If you notice that the edges of your image(s) are not sharp then image tilt may be present in your optical train. Image tilt is caused when the sensor is not perpendicular to the light path. There are many causes of image tilt which can arise from focuser drawtube (due to weight of camera etc), flattener/corrector lenses, extension adaptors, manual rotatable camera angle adjusters as well as inherent sensor tilt in the camera body itself. Being able to correct for this image plane tilt is important and essential to get perfectly focused sharp star images across the field of view.
The Tilter Family grows...
...with the new T-2, M48 and M54 tilters
Baader Planetarium have recently (September 2024) added three new members to their current M68, UFC and FCCT I/II tilter family lineup which help compensate for image plane tilt. These three new models use the popular and widely used T-2, M48 and M54 thread adaptations.
As with the existing tilters, the three new threaded tilter models also share the same outside edge-located easy accessible adjuster grub screws allowing up to 1° of tilt adjustment and short optical path length of 9.50mm to 10.25mm. The new tilters can also carry up to the same 5kg of imaging accessory payload too!
The tilter models are of all-metal construction and are made to very high precision in Germany.
Alle Baader Tilters in an Overview
The Baader tilter family now comprise the following models (in size order):
T-2 Tilter
Despite imaging sensors becoming increasingly larger, the small sized T-2 adaptation is still very much in use and popular today and can be found on cameras such as the QHY 183 and some small filterwheels. The T-2 tilter is the most compact and lightest of the current tilter range having an outside diameter of 66mm and a weight of only 56g. It is compatible with the Baader T-2 system of accessories such as T-rings and 1.25"/2" nosepieces for telescope attachment.
T-2 Tilter (0 - 1° image correction) (#2958855 , € 185,- )
M48 Tilter
The larger M48 is a common thread on telescopes and accessories such as reducers, coma correctors and field flatteners. It is slightly larger in diameter than the T-2 version at 72mm but is still light in weight at only 63g. The M48 tilter can be used with the entire Baader M48 accessory system.
M48-Tilter (0 - 1° image correction) (#2958655 , € 195,- )
M54 Tilter
An increasing number of cameras (such as the highly popular QHY 268 and full-frame QHY 600 models) and filterwheels (e.g. QHYCFW3M/L) use the M54 thread adaptation for sturdy connection. The M54 model is 78mm in diameter and weighs 68g. The larger internal diameter opening of the M54 tilter and accessories means that vignetting may be reduced or not present in an optical train and maybe the adaptation of choice for cameras with larger sensors. The tilter is compatible with our entire M54 system of adapters.
M54-Tilter (0 - 1° image correction) (#2958755 , € 215,- )
We will take a closer look at this new M54 tilter along with the M48 and T-2 tilters together in an upcoming article soon.
M68 Tilter
This tilter is a part of the M68 (Zeiss) thread system of accessories which are used for robust solid connection of optical accessories and will result in no flexure under heavy equipment load. It is the largest of the threaded tilter models with an outer diameter of 92mm but still only weighs 83g so does not add a significant amount of weight to the imaging train.
The M68 system allows you to mount heavy accessories (e.g. camera and filterwheel) in a rigid and stable fashion and without vignetting due to the large internal diameter, and with the inclusion of the M68 Tilter allows you to precisely adjust for any tilt in a simple and manner. The tilt mechanism, which is similar to that of the UFC Tilter and FCCT (below), is designed in such a way that if the M68 tilter is removed together with the camera and is replaced with another the adjustment is retained. The M68 Tilter is for use with our M68 system but it can be adapted to work with the popular smaller M42/M48 system (see our article here).
M68-Tilter (0 - 1° image correction) (#2458170 , € 255,- )
To find out more about the M68 Tilter and some examples of its use on a large aperture telescope with a heavy imaging camera and a DSLR, check out this article:
With the Baader M68-Tilter to perfect alignment 17. January 2022 - The Baader M68 is a system that fulfils many wishes in an elegant way and with high stability. All distances can be set precisely, and with the
M68-Tilter (0 - 1° image correction)
(#2458170 ,
€
255,-
)
an ingenious extension has been… Read more
UFC Tilter
This Tilter features an S70 dovetail that fits on the telescope side of the UFC and it is compatible with the entire Baader UFC system. The unit allows an adjustment tilt shift of the UFC Base (and an attached camera) of up to 1° to compensate for misalignments in the image field. The tilter has a 92mm outside diameter, a weight of 83g and is only 9.75-10.50 mm in optical length depending on amount of tilt adjustment made. The wide range of telescope- and camera-side adaptors allow the UFC-Tilter combination to be used on a huge range of telescopes which have sufficient back focus from small refractors to the Celestron RASA 36 and even larger instruments including PlaneWave telescopes and also a large number of cameras from different manufacturers.
To find out more about the UFC Tilter read Part 10 of our UFC series of articles.
UFC-Tilter (0 - 1° image correction) – Optical height: ca. 10 mm (#2459146 , € 276,- )
Filter Changer and Camera Tilter (FCCT)
The FCCT is a specially designed dedicated accessory for use with the Celestron RASA 8 imaging telescope and a range of QHY cameras only.
Unlike the UFC and M68 Tilters, which are in themselves a tilt-adjuster only, the FCCT combines the functionality of a tilter with an integrated filter changer. The FCCT was born to address the fact that due to the small amount of back focus of the RASA8 a wide range of the the popular QHY cooled CMOS cameras could not, until the release of the FCCT, be used with a filter drawer to swap filters and allow you to easily correct for image plane tilt. The FCCT allows you to easily swap filters and to correct for image tilt without the need to remove the camera when adjustments are needed.
