Baader Planetarium T-2 Prism Star Diagonal
| Article number: | T2-01B |
| Availability: | More on the Way to us |
| Delivery time: | More on the Way to us |
The Baader Planetarium T-2 Prism Star Diagonal is easily the finest prism star diagonal available today. The right angle Zeiss-Spec** prism is identical to the prism that Zeiss supplied for use with their exquisite APQ telescopes. The famous Baader 7-Layer Multi-Coatings ensure the image is bright and contrasty, and the oversized prism provides an oversized full clear aperture of 1.34” (34mm)!
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The traditional right angle prism star diagonal has long held a reputation as a budget low-quality star diagonal. Given the extremely poor quality star diagonal prisms included with budget priced import refractors and domestic SCT telescopes, it is no surprise. Their prisms are horribly made, with incorrect face angles, non-flat rough optical surfaces, and poor coatings. Housings are crudely made from weak plastic, with poor angular accuracy and weak attachment of fittings. However, the prism star diagonal is capable of views which meet or exceed even the finest mirror star diagonals, and deliver them for lifetimes of use. The Baader Planetarium T-2 Prism Star Diagonal is easily the finest prism star diagonal available today. The right angle Zeiss-Spec** prism is identical to the prism that Zeiss supplied for use with their exquisite APQ telescopes. The famous Baader 7-Layer Multi-Coatings ensure the image is bright and contrasty, and the oversized prism provides an oversized full clear aperture of 1.34” (34mm)! The precision machined aluminum housing provides a stress free mounting and precise location for the prism, unlike the typical weak plastic or crudely cast housings found on lesser diagonals. Extremely low scatter and high contrast images are the hallmark of this prism diagonal. The end result is a lifetime diagonal that matches or exceeds the brightness and image quality of the finest mirror star diagonals. Users of fine refractors over f/7 as well as SCT users have found that the Baader T-2 Prism Star Diagonal provides the sharpest and highest contrast images they have seen from any star diagonal, mirror or prism. * PLEASE NOTE: The Baader T-2 Prism Star Diagonal incorporates standard T-2 threads at the input and output faces, and is provided as a basic component, without any input or output fittings. This permits the diagonal to be used as a compatible component along with the other Baader Planetarium T-2 accessories, like the VIP Modular Barlow or digital cameras. This also enables you to configure the diagonal to exactly suit your needs, and to fit 2" or 1¼” eyepieces, and focusers. The effective optical path length of the base T-2 Prism Star Diagonal is 47.5mm. Please see Eyepiece Adapters, Rings for applicable fittings, and the T2 Diagonal Configuration page for detail on specific configurations. ** Many production divisions of the former government owned Carl Zeiss Jena have been privatized. The Zeiss core enterprise today concentrates on production of finished ultra-high end optical and medical devices. Many of the thousands of standard components are delivered to Jena "just in time" like any car factory works today. The opticians and skilled people that once made up the company are still alive (and kicking) and as a result many highly capable optical companies have developed in this region, still producing optics in the old Zeiss tradition. Baader has people employed who formerly worked at Zeiss Jena and they still use their contacts to existing optical shops there for the production of their prisms and all optical components for the Mark V binocular, all produced to the original exacting Zeiss specifications and processes. |
Configurations
As part of the ASTRO T-2 System, the T-2 Maxbright Mirror Diagonal, Precision Amici Star Diagonal, and T-2 Prism Star Diagonal can be configured in various ways. All three diagonals use the same precision machined housing and input/output T-2 threads. For some typical configurations, refer to the images below. Given the large apertures of these diagonals, it is possible to configure these diagonals for use with 2" eyepieces (see 2" configuration below). Some vignetting may be noticeable on the largest true-field 2" eyepieces, though some users have even used 30mm Naglers with good results.
In addition to visual configurations, the T-2 Maxbright Mirror Diagonal is well suited for digital imaging. The mechanical and optical quality allow you to position cameras at right angles to the optical path, without any loss in image quality or mechanical rigidity.
Of course, you are free to invent your own application, using any of the T-2 System components. For detailed dimensional specs on all Astro T-2 components, see the ASTRO T-2 System Specs.
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T-2 Diagonals, standard configuration for 2" focusers and 1.25" Eyepieces (back focus used in this configuration is 85mm). - Nosepiece 2"/T-2 (# T2-16) - Click-Lock Eyepiece Clamp 1¼” /T-2 (# T2-08)
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T-2 Diagonals, configured for SCT with Quick Changer System - Short T-Adapter (C8,16mm) (# T2-21) - T-2 Quick Change System (# T2-6,7) - Click-Lock Eyepiece Clamp 1¼” /T-2 (# T2-08) * Please Note, this image does not reflect the latest T2-08 Click-Lock Eyepiece Clamp design or the latest T2-21 Short T-Adapter design |
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T-2 Diagonals, with VIP Modular Barlow (and 2" nosepiece) - Nosepiece 2"/T-2 (# T2-16) -or- Nosepiece 1¼”/T-2 (# T2-14) - VIP Modular Barlow (# VIPB) |
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T-2 Diagonals, Configured for 2" eyepieces and focusers - Nosepiece 2"/T-2 (# T2-16) - Deluxe Eyepiece Clamp 2” (# T2-17) - OR - 2" Clicklock Eyepiece Clamp (CLSC-2) - Expanding Ring T-2i/2"e (#T2-28a)
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