Extension tubes/spacers help - what type?

[ebeyonder]

Hi all,

I'm putting together some new imaging gear and have some difficulty connecting some together. I would appreciate it very much if someone could tell me the correct type of spacer, etc to use:

First up I am trying to connect a Orion Starshoot Pro to a FLT-110 with dedicated flattener.

The flattener comes with 2 adapters - the cone-shaped one can screw into the SSPro but that is without the extra extension onto which I can screw on a 2" filter. I would like to have a space between the SSPro and the cone-shaped adapter. Does anyone know what is a suitable spacer/extension tube for this? It would be good if the spacer accepts 2" filters too.

A picture may explain the problem better; in the picture which follows the SSProII can screw into the flattener, but I would something extra between the two, preferably with the ability to accept 2" filters:



Still with the FLT-110 with flattener, I now have a DSI Pro III with filter wheel which I would like to attach to the flattener. However there seems to be no way to do this. I have the DSIPro connected to the filter wheel to a 1.25" to 2" adapter. If the flattener were not there, the 1.25" to 2" adapter would fit nicely into the 2" focuser, but the flattener is there. Is there something which can accept the filter wheel/DSIPro set-up into the flattener?

Again, some pictures:







Moving onto another instrument,

I now have a Televue 0.8x reducer/flattener which I hope to connect to the Orion StarShoot Pro. Again, the flattener connects very well directly onto the SSPro without the extender which accepts 2" filters. However, because I need a 56mm space to achieve focus, I need something between the SSPro and flattener. Again, it would be good if this can accept 2" filters. I would appreciate it if someone could tell me what this could be.

Again some pictures; this picture below shows the SSPro, the flattener, and the extender which screws onto the SSPro but cannot in turn be connected to the flattener.



This next picture shows the SSPro with the extender and 2" filter attached. However this set-up does not screw onto the flattener.



Finally, I have the DSIPro connected to filter wheel to the Televue flattener. However I do not think that the 56mm is met, and may require an additional spacer. Again, it would be appreciated if someone could tell me what this might be.

Some pictures of this:



I have checked out some possibilities:

http://www.agenaastro.com/ProductDetail ... 5&CartID=2

http://www.agenaastro.com/Blue-Fireball ... s10022.htm

However, I am not familiar with the difference between a "T thread spacer ring" and a "2-inch/1.25 inch spacer ring".

Any help would be tremendously appreciated. Thank you

[weixing]

Hi,
If I'm not wrong, both the FLT-110 flattener and the Televue 0.8x flattener use a T-thread. So what you need is a series of T-Thread(M42 x 0.75) converter, spacer and etc to achieve what you want. The two link you provide are both T-thread spacer/extension tube... one is 40mm and the other one is 6mm.

Baader Planetarium got a whole range of T-thread system which you may want to check out. I think Astro Bargain is one of their dealer in Singapore, so you might want to check with them. The below website got some information on some of them:
http://www.alpineastro.com/eyepiece_ada ... apters.htm

Good luck and happy shopping.

Have a nice day.

[ebeyonder]

Thanks very much Weixing

I am currently in the US, otherwise will surely approach Astro Bargain.

May I know if there is a difference between a "T thread spacer ring" and a "2-inch/1.25 inch spacer ring"? It seems that the links I found show these to be two different items?

[weixing]

I am currently in the US, otherwise will surely approach Astro Bargain.

You can check with Alpine Astronomical.

May I know if there is a difference between a "T thread spacer ring" and a "2-inch/1.25 inch spacer ring"? It seems that the links I found show these to be two different items?

The different is the thread size... T-thread is 42mm and 2" filter thread is 48mm. There are converter which convert T-thread to a 2" filter thread, so that you can attach those optical component that use T-thread behind a 2" eyepiece via the filter thread.

Have a nice day.

[ebeyonder]

Thanks very much