8
Manual: MaxBright
®
II Binoviewer
Configurations
There are many possible ways to adapt the Baader MaxBright
®
II Binoviewer to your
telescope. To keep the required back-focus as short as possible, you can attach it
directly to the T-2-threads of matching accessories. With the optional TQC Heavy Duty
T-2 Quick Changer
# 2456313A
, you can change the orientation easily. You can realise
almost every combination with the Astro-T-2-System.
How to find the perfect Star Diagonal
When the binoviewer is used with refractors and Cassegrain telescopes, it is much
more comfortable to use a diagonal between the telescope and the binoviewer. Unfor-
tunately, many cheaper 1¼" star diagonals are not a good choice because they were
only designed for an eyepiece which is fitted directly into the eyepiece holder. So close
to the eyepiece, the optical quality of the star diagonal does not have to be very high.
On the other hand, all of our star diagonals are of such a quality that they can be used
up to 160 mm in front of the focal point. To achieve this, all optical surfaces have to be
of a very good quality and very precisely polished.
When choosing a star diagonal, care must be taken to ensure the safety of the
binoviewer and eyepieces. Many cheaper 1¼" diagonals are simply not up to the task
of supporting a binoviewer setup, especially with two heavy widefield eyepieces. Plastic
bodies, small locking screws and a generally lightweight construction are inadequate
to safely hold heavy accessories like a binoviewer. Unfortunately it's quite common to
hear about heavy and expensive eyepieces being dropped to the ground (and broken)
because of the poor locking system on these budget diagonals.
This is compounded by the extra height (and increased leverage) imparted by placing
the binoviewer on top of the diagonal’s existing eyepiece clamp (which also consumes
a large amount of precious back-focus). This is a large problem if you use 2" star diag-
onals. An eyepiece clamp can use approx. 60 mm of optical length. That is why the 2"
Clicklock
®
of our BBHS and Clicklock
®
star diagonals can be removed, so that you can
attach the binoviewer (or a camera body) directly onto the housing of the star diagonal.
You need the optional adapter T-2/2"
# 1508035
with an optical length of only 0.5 mm.
The perfect solution for this prob-
lem consists of using a Baader T-2
diagonal. Our T-2 diagonals are
equipped with T-2 threads allow-
ing the binoviewer to be mounted
directly
onto the diagonal body.
The result is a very sturdy connec-
tion utilising the minimum amount
of back-focus possible. These
diagonals feature prisms or mirrors
of the absolute best optical quality,
incorporated into a solid one-piece
precision machined metal body
perfectly suited to hold the heavi-
est accessories.
The MaxBright II can be attached directly to our 2" star diagonals
with the 2
"
/T-2-adapter
# 1508035
– as shown here with Baader
Classic Orthos and the 2
"
BBHS
®
mirror diagonal
# 2456115
