Thoughts on the Baader eyepiece turret

[Lady Fraktor]

Interested in opinions having used one, build quality, any issues in use?

[notFritzArgelander]

Interested in opinions having used one, build quality, any issues in use?

I’m not a fan of the turret except as a holding tray. Unless I would clamp down on the thumbscrews more than I’d like the force required to turn the turret is also enough to swivel the assembly at the attachment point to the OTAs.

[Lady Fraktor]

Interesting, that had not crossed my mind.
I was thinking it may not align properly over time as I believe the body is plastic?

[notFritzArgelander]

Interesting, that had not crossed my mind.
I was thinking it may not align properly over time as I believe the body is plastic?

Yes, there is that plastic issue. But I haven't tested it over time.

[Bigzmey]

I have been using Baader light duty plastic turret for years. Initially I had the same concerns about plastic body and potential flex issue, but if you use it within the specs (i.e. with lightweight EPs) it works just fine.

The main application would be high power observing with manual mounts. I love the ability to switch fast and smoothly between 4 powers on a tight double.

In a way plastic body is a plus. It keeps the turret lightweight and does not create any balance issues. I can use it with ultralight setup like this.

[Bigzmey]

This is my Anza double splitting rig.

[Razz]

I just got the turret set yesterday and I'm setting up now to try it out tonight. Honestly, my opinion won't mean much. The best I'll be able to do is give you a newbie's point of view.

[Lady Fraktor]

Nothing wrong with that, first impressions are always worthwhile.

I do like the fact that the Baader lets you use your own diagonal.
I was looking at the only other one that is just for 1.25" eyepieces... a nice piece of kit but by the time it would arrive here the cost would be € 800- € 900!

[PeterD]

I was playing with an idea to get one some time ago. The plastic material and possible eyepieces fogging were the main concerns. The Tak turret seems to be a better design when it comes to the eyepiece fogging i guess.
However, the Baader one does not feel that bad in hands. It is solidly made but for small and light eyepieces only.
In the end I decided not to buy it since most of the eyepieces I use are not parfocal. The advantage of the quick EP change will not be that significant because of the need to refocus. Also, I do not have enough in focus on my most used refractor.

[Razz]

Well, I tried it last night and I actually liked it, mostly because I could switch between eyepieces quickly. It did take me a couple of tries to change between eyepieces without moving the scope too much but I learned that pretty quickly. Quality-wise, it seemed ok to me but only time will tell how well it'll hold up. Also, for me personally, the included eyepieces are a definite step up from the Astromania eyepieces I was using.

[Lady Fraktor]

I was playing with an idea to get one some time ago. The plastic material and possible eyepieces fogging were the main concerns. The Tak turret seems to be a better design when it comes to the eyepiece fogging i guess.
However, the Baader one does not feel that bad in hands. It is solidly made but for small and light eyepieces only.
In the end I decided not to buy it since most of the eyepieces I use are not parfocal. The advantage of the quick EP change will not be that significant because of the need to refocus. Also, I do not have enough in focus on my most used refractor.

The eyepiece positions of the Baader do seem to encourage fogging from breathing, something the Tak, TEC and nPAE with the side positions should suffer from less. A good thing we have desert like viewing conditions here in Slovakia
I would be using the turret with my jeweler loupe eyepieces so weight would not be a issue.

[Lady Fraktor]

Well, I tried it last night and I actually liked it, mostly because I could switch between eyepieces quickly. It did take me a couple of tries to change between eyepieces without moving the scope too much but I learned that pretty quickly. Quality-wise, it seemed ok to me but only time will tell how well it'll hold up. Also, for me personally, the included eyepieces are a definite step up from the Astromania eyepieces I was using.

The BCO are a well regarded eyepiece set, they should be a very good step up for viewing.
Good to hear that there were not issues in use as well.

[Lady Fraktor]

Has anyone tried using a .965" - 1.25" adapter in the Baader? I would be interested to know if it causes any insert/ removal issues.

