroke of genius! 

 

I cannot think of any better way to couple my binoviewers and star diagonals, plus it allows for easy, quick-changing of my GPC, too.  You don't see it in operation, but it's the heart of the system.

 

My .02,

 

Ron

 

February 1, 2010 

FS-128, Mark V, 1.7x GPC, CZJ 12.5mm orthos

Edited by RAKing, 03 March 2024 - 09:10 AM.

[Eddgie]

It is a well-designed and engineered stroke of genius! 

 

 

While Baader did not invent it, Baader fully embraced it and make it popular for astronomy.

 

I started using the quick connector when I bought my first binoviewer, which was the original Maxbright.

 

These days, I have a quick connector on my Lunt 80 and on a 2" nose so that I can reconfigure my Max II quickly to use the 130mm Apo or the 10" dob.

 

I also use it for my image intensified eyepiece. When used in the reflectors, mostly use a .73 focal reducer/coma corrector, but sometimes I take it off and use the setup at native focal ratio. For this, I have a dovetail on the front of the filter wheel, and I have a quick connector on the top of the focal reducer housing. Now I can just drop off the focal reducer and attach the 2" nose (that I also use for the 130mm Apo) to the front of the filter wheel. 

 

 

 

The point is that while it is mostly thought of as for use on the binoviewer, it can be used with other astro-gear as well! This is way better than untreading the reducer from the filter wheel, then having thread a 2" nosepiece in, but of course I had to buy another dovetail and quick connect ring.  Worth it to me though just because I do change configurations sometimes during a session and this makes it super easy. 

[Kim2010]

I think I may have an idea now. My kit doesn't come with a T2 Quick Changer. I am trying to figure this out LOL

[Kim2010]

Here is what came with my BV. So I guess I won't be able to use the Zeiss dovetail without buying another adaptor??

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[betacygni]

Here is what came with my BV. So I guess I won't be able to use the Zeiss dovetail without buying another adaptor??

The bayonet section that comes with the binoviewers is just half the system. To attach it to the t2 threads of a given accessory you need this: https://www.baader-p...-part-06a).html

Edited by betacygni, 04 March 2024 - 02:59 AM.

[akdwivedi]

are there any other brand of adapters which can be used with micro bayonet.

[betacygni]

are there any other brand of adapters which can be used with micro bayonet.

No just Baader (thought they do have a light duty version, not something I’d recommend though). They are pricey, but very useful. You can use them though with any t2 thread accessory. I have a variety of amplifiers attached to them for quick swapping (Televue barlows, AP BARADV, etc).

Edited by betacygni, 04 March 2024 - 03:11 AM.

[RAKing]

Even though they are not as strong, the "regular" Baader QC fittings do a fine job, too.  

 

In my photo above, My Mark V BV has the regular fitting - it was the only one available back then - and I never had any trouble with its operation.  It also looks like Eddgie is using two regular duty QC fittings with his NV gear.

 

The regular fitting has a longer, thinner, fastening knob than the HD version, and it doesn't have the tight-fitting wedge on the inside that locks against the Zeiss fitting.  But it's easier to get your fingers between the diagonal and BV unit and adjust the rotation of the BV unit with the regular version.  You just have to be more careful and make sure everything is secure when you are done. 

 

But anyone who hangs an expensive binoviewer, with a couple of expensive eyepieces, off the back of their telescope should pay attention to the security of their gear!   

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

[denis0007dl]

Here is what came with my BV. So I guess I won't be able to use the Zeiss dovetail without buying another adaptor??

What you need, is just to screw on Quick Changer like that one on T2 male side of your 2" adapter, and then attach bino with Quick Changer system.

 

Here is cheaper example with screw which directly hit Zeiss bayonet of binoviewer....

https://www.baader-p...2-part-06).html

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[denis0007dl]

...or you want more expensive one with no set screw marks on bayonet leaving...

https://www.baader-p...-part-06a).html

 

 

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Edited by denis0007dl, 04 March 2024 - 09:26 AM.

[denis0007dl]

For some infos, I post some usefull Quick Changers history.....

 

https://www.cloudyni...eiss-to-baader/

[denis0007dl]

BTW, I have many of Quick Changers and using them all the time.....

[Kim2010]

I wonder why Baader included the Zeiss dovetail, but not the quick changer

[denis0007dl]

Its not included with Maxbright II, but it is with Mark V binoviewer.

[noisejammer]

Call me a curmudgeon but I'm convinced the old version's primary function was to subject expensive binoviewers to drop tests.

 

The new version is better (well, it's less worse) but I still recommend a lanyard.

[Kerste]

I wonder why Baader included the Zeiss dovetail, but not the quick changer

Probably several reasons:

• Price – it is almost fully usuable without the quick changer, and more competetive with other bino-viewers. And in the (probably) standard case where you use one glasspath corrector and have the bino permanently fixed to a prism diagonal, you don't need a quick changer. Once you have another gpc, the quick changer is great.
• The only exception where you do need the Quick Changer is their glasspath corrector for Newtonians which connects to the dove tail.
• If I remember correctly, the ring dovetail on the MaxBright is not the same as the T-2 dovetail ring which is avalable seperately or with the Newtonian gpc (the Maxbight hasn't got a T-2 on the body itself, only a smaller thread). So, Baader would have had offer a separate dovetail ring and deal with all the customers who ordered the wrong version, especially with the Newtonian glaspath corrector.

I never had a problem with the quick changer coming apart, not even with the cheaper one which we have at our local observatory for 25 years now. But I do recommend the stronger clamp, too.

[RAKing]

Sorry, but the T2 dovetail ring in your link is the identical ring you get with the MB II kit.

 

EDIT - I was wrong.  After pulling my stuff apart, the fittings are different.  See below.

 

We can use the Zeiss T2 ring for other things.  I use one on the bottom of a ClickLock in case I want to make a temporary switch from my binoviewers to monoviewing with the Herschel wedge.

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

Edited by RAKing, 10 March 2024 - 02:45 PM.

[Kerste]

Dear Ron,

 

no. The Quickchanger of the MBII (left in the image) has got a smaller female thread, the Baader (TCR) Hardened Steel T-2 ChangeRing (T-2 part #07) # 2456320 on the right has got a male T-2-thread. The inner diameter is different, too.

 

https://www.kerste.d...ig/IMG_0674.JPG

(Sorry - I've got no idea how to upload a photo here...)

 

Clear skies,

Alex

[RAKing]

I went downstairs and took my stuff apart - and you are correct.  The MB II comes with a female threading, and the regular T2 fitting has male threads.  My mistake!

 

I guess that is why Baader ships the BV fittings with the binoviewers.  I have several other "regular" Zeiss-T2 micro bayonets that I use to add adapters and such.

 

Here is the picture of my MB II on the left and the Mark V on the right.  Both of these have the GPCs installed.

 

Thanks,

 

Ron