1 Baader 2 Clicklock Mirror Star Diagonal Review
Selecting a Baader Planetarium Star Diagonal
- 1. Overview
- ii. Baader Diagonal Part Numbers
- three. Baader Diagonals – Physical Configuration Options
- four. Baader Diagonals – Reflective Element Options
- 4.i. Right-Angle Prism Diagonals
- 4.2. Amici Prism Diagonals
- iv.3. Dielectric and BBHS Diagonals
- 5. Additional Reading
Effigy 1 – A Baader 2" star diagonal with nosepiece and Clicklock eyepiece holder.
1. Overview
For many years, Baader Planetarium offered just a modest handful of premium quality star diagonals. Over the past few years, however, they have introduced the innovative T-two system of diagonals and accessories forth with a half-dozen otherdiagonals to the product mix. There are at present more than than a dozen Baader diagonals in production, which offers amateur astronomers a wide range of choice and configurations.
Because all the light from your telescope objective is reflected past your star diagonal, the selection of a star diagonal is at least equally important every bit the choice of eyepiece. Baader makes splendid diagonals, simply with so many choices, information technology might exist hard to effigy out which diagonal is right for your situation. Should you cull adiagonal with a correct-bending prism or Amici prism? Or 45-caste or 90-caste viewing bending? How about Maxbright or BBHS coatings? Or T-2, i.25", or 2" diagonal? Baader or Zeiss prism? If y'all're confused, y'all're not alone. Nosotros were too. That'southward why we sat down to sort out all the options and developed this guide that we hope will help you navigate the Baader diagonal mural and pick the diagonal for your telescope and observing interests. This guide will examine both the various physical configuration of Baader diagonals and the options for reflective mechanisms past which the diagonal does its job of directing light from the objective lens into your eyepiece.
2. Baader Diagonal Role Numbers
Starting time, to follow the many the options for a Baader diagonal, it'southward helpful to understand the part-numbering system for these products.
In that location are 2 part numbers associated with each Baader product sold in the United States. Baader itself uses a single 7-digit office number to identify each unique production it sells. For example, the 2" Baader Clicklock Mirror star diagonal has the global part number 2956100. Nonetheless, Baader's U.Southward. distributor uses a differental phanumeric part numbering arrangement to announce Baader products. For case, the same diagonal in the U.Due south. has the part number CLDIAG-2.While this may seem disruptive at offset, compared to the long string of numbers used by Baader in Europe, the U.S. designations are easier to use and remember, and they are more than descriptive of the products themselves.
Agena AstroProducts uses both function number systems on its Baader diagonal production pages. In this guide, we'll merely apply the U.Due south. part numbers to describe Baader diagonals. In the reference table below, nosotros use both numbering systems.
Tabular array 1 shows a summary of currently available diagonals from Baader Planetarium. All will be discussed in this commodity.
| U.S. Office Number | Global Part Number | Configuration | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRISM-2Z | 2456117 | 2" diagonal, Clicklock eyepiece holder, Zeiss-spec right-angle prism | two" diagonal with ultra-premium prism and curt optical path |
| PRISM-one | 2456005K | T-2 body with right-angle prism, one.25" nosepiece, and 1.25" Clicklock eyepiece holder | T-ii prism body with and brusk optical path, nosepiece, and EP holder |
| T2-01C | 2456005 | T-ii body just with right-bending prism | T-ii prism diagonal body with and short optical path |
| T2-01B | 2456095 | T-2 body only with Zeiss-spec right-bending prism | T-2 ultra-premium prism diagonal body with and brusque optical path |
| MAX-1 | 2456100 | T-two body merely with Maxbright | T-2 diagonal body with Maxbright dielectric coating |
| MAX-1S | 2456103 | T-2 body only with BBHS | Silverish-coated reflector for accurate color reproduction |
| MAX-2S | 2456115 | 2" diagonal with BBHS | 2" silver-coated reflector for accurate color reproduction |
| CLDIAG-2 | 2956100 | 2" diagonal with dielectric coating (non Maxbright) | two" diagonal for full general astronomical viewing |
| CLDIAG-2Z | 2956100Z | 2" diagonal with dielectric coating (not Maxbright), M68x1 Zeiss Threads | 2" diagonal for general astronomical viewing |
