Following some posts about Baader providing adapters for its 8-24mm click zoom mark IV to other scopes (including Opticron) I obtained a 60mm MM4 ED for use as a more portable option the heavy Astro refractor I have been using.
To adapt the eyepiece you unscrew the locking ring on the bottom of the eyepiece and replace the 1.25” adapter part with a different plate and separately available 41.5mm thread adapter, then resecure the big locking ring. You do need to remove the “dust sleeve” over the bottom part of the zoom, which just slides off, leaving about a 28.2mm diameter barrel.
On poking it into the Mm4 eyepiece hole it goes in nicely about 6mm and no further. It appears the upper threaded section is a tiny bit wider than the lower smooth section of the eyepiece hole (about 27.9mm diameter).. we’re taking 200micron or so difference. It appears that Baader must have assumed very slightly wrong dimensions for the Opticron eyepiece fitting!
I’m slightly annoyed as the Baader provides a wider field of view and is a well regarded Astro zoom, which I use on other Astro scopes I have.
So either I get the sand paper out to remove 200um from scope or eyepiece… which I don’t fancy or I need to buy an Opticron zoom, which I’d not budgeted for :-(
Thanks
Peter
To adapt the eyepiece you unscrew the locking ring on the bottom of the eyepiece and replace the 1.25” adapter part with a different plate and separately available 41.5mm thread adapter, then resecure the big locking ring. You do need to remove the “dust sleeve” over the bottom part of the zoom, which just slides off, leaving about a 28.2mm diameter barrel.
On poking it into the Mm4 eyepiece hole it goes in nicely about 6mm and no further. It appears the upper threaded section is a tiny bit wider than the lower smooth section of the eyepiece hole (about 27.9mm diameter).. we’re taking 200micron or so difference. It appears that Baader must have assumed very slightly wrong dimensions for the Opticron eyepiece fitting!
I’m slightly annoyed as the Baader provides a wider field of view and is a well regarded Astro zoom, which I use on other Astro scopes I have.
So either I get the sand paper out to remove 200um from scope or eyepiece… which I don’t fancy or I need to buy an Opticron zoom, which I’d not budgeted for :-(
Thanks
Peter