Every detail is important if you desire perfect results - that's why we emphasise maximum precision when designing all of our adapters, so that you don't experience any unpleasant surprises.
Our adapter families are characterised by:
- High-quality, reflection-reducing internal baffles & blackening
Stray light inside the telescope causes reflections and loss of contrast. Our extension tubes are not simply painted black, but use a reflection-reducing coating and, where possible, internal baffles for maximum contrast. - Short adapter lengths are made possible thanks to 3 mm threads
Short threads are used on many adapters to make very short extension tubes possible, or to connect to cameras with low-profile inner threads - Maximum flexibility
Fine-tuning rings and adjustable VariLock extensions let you set any distance - Highest precision – no tilting, no twisting
Precise threads and surfaces for a perfect fit - UV-resistant external anodisation against signs of wear
Easy loosening thanks to flat knurls, slots or holes for hook spanners - Complete adapter and accessory system
Tilters, filter drawers and much more
The Baader Adapter Systems
The common 2" and 1,25" nose pieces are perfect to switch between different accessories like eyepieces or to rotate cameras quick and effortless.
But when it comes to heavy loads that need to be attached to the telescope in a reproducible and light-tight manner at defined distances without tilting, threaded connections are the way to go – regardless of whether a coma corrector needs to be placed at the correct distance from the camera with millimetre precision, or if you want to use a large camera with filter wheel and off-axis guiding scope or other heavy accessories such as a large spectrograph or a long H-alpha filter which must not tilt or wobble. They are also necessary when using a flip mirror: with extension rings, all connected cameras and eyepieces can be brought to the same focus position so that refocussing is not necessary when changing between eyepiece and camera.
Extension rings may also be necessary without a camera – either because a focuser is too short or tilts more easily when it is fully extended, or to achieve the correct distance for eyepiece when using a coma corrector.
You might think that there is nothing simpler than an extension tube. Since the founding of our company in 1966, we have developed numerous accessories for telescopes, and we have seen even more accessories from various manufacturers which do create more or less the right distance, but at the same time cause internal reflections or introduce unnecessary wobbling. These many years of experience and the numerous feedbacks from our customers have been incorporated into the development of our own adapters. The aim was to create adapters that fulfil their purpose without being an additional source of error.
Our product range not only includes adaptations for accessories to the various thread standards that telescope manufacturers have introduced, but also four comprehensive adapter families for the most important thread standards:
T-2 (M42x0,75) – The oldest and most widely used thread standard in amateur astronomy goes back to camera lenses and became widely spread with the lenses made by Tamron – their back focus of 55mm is also the reason why standard T-rings provide a flange focal distance of 55mm, and numerous astro accessories are designed for 55mm of back focus. Even today, T-adapters
are the way to go for connecting DSLR or system cameras to a telescope. With the Astro T-2 System®, Baader Planetarium has been offering many solutions for astronomy for years, which are by no means limited to camera connections.
The T-2 thread uses the dimension M42x0.75 and must not be confused with the M42 thread (M42x1), which was introduced by Zeiss Jena in 1938 and was mainly used in the former Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc. It has a different thread pitch - even though many Far Eastern manufacturers today refer to the T-2 thread as M42 thread.
M48-Thread – When larger camera sensors became cheaper and more common, the T-2 thread with a clear aperture of around 38 mm became a bottleneck. The M48 system offers a larger clear aperture so that vignetting is avoided. The M48x0.75 thread is similar to the thread of 2" filters, but the latter is not standardised: There are 2" filters with threads between M48x0.6 and M48x0.75. The M48 system utilises the entire clear aperture available on telescopes and accessories with 2" nose-pieces.
M54x0,75 – The M54x0.75 thread has become the standard for many large full-frame astro cameras. The larger aperture prevents vignetting caused by the connection threads, even on fast optics. Many focusers – including the Baader SteelTrack – have an M54 thread or can be fitted with one in order to screw the accessories directly to the focuser.
M68x1 – The Zeiss M68 thread (not to be confused with the M68x0.75 thread used by some telescopes made by Bresser and Explore Scientific) is mainly used for large observatory telescopes to use even the heaviest accessories.