| AMICI-45 | 2956150 | one.25" 45-degree diagonal with Amici prism | Right-paradigm terrestrial viewing with most telescopes |
| AMICI-45-2 | 2956151 | 2" 45-degree diagonal with Amici prism | Correct-paradigm viewing with SCT telescopes |
| AMICI-DX1 | 2456130 | T-two body only 90-degree prism | Correct-image viewing with most telescopes |
| AMICI-DX2 | 2456120 | 2" xc-caste diagonal with Zeiss-spec Amici prism, Clicklock | Premium diagonal for correct-image viewing |
| AMICI-two | 2956152 | ii" 90-caste diagonal with Amici prism | Correct-image viewing with most telescopes |
| MAXAMICI | 2956115 | 1.25" 45-degree diagonal with 2x glass path corrector | Only works when connected to Maxbright binoviewer |
3. Baader Diagonals – Physical Configuration Options
Baader i.25" and 2" Diagonals
Baader offers diagonals in three bones size formats: 1.25", 2" and their proprietary T-two configuration. The 1.25" and 2" diagonals are meant for use with ane.25" and 2" eyepieces, respectively, in 1.25" or 2" focusers. Other than an eyepiece, no additional parts or accessories are required. If you wish to utilise 1.25" eyepieces in a 2" Baader diagonals, you lot will accept to buy a separate 1.25"-to-2" adapter because ane is usually non included with the diagonal.
Baader 1.25" and two" diagonals come up with reflective surfaces made with right-angle prisms, Amici prisms, or glass mirrors made with dielectric coatings (see Section 4).
Figure 2 – A 1.25" Baader diagonal (PRISM-i) and 2" Baader diagonal (MAX-2S)
Baader 1.25" and 2" diagonals can be used with most any telescope by sliding the diagonal into the telescope focuser. The ii" Baader diagonals tin can also be connected to Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (SCT) directly. When the nosepiece of a Baader's 2" is removed, it exposes a female thread that allows a directly connection of the diagonal body to the back of an SCT with a 2" male thread. However, a dissever L-ring is recommended to help yous command the orientation of the diagonal. This article shows you the details of how to attach a 2" Baader diagonal to an SCT.
Baader also has a proprietary T-2 system for their diagonals and accessories. A T-2 diagonal comes but with the diagonal torso which houses a reflective element such as a right-angle prism, Amici prism, or dielectric mirror. A T-2 diagonal housing does not include a nosepiece to slide into a focuser or an eyepiece holder. These elements are chosen separately to match your viewing requirements. A unmarried T-2 diagonal housing tin even be manually reconfigured for several applications.
The name of the Baader T-2 system arises from the threads used on the diagonal bodies and accessories. A T-2 (sometimes called T2) thread is the aforementioned as a standard "T thread", that is, a M42x0.75 thread. At Agena, for clarity, our product names and descriptions normally listing both T and T-2 designations. You simply demand to continue in listen that T and T-two essentially mean the aforementioned affair.
Baader T-2 Astro System Diagonals
Baader besides has a proprietary T-ii organization for their diagonals and accessories. A T-two diagonal comes but with the diagonal body which houses a reflective element such as a right-angle prism, Amici prism, or dielectric mirror. A T-two diagonal housing does not include a nosepiece to slide into a focuser or an eyepiece holder. These elements are chosen separately to match your viewing requirements. A single T-ii diagonal housing tin even exist manually reconfigured for several applications.
The proper name of the Baader T-2 organisation arises from the threads used on the diagonal bodies and accessories. A T-two (sometimes called T2) thread is the same equally a standard "T thread" , that is, a M42x.75 thread. at agena, for clarity, our production names and descriptions usually list both T and T-two designations. you lot but need to keep in listen essentially mean the aforementioned thing.
A Baader T-two diagonal housing has standard female person T/T-ii threads at the input confront (on the telescope side) and male person T threads at the output face (on the eyepiece side). This lets you add Baader T-2 adapters and accessories to configure the diagonal to your needs. One of the key features of all Baader T-2 diagonals, whether they use prisms or mirrors, is the large free aperture and the flexibility to directly arrange to about whatever telescope system without the restriction of a 1.25" barrel size.
