QUALITY ASSURANCE NOTE: It has come to my attention that others use less than adequate coupling methods on their products that induce flexure. They look very similar to VSI's exclusive docking/coupling systems. They are NOT! VSI's exclusive docking/couplings are not like any other flimsy, flexure-ridden connections used on other products. A good analogy would be a comparison between a (less than) $50 and a $300 (and up) rifle scope. The lesser rifle scopes looks identical to the more expensive ones but, in operation, the differences are very apparent, optically and [especially] mechanically. Let the buyer beware, you receive quality and functionality only when you are willing to expend an appropriate dollar amount. VSI's proprietary flared flange (circular dovetail) docking inserts have extremely thick-wall construction and are locked in place by three set screws opposed by 120 degrees. When you tighten these set screws against this special [angled] flange, it not only pushes directly against the insert ring, but it also pushes laterally to compress the ring inwards against external and internal shoulders, which locks it in place like a good weld - rock-solid! - PVS
Sidewinders, Targetrons & Zerotators use the same port rings and require an optional Camera Port Ring to attach your camera to the rear ports. This separate ring design creates a more versatile Sidewinder that can be used with literally any camera on the market. Just pop the circular dovetailed ring into the rear body of the Sidewinder and tighten the three 8-32 set screws that are opposed by 120 degrees. The dovetailed flange provides a failsafe coupling between the ring and the housing of the Sidewinder. Tightening the three set screws around the angled flange actually draws the port ring into the flat surface of the housing creating a bond that is as solid as the 6061 T-6 aircraft aluminum itself.
VSI offers a myriad of very special [exclusive] adapters, couplers, and accessories that no one else could begin to duplicate. This unique offering allows you to build an extremely flexible imaging train that is not only rivaled by professional research observatories, but envied.
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Camera Port Ring, M42x0.75mm 35mm camera,
male, Item CR35:
$79
This camera port ring is required to install your 35mm or CCD camera directly to your Sidewinder's rear port. The output thread is industry-standard male 42mm-0.75mm T-thread that accepts all female 35mm camera T-rings and most newer CCD camera's threaded female direct inputs. For more info on selecting the correct adapters, see Questions & Answers FAQ link: "How do I know which threaded adapter to purchase for my specific scope?" After screwing the camera port ring onto your camera or T-ring, slide the camera assembly into the 2.9" diameter rear port of the Sidewinder and tighten the three 8-32 set screws on the Sidewinder's square housing using the included Allen wrench. |
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Camera Port Ring, 2"-24tpi standard SCT,
male, Item CR224:
$79
This camera port ring accepts your industry-standard 2"-24tpi SCT equipment, like Meade/Celestron f/6.3 and f/3.3 focal reducers, and any other accessory that has a standard 2" threaded slip-ring. For more info on selecting the correct adapters, see Questions & Answers FAQ link: "How do I know which threaded adapter to purchase for my specific scope?" You can mount this ring directly in the 2.9" diameter rear port of the Sidewinder, tighten the three 8-32 set screws on the Sidewinder's square housing using the included Allen wrench. |
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Camera Port Ring, 2.156"-24tpi, SBIG,
male, Item CR2156:
$79
This camera port ring is designed to install SBIG's STL 11000 Megapixel CCD camera directly to your Sidewinder's rear port. SBIG's proprietary CCD camera thread is a female 2.156"-24tpi. This exclusive SBIG thread configuration will accept some other SBIG CCD cameras too. For more info on selecting the correct adapters, see Questions & Answers FAQ link: "How do I know which threaded adapter to purchase for my specific scope?" After screwing the male camera port ring onto your STL CCD camera, slide the camera assembly into the 2.9" diameter rear port of the Sidewinder and tighten the three 8-32 set screws on the Sidewinder's square housing using the included Allen wrench. |
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Camera Port Ring, 3"-24tpi,
SBIG/APOGEE/TELEVUE, male, Item
CR324: $99
Designed to adapt the rear port of the Sidewinder to SBIG (STX-16803, etc.) and APOGEE large-format CCD cameras using their standard 3"-24tpi (female) CCD camera input ports. Also fits TELEVUE 3"-24tpi format. For more info on selecting the correct adapters, see Questions & Answers FAQ link: "How do I know which threaded adapter to purchase for my specific scope?" You can mount this ring directly in the 2.9" diameter rear port of the Sidewinder, tighten the three 8-32 set screws on the Sidewinder's square housing using the included Allen wrench. |
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Camera Port Ring, 2" ID, accepts 2"
barrel-nose, male, Item CR2:
$99
This extended 2" port ring adapts the Sidewinder's 2.9" rear port to accept any 2" format barrel-nose eyepiece or other component. This thick-walled solid 6061 machined aluminum cylinder has been grooved, not only to lighten the port ring, but to also make it look very cool. Double Nylon thumb screws and double set screws (not shown), opposed by 90 degrees, create a VSI exclusive QUAD-LOCK function that is incorporated into all VSI focusers to firmly hold any 2" barrel-nose, as if it was welded in place. The longer length of the CR2 will also quasi-parfocus the Sidewinder's rear camera port so that any identical 2" format eyepiece inserted in the CR2 will be in-focus, when inserted into any of the three 2" format side port, with only minor push-pull adjustment. Just insert the CR2 into the 2.9" diameter rear port of the Sidewinder and tighten the three 8-32 set screws on the Sidewinder's square housing using the included Allen wrench. |
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