The Advantages of the Baader Astro T-2 System®
- High-quality, reflection-reducing internal baffels & blackening
- Short lengths possible thanks to 3 mm thread on many parts
- Maximum precision – no tilting, no twisting
- UV-resistant external anodisation against signs of wear
- Easy release thanks to flat knurls, slots or holes for hook spanners on many parts
- Complete optical and mechanical adapter and accessory system
The Baader Astro T-2 System® – proven for decades
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The T-2 system has long been the standard in amateur astronomy. For cameras up to APS-C format and many other accessories, it offers a stable yet lightweight connection option with a clear diameter of ~38 mm. The system includes not only mechanical adapters such as fixed and variable extension tubes, quick changers and tilters, but also optical accessories such as high-end star diagonals as well as glass path correctors and versatile Barlow lenses such as the Barlow Lens VIP, modular , visual and photographic (2x) (#2406101 , € 228,- ) , which can be inserted directly between two extension tubes.3 mm thread standard and versatility
The 5 mm thread length commonly used by camera lenses is gradually being replaced by 3 mm short threads, as some manufacturers of astronomical cameras use flat housings with short thread depths to save back focus. Many of our adapters therefore now also use this shorter external thread. Precise manufacturing ensures that both sides are exactly parallel and do not introduce any play or tilting into the system. There is no loss of stability even with large load changes. In addition to VariLock extension sleeves, fine tuning rings made of anodised aluminium with lengths of 0.3, 0.5 and 1 mm ( T-2 Fine-Adjustment rings (0,3 / 0,5 / 1 mm) - Aluminium (various versions available) ) are also available for exact spacing. This means that practically any adaptation and any desired distance can be realised.
Precision, durability and freedom from reflections
The adapters are made of high-strength, silicon alloyed aluminium. The outer sides are protected with UV-stabilised, silky-gloss hard anodising to prevent scuff marks on threads or surfaces during daily use. The inside of the extension sleeves has anti-glare rings and a high-quality, reflection-reducing dead-matt internal blackening. This effort suppresses the notorious hotspots, i.e. reflections in both visible and infrared light. Unlike inexpensive extension tubes with a smooth interior, which are ‘just black’, this absorbs stray light that is reflected by filters, for example. A good system of extension tubes must not only hold securely, but also be easy to remove. The non-slip outer knurl of many components provides the necessary grip for this and continues the tradition of Zeiss flat knurls.
The advantages of Baader M48-Adapters
- High-quality, reflection-reducing internal baffels & blackening
- Short lengths possible thanks to 3 mm thread on many parts
- Maximum precision - no tilting, no twisting
- UV-resistant external anodisation against signs of wear
- Easy release thanks to flat knurls, slots or holes for hook spanners
- Larger clear aperture than T-2 – also for full-frame cameras
The M48 System – when you need something a little bit larger
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Due to the increasing use of large camera sensors and fast telescopes, a lightweight adapter system with a larger aperture became necessary. The M48 system with up to 45mm free aperture fits perfectly with 2" focusers – in fact, the longer sleeves can also be used as 2" nose piece extensions. All Baader M48 extension tubes have a non-slip flat knurl and slits tso that you can separate adapters that are stuck due to large temperature differences – for example with a simple 1mm thick metal sheet as a tool. All M48 extension tubes have a 3 mm long external thread and a 3.5 mm deep internal thread. Precise manufacturing ensures that both sides are exactly parallel and do not introduce any play or tilting into the system. There is no loss of stability even with large load changes. Fine-tuning rings made of anodised aluminium with lengths of 0.3, 0.5 and 1 mm are also available for exact spacing ( M48 Fine-Adjustment rings (0,3 / 0,5 / 1 mm) - Aluminium (various versions available) ). This means that practically any adaptation and any desired spacing can be realised. Tilters and heavy-duty quick changers round off the system. The Wide-T rings offer the maximum free opening for the camera connection of SLR or system cameras.Precision, durability and freedom from reflections
The adapters are made of high-strength, silicon alloyed aluminium. The outer sides are protected with UV-stabilised, silky-gloss hard anodising to prevent scuff marks on threads or surfaces during daily use. The inside of the extension sleeves has anti-glare rings and a high-quality, reflection-reducing dead-matt internal blackening. This effort suppresses the notorious hotspots, i.e. reflections in both visible and infrared light. Unlike inexpensive extension tubes with a smooth interior, which are ‘just black’, this absorbs stray light that is reflected by filters, for example. A good system of extension tubes must not only hold securely, but also be easy to remove. The non-slip outer knurl of many components provides the necessary grip for this and continues the tradition of Zeiss flat knurls.