Figure 3 – A T-2 diagonal body (left) and an exploded view of a T-2 torso, spacer rings, nosepiece, and Clicklock eyepiece holder
The most typical configuration of a T-2 diagonal involves calculation a nosepiece and eyepiece holder.Y'all tin add a 1.25" nosepiece and 1.25" eyepiece holder. Or, for instance, yous tin can add a 2" nosepiece to a T-two diagonal housing to fit into a two" focuser and add a 1.25" eyepiece holder. This prevents vignetting when using long focal length one.25" eyepieces or when using the diagonal with a binoviewer, for instance. That's because the large clear aperture of the T-2 diagonal housing far exceeds the field end of whatever 1.25" eyepiece.
Another important benefit of T-2 diagonals, is that they allow users to configure shorter optical path lengths. This can be critical in imaging applications, specially when used with additional imaging accessories like reducers or filter wheels, or for use with binoviewers where y'all desire to minimize the light path due to focus-travel limitations. They also are ideal for employ with fork-mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes where a conventional 2" diagonal may not otherwise have the required clearance with the telescopic pointed at or about the zenith. Connecting a T-ii diagonal straight to an SCT requires a split SCT adapter. These adapters come in two lengths, and orientation control is congenital in to the adapter.
Baader T-2 diagonals practise not, however, have plenty clear aperture to work with all 2" eyepieces. While nosotros practise not recommend using ii" eyepieces with T-2 housings, it is possible to configure a T-2 diagonal to accommodate two" eyepieces. This post at CloudyNights.com shows how to do it.
The input and output threads of a T-2 diagonal as well integrate with the full range of Baader Astro T-2 System components and other T-threaded adapters. That includes a Baader'southward quick change ring to mount the Marker Five binoviewer directly to the diagonal to achieve the shortest possible back focus altitude between telescope and binoviewer. With the right accessories, a T-2 diagonal body also integrates well into digital imaging applications.
A Baader T-2 diagonal housing has standard female T/T-2 threads at the input face up (on the telescope side) and male T threads at the output face (on the eyepiece side). This lets you add Baader T-2 adapters and accessories to configure the diagonal to your needs.Ane of the cardinal features of all Baader T-2 diagonals, whether they use prisms or mirrors, is the large free aperture and the flexibility to directly adapt to well-nigh whatever telescope organisation without the restriction of a 1.25" barrel size.
Figure 3 – A T-two diagonal body (left) and an exploded view of a T-2 trunk, spacer rings, nosepiece, and Clicklock eyepiece holder
The nigh typical configuration of a T-ii diagonal involves calculation a nosepiece and eyepiece holder. Y'all can add together a 1.25" nosepiece and one.25" eyepiece holder. Or, for example, you can add a 2" nosepiece to a T-two diagonal housing to fit into a 2" focuser and add a 1.25" eyepiece holder. This prevents vignetting when using long focal length 1.25" eyepieces or when using the diagonal with a binoviewer, for case. That's because the large clear aperture of the T-2 diagonal housing far exceeds the field terminate of any 1.25" eyepiece.
Another of import benefit of T-2 diagonals, is that they allow users to configure shorter optical path lengths. This tin can exist disquisitional in imaging applications, especially when used with additional imaging accessories like reducers or filter wheels, or for utilize with binoviewers where you want to minimize the low-cal path due to focus-travel limitations. They also are ideal for use with fork-mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes where a conventional 2" diagonal may non otherwise take the required clearance with the scope pointed at or about the zenith. Connecting a T-2 diagonal directly to an SCT requires a separate SCT adapter. These adapters come in two lengths, and orientation control is congenital in to the adapter.
Baader T-2 diagonals do not, however, have enough clear discontinuity to work with all 2" eyepieces. While we do not recommend using two" eyepieces with T-2 housings, information technology is possible to configure a T-two diagonal to accommodate 2" eyepieces. This post at CloudyNights.com shows how to practice information technology.