Looking around at various sites I see there are 3/4/5 eyepiece turrets like the Baader. The 3 was only € 30 so is a cheap way to try this style.
I will say the usual suspects are expensive even used but I do like some of the features of the nPAE RUBY 1.25" turret.
https://www.npae.net/product/1-25-telescope-turret/

Though the turrets give adjustment to make all the eyepieces parafocal it is not a large requirement for me.
When you are viewing with Ball, Hasting, Plossl and other designs you get used to refocusing a lot.

[Lady Fraktor]

@Bigzmey
Looking at your images, I see you are using your Vixen with the turret.
Have you tried it with say a regular 5mm Plossl in the mix? Do the other eyepieces get in the way at all?

[Bigzmey]

@Bigzmey
Looking at your images, I see you are using your Vixen with the turret.
Have you tried it with say a regular 5mm Plossl in the mix? Do the other eyepieces get in the way at all?

I have observed with BCO set and TV Plossl set. There were no issues having 6mm Ortho or 7.3mm Plossl next to 32mm Plossl.

At one point I was doing shoot out of 15mm EPs and had 15mm SLV with 15mm Plossls, it worked fine.

I have never tried having 6mm Ortho in between two SLVs. I can try next time.

BTW, SLVs (@ 5-6oz) are the heaviest EPs this turret can handle.

[Lady Fraktor]

Thank you Bigzmey, not a hurry as I will be seriously looking for one in the spring, that will let the finance officer recover from the cost of the new mount and telescope

The turret I linked to before I was really getting interested in but I noticed the mirror is only rated at 1/4 wave... that seems like it would be detrimental to the views through the telescope.

[notFritzArgelander]

Thank you Bigzmey, not a hurry as I will be seriously looking for one in the spring, that will let the finance officer recover from the cost of the new mount and telescope

The turret I linked to before I was really getting interested in but I noticed the mirror is only rated at 1/4 wave... that seems like it would be detrimental to the views through the telescope.

Yikes! 1/4 wave is not particularly great...

[Bigzmey]

Thank you Bigzmey, not a hurry as I will be seriously looking for one in the spring, that will let the finance officer recover from the cost of the new mount and telescope

The turret I linked to before I was really getting interested in but I noticed the mirror is only rated at 1/4 wave... that seems like it would be detrimental to the views through the telescope.

I was looking at some used EP turrets with prism built in and thought the same thing. Mediocre prism/mirror will ruin the purpose. Also, not a big fan of an EP seating upside down in the turret. I do forget on occasion to tighten EP holder screws...

[Lady Fraktor]

Thank you Bigzmey, not a hurry as I will be seriously looking for one in the spring, that will let the finance officer recover from the cost of the new mount and telescope

The turret I linked to before I was really getting interested in but I noticed the mirror is only rated at 1/4 wave... that seems like it would be detrimental to the views through the telescope.

Yikes! 1/4 wave is not particularly great...

I was quite surprised when I read that, they use 1/10 wave mirrors in their other turrets but this uses a molybdenum mirror.
A strange choice to me since a turret is more for visual and molybdenum is more for laser work from what I read.

[Lady Fraktor]

Thank you Bigzmey, not a hurry as I will be seriously looking for one in the spring, that will let the finance officer recover from the cost of the new mount and telescope

The turret I linked to before I was really getting interested in but I noticed the mirror is only rated at 1/4 wave... that seems like it would be detrimental to the views through the telescope.

I was looking at some used EP turrets with prism built in and thought the same thing. Mediocre prism/mirror will ruin the purpose. Also, not a big fan of an EP seating upside down in the turret. I do forget on occasion to tighten EP holder screws...

I was looking around some more and Kson makes a 3 eyepiece turret similar to the Baader, Lacerta make a 5 eyepiece turret in the Baader style but it is aluminium.
https://tavcso.hu/en/product/OkRevLA5