The advantages of Baader M54-Adapters
- High-quality, reflection-reducing internal baffels & blackening
- Short lengths possible thanks to 3 mm thread on many parts
- Maximum precision – no tilting, no twisting
- UV-resistant external anodisation against signs of wear
- Easy release thanks to flat knurls, slots or holes for hook spanners
- Complete family of adapters and accessories
The Baader M54 adapters – Torsion-resistant and lightweight adapters for large camera systems
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The M54 system is used for the torsion-proof, light-tight and reproducible connection of larger cameras and other accessories. With a free aperture of 51mm, it avoids the vignetting that can occur with smaller adapter series. The M54 system can be screwed directly (or via extension adapters) to many larger telescopes / focusers and thus eliminates the bottleneck of a 2" nose piece, which is particularly relevant for fast telescopes with a correspondingly steep beam of light. Tilting due to 2" nose piece, which can occur even with solid eyepiece clamps with clamping rings, is thus ruled out – even with a very long image train or heavy accessories such as a spectrographs with a large camera.3 mm thread standard and versatility
The traditional standard thread length of 5mm, which dates back to the days of analogue photography, is a hindrance for modern astronomical cameras as it prevents short adaptations. In contrast, the precisely cut M54x0.57 short threads with a length of 3 mm allow very short adapter lengths down to 5 mm as well as the connection of modern cameras with short internal threads at the perfect distance. The precise manufacturing ensures that both sides are exactly parallel and do not introduce any play or tilting into the system. There is no loss of stability even with large load changes. In addition to several extension tubes, the M54 adapter family also includes heavy-duty quick changers, fine-tuning rings, a tilter and adaptations to numerous other thread standards and our UFC filter drawer system. This means that practically any adaptation and any desired distance can be realised.Precision, durability and freedom from reflections
The adapters are made of high-strength, silicon alloyed aluminium. The outer sides are protected with UV-stabilised, silky-gloss hard anodising to prevent scuff marks on threads or surfaces during daily use. The inside of the extension sleeves has anti-glare rings and a high-quality, reflection-reducing dead-matt internal blackening. This effort suppresses the notorious hotspots, i.e. reflections in both visible and infrared light. Unlike inexpensive extension tubes with a smooth interior, which are ‘just black’, this absorbs stray light that is reflected by filters, for example. A good system of extension tubes must not only hold securely, but also be easy to remove. The non-slip outer knurl of the sleeves provides the necessary grip for this and continues the tradition of Zeiss flat knurls. In the case of really tight-fitting adapters, lateral holes or slots in the M54 external threads provide starting points for simply loosening them with a face spanner or hook spanner – or a simple 1 mm thick piece of metal.
The advantages of Baader M68-Adapters
- High-quality, reflection-reducing internal baffels & blackening
- High loads are carried securely
- Maximum precision – no tilting, no twisting
- UV-resistant external anodisation against signs of wear
- Easy release thanks to flat knurls, slots or holes for hook spanners
- Complete family of adapters and accessories
Baader Adapters for Zeiss M68-Threads – perfect for large Observatory-Class Telescopes
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The M68 system has been used for years on large observatory telescopes, where it also carries professional accessories safely and light-tight with the telescope, without the risk of tilting or twisting. In particular, the M68 telecompendium for telecentric systems and M68 Telecompendium for telecentric systems and FFC (#2459258 , € 440,- ) is the solution for long-building H-alpha filters and other combinations of optical elements with sensors. The massive M68-Tilter (0 - 1° image correction) (#2458170 , € 255,- ) stably compensates for tilting outside the system – such as crooked camera sensors – and the quick-change system allows both the exchange of accessories and the alignment of cameras.Precision, durability and freedom from reflections
The adapters are made of high-strength, silicon alloyed aluminium. The outer sides are protected with UV-stabilised, silky-gloss hard anodising to prevent scuff marks on threads or surfaces during daily use. The inside of the extension sleeves has anti-glare rings and a high-quality, reflection-reducing dead-matt internal blackening. This effort suppresses the notorious hotspots, i.e. reflections in both visible and infrared light. Unlike inexpensive extension tubes with a smooth interior, which are ‘just black’, this absorbs stray light that is reflected by filters, for example. A good system of extension tubes must not only hold securely, but also be easy to remove. The non-slip outer knurl of many components provides the necessary grip for this and continues the tradition of Zeiss flat knurls.
Practical Experience from our customer Thomas Hanrath
As part of a thorough system optimisation, Thomas Hanrath upgraded his entire equipment with Baader adapters – above all to eliminate reflections in his deep-sky images once and for all. His detailed reports on Astrocamp.eu give you a hands-on look at each step:
APO optimised with Baader UFC Tilter
Upgrade of the Baader APO 95/580 using the UFC-Tilter (0 - 1° image correction) – Optical height: ca. 10 mm (#2459146 , € 276,- )
Just before the upcoming nebula season, Thomas Hanrath improved the optical system of his Baader APO. He could have spared himself a lot of trouble had he chosen this path right away.
Internal Reflections from Hell
The solution: the Baader Inverter ring M54a (female to male) (#2458061 , € 51,- ) with its completely matte internal blackening
After the alignment of the mono setup, the first light was eagerly anticipated. The path was rockier than expected, and the devil was indeed in the details. An unexpected journey … with a happy ending?
Baader Universal Filter Changer System
Why does the Baader UFC (Universal Filter Changer) (various versions available) have drawers instead of a filter wheel?
During the transition from OSC to mono astrophotography, Hanrath had to choose a filter system. He decided on the Baader UFC filter system, which has since become an indispensable part of his setup.
You can find all of Thomas Hanrath’s field reports collected on Astrocamp.eu