The input and output threads of a T-2 diagonal also integrate with the full range of Baader Astro T-2 Organization components and other T-threaded adapters. That includes a Baader's quick change ring to mount the Mark 5 binoviewer directly to the diagonal to attain the shortest possible back focus altitude between telescope and binoviewer. With the correct accessories, a T-two diagonal body also integrates well into digital imaging applications.
4. Baader Diagonals – Reflective Element Options
Despite the many specifications and physical configurations of star diagonals, these devices have a simple job. They redirect light from the objective of a telescope (usually a refractor or compound telescope) into an eyepiece at an bending that is more convenient for visual observation. The redirection of light is accomplished by one of three types of reflective elements:
- A glass prism that reflects calorie-free according to the principle of total internal reflection
- A mirror made of a drinking glass surface coated with several layers of hard dielectric coating
- A mirror made of a glass surface coated with a sparse layer of silver or aluminum
Baader makes diagonals base of operations on each of these three configurations, and each configuration has its own pros and cons which depend in part on the quality of coatings and materials.
4.1. Right-Bending Prism Diagonals
In prism-based star diagonal, light passes through a glass prism and reflects off the hypotenuse of the prism at a right angle. Each face of the glass prism is anti-reflection coated to maximum calorie-free manual, but the reflection occurs at the interface between glass and air. No cogitating coating is required. These diagonals event in images that are erect by left-right reversed.
Figure four – The optical path through a correct-angle prism
Prism-based diagonals have many advantages, including:
- About no light scatter at the reflective surface, which leads to an image with very loftier-contrast
- Wavelength-independent reflectivity for good color rendition of planets and stars
- No change in performance over time since the reflective surface does non degrade
- No need for collimation, assuming the prism is footing and mounted at the right angles upon manufacture
Another big advantage of prism-based diagonals is their inherently short path length. Shorter prism-based diagonals are a big advantage when used with telescopes where space is a premium such as fork-mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain scopes. They are also useful when used with binoviewers.
Prism-based diagonals have some disadvantages. While they work very well with telescopes with a focal ratio of f/7 or longer, they do crusade some chromatic aberration in telescopes with faster focal ratios, especially at high magnification.
Also, if clay or dew accumulates on the reflective surface of the prism, the performance of the diagonal can be degraded. To counteract this effect, prism diagonals can exist constructed with a reflective coating of argent or dielectric material on the hypotenuse to ensure a high caste of reflection even when dirt or dew is present.
Baader'south prism-based diagonals are renowned for their precise manufacturing, mounting, and coatings, and they take been independently reviewed as first-class performers, specially in applications such equally planetary observation where minimal besprinkle is a large advantage. They are synthetic with a premium-quality prism or with an ultra-premium 'Zeiss-spec' prism made nether license for Baader by the same product facility that made such prism for Zeiss and to the aforementioned exacting Zeiss specifications.
Baader right-bending prism-based diagonals currently come up in the following models (listed by office number):
- PRISM-2Z is a total 2" diagonal with Zeiss-spec prism
- PRISM-1 is a T-two prism diagonal torso that comes with a removable one.25" nosepiece and 1.25" eyepiece holder with helical focuser
- T2-01C is a T-ii prism diagonal torso only. It's the same diagonal torso used in the BP-PRISM-1
- T2-01B is a T-2 Zeiss-spec prism diagonal body simply
4.2. Amici Prism Diagonals
Baader too makes a wide range of diagonals with Amici prisms, a prism long favored as the all-time choice for producing correctly-oriented images in refractors and Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. If you demand an image that's correct-side upward and left-to-correct correct, a diagonal with an Amici prism is the correct choice. These diagonals are ideal for terrestrial viewing or for observers who wish to become a correct epitome view of astronomical objects to friction match, for instance, lunar maps or finder charts.
Figure five – The optical path through an Amici prism
Amici prisms are hard to make, even so, and they require a much higher level of quality control and manufacturing precision than mirror or prism diagonals. The faces of an Amici prism must be polished smooth and apartment at the proper angles to produce symmetrical images without astigmatism. The abrupt roof border of the prism must also be made vanishingly fine to prevent a single prominent diffraction spike in images. Not all Amici prism are created equal, and Baader's Amici-prism diagonals are amid the all-time on the market place.