Baader FCCT (Filter Changer Camera Tilter) for RASA 8" and QHY cameras (various versions available)
About the Baader FCCT
Two versions of the FCCT are available and which one you need depends on your camera model:
- FCCT I for RASA 8" – suitable for QHY cameras with 77 mm diameter (e.g. QHY 174 / 163 / 183) with an outside diameter of 93mm and weighs 150g.
- FCCT II for RASA 8" – suitable for QHY cameras with 90 mm diameter (e.g. QHY 268 / 294). It also has an outside diameter of 93mm and weighs just slightly more than the FCCT I at 160g.
To accompany the FCCT for using filters there are three different versions of high quality 3D-printed filter holders, available separately (individually or in packs of 4) that accommodate unmounted filters with standard sizes of 31 mm and 36 mm and a new 47.4mm dimater size (Baader 2" mounted filter but without a cell). For the high-speed RASA8 telescope you can use the Baader LRGB CMOS Optimised filters and the Narrowband and Ultra Narrowband Highspeed H-Alpha, S-II and O-III filters which are all available singularly in the aforementioned 31/36/47.4mm sizes. An is available separately that allow the FCCT I to be converted to an FCCT II should you change or upgrade your camera.
Please note: Update June 2023 for the FCCT II for QHY268M Mono Camera: The QHY268M mono camera with new position of the heating board (hotplate was raised by QHY by about 5mm) is unfortunately NOT compatible anymore with the Baader FCCT II.
Mechanically, an adaptation of the FCCT II to the new version of the QHY268M is still possible, but due to the adaptation of the heating plate, the backfocus in connection with the FCCT II has shifted by 5 mm. Thus, the optical backfocus can no longer be maintained. We are currently working on an FCCT III to ensure compatibility with the QHY268M again. However, the completion will still take some time. The previous version of the QHY268M (before June 2023) is still compatible with the FCCT II.
To find out more about the FCCT I and II and how it is used with the RASA8 and QHY cameras you can read the detailed user guide and also this article:
RASA 8 – with QHY cameras and Baader FCCT 09. February 2022 - We very much regret the delay in the availability of the FCCT. We had developed the FCCT primarily for the QHY163 M/C Medium Size CMOS cameras, cooled. Our customer Christoph Kaltseis had already been able… Read moreUsage
Each of the models in the Baader Tilter family help correct for tilt but their application and usage are different. What they do share in common – and is a major and important "practical feature" – is that the fine tilt adjustment screws are located 120° apart on the outside edge, meaning that they are easily accessible even with a camera attached. Other tilt adjusters have these on the camera-facing side meaning that they are often obstructed and require repeated threading and unthreading of cameras and adaptors. With the Baader family of tilters, the whole "tilt adjustment operation" can be achieved without imaging train removal.
Tilt adjustment is performed using three pairs of opposing set screws, on the tilter's outside edge, which independently move the inner tilt mechanics. These hex screws have tapered and hardened points that bear against a precision hardened ‘zero-clearance’ internal steel-counterpart. The direction that each set screw moves the tilter is shown with a helpful etched arrow next to each individual adjustment screw.
You can read more on how to finely adjust tilt with the T-2, M48, M54, M68, UFC and FCCT-Tilters in an article here which also includes important information about correct operation.
Baader Tilter Specifications
The table below gives you a summary of some of the main specifications for the tilter family including the new T-2, M48 and M54 models.
| T-2 Tilter # 2958855 |
M48 Tilter # 2958655 |
M54 Tilter # 2958755 |
M68 Tilter # 2458170 |
UFC Tilter # 2459146 |
FCCT I # 2459070 |
FCCT II # 2459071 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 0.056kg | 0.063kg | 0.068kg | 0.083kg | 0.08kg | 0.15kg | 0.16kg |
| Path Length | 9.50-10.25mm | 9.50-10.25mm | 9.50-10.25mm | 9.50-10.25mm | 9.75-10.50mm | 21.5mm (incl. 2x 0,5mm Spacer which can be added) | 21.75mm (incl. 2x 0,5mm Spacer which can be added) |
| Outside Diameter | 66mm | 72mm | 78mm | 92mm | 92mm | 93mm | 93mm |
| Scope-side Adaptation | M42 (T-2x0.75 (i; internal)) | M48x0.75 (i; internal) | M54x0.75 (i; internal) | M68x1 (i; internal) | Various: UFC Telescope-side Adaptors | Secured on RASA 8 lens group cell with coupling ring | Secured on RASA 8 lens group cell with coupling ring |
| Camera-side Adaptation | M42 (T-2x0.75 (a; external)) | M48x0.75 (a; external) | M54x0.75 (a; external) | M68x1 (a; external) | Various: UFC Camera-side Adaptors | Secured to QHY camera faceplate after removal of ring dovetail | Secured to QHY camera faceplate after removal of ring dovetail |
| Tilt | 0°-1° | 0°-1° | 0°-1° | 0°-1° | 0°-1° | 0°-1° | 0°-1° |
| Accessory weight capacity | 5kg | 5kg | 5kg | 5kg | 5kg | 2kg | 2kg |
| Filter usage | With UFC and UFC Sliders | With UFC and UFC Sliders | With UFC and UFC Sliders | With UFC and UFC Sliders | With UFC and UFC Sliders | With 3-D Printed 31/36/47.4mm Sliders | With 3-D Printed 31/36/47.4mm Sliders |
