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The photoguide system has two parts. Part one is a pair of guidescope mounting rings bolted to a dovetail rail. Part two is a dovetail shoe that holds the ring system to your scope. This shoe bolts onto a catadioptric scope’s rear cell, using the finderscope/accessory holes generally located at the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions on the rear cell. The 10 o’clock holes normally hold the telescope’s factory-equipped finder, while the 2 o’clock holes are for mounting accessories, such as this photoguide ring set. The dovetail shoe will work on the rear cells of catadioptric scopes up to 20” in aperture. The ring system can also be used on other scope types, providing the scope has a pair of accessory mounting holes on the industry standard 1.25” centers (or can be drilled with such holes, as in the case of a Sonotube or aluminum optical tube reflector.) Proper installation of the mounting ring system on scopes other than Celestron or Meade 7” and larger catadioptrics is the responsibility of the buyer. The mounting rings have a 95mm (3.75”) internal diameter and will hold optical tubes with an o. d. of 60mm to 90mm. Three large chrome finish hand-tighten collimating bolts with non-marring Delrin tips in each ring allow you to collimate the refractor with the main telescope optics when it is used as a finderscope, or to aim the refractor off-axis to locate an appropriate guide star or photographic target when it is used as a photoguide or astrograph. The knurled heads of the collimating bolts are nearly 3/4” in diameter, providing a sure and easy grip, even while wearing gloves in cold weather. The complete ring system and mounting shoe weighs only 17 ounces. All parts are machined aluminum, anodized flat black to match the finish of most catadioptric scope rear cells. The machined mounting hardware is finished in non-rusting chrome for long life. Mounting hardware is provided to install the system on a Celestron or Meade catadioptric scope, as is the appropriate size installation wrench.
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