Also, while Amici prism diagonals rely on total internal reflection within the prism to direct light to the eyepiece, this tin result in degraded performance if dew or dust gets on the surface of the diagonal hypotenuse. For their highest quality Amici prism diagonals, Baader employs a BBHS (Broad-Band Hard Silverish) coating on the hypotenuse to raise performance.
Baader Amici prism-based diagonals currently come in the following models (listed by part number):
- AMICI-45 is an affordable 45-degree diagonal for terrestrial viewing
- AMICI-DX1 is a T-two 90-degree diagonal housing
- AMICI-45-2 is a 45-degree diagonal that threads onto the back of Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes
- AMICI-2 is a 2" 90-degree diagonal with one.25" eyepiece adapter; it works with nigh telescopes with 2" focusers
- AMICI-DX-2 is a two" 90-degree diagonal with Zeiss-spec prism, BBHS reflective coatings, and Clicklock adapter; this premium Baader diagonal works with most telescopes with 2" focusers
- MAXAMICI is a 1.25" 45-degree diagonal that threads directly to a Maxbright binoviewer for daytime terrestrial observation. It only works with the binoviewer, and it includes a 2x drinking glass path corrector (GPC)
4.three. Dielectric and BBHS Diagonals
Baader as well produces diagonals with mirrors formed from ceramic Sitall drinking glass substrates with two types of reflective coatings, either MaxBright dielectric or BBHS (silver). Both types of diagonal are splendid for use with nearly any telescope on essentially any type of celestial object. They do non suffer from chromatic aberration that may be credible in prism-based diagonals with telescopes of f/7 or faster. And they are engineered to minimize scattered lite from their reflective surfaces. Like right-bending-prism diagonal, these diagonals event in images that are erect by left-right reversed.
Baader'southward Maxbright diagonals are made with multiple layers of hard dielectric fabric deposited on a drinking glass substrate that result in reflectivity every bit loftier as 99%. Dielectric coatings are very hard, so these diagonals are more robust to the surroundings and are much easier to make clean without damaging the cogitating surface.
Baader'south BBHS (Broad Ring Hard-Coated Silver) diagonals accept a thin layer of silver deposited on a ceramic glass substrate. Silvery coatings requite very high and compatible reflectivity across the visual spectrum, which is platonic for achieving vivid and accurate colors and saturation when observing the planets or colorful stars. However, argent by itself is a soft fabric and easily scratched and degraded by the surround. Baaders BBHS diagonals accept an additional hard protective layer deposited the silver to reduce or eliminate this degradation and to reduce scatter at the surface. The reflectivity of Baader BBHS diagonals is non specified.
This review of the MAX-2S BBHS diagonal by Neb Paolini at CloudyNights.com discusses the effectiveness of this diagonal for rendering vivid and authentic colors when observing planets and stars.
Baader's Maxbright and BBHS diagonals include:
- MAX-1 is a T-2 housing with Maxbright dieletric on ceramic glass
- MAX-1S is a T-2 housing with BBHS coating on ceramic glass
- MAX-2S is a ii" diagonal with BBHS blanket on ceramic glass
- Baader as well currently offers the CLDIAG-2, an affordable two" dielectric-coated diagonal that is non branded equally a Maxbright. This diagonal also comes in a configuration, the CLDIAG-2Z, that replaces the 2" nosepiece with a male person M68x1 Zeiss thread that interfaces to a telescope straight or with a Baader adapter.
5. Additional Reading
This guide has reviewed and explained the many options available for star diagonals from Baader Planetarium. The information presented here will aid you choose the correct diagonal for your telescope and observing interests. The links beneath offer more information on this product line:
- A review and comparison of the 2" Baader BBHS-Sitall diagonal (MAX-2S): https://goo.gl/WimkzA
- A comparison of mirror vs. dielectric vs. prism diagonals: https://goo.gl/3dy1bH
- Connection nautical chart (PDF) for the Baader T-ii Astro System: https://goo.gl/iM83sj
Commodity and photos © Agena AstroProducts, 2017. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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Source: https://agenaastro.com/articles/guides/choosing-a-baader-diagonal.html
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