William Optics 99% Dielectric Dura Bright Diagonal - 1.25"
- 1.25" Barrel Diameter
- 99% Dielectric Coated Mirror
- 1/12λ Mirror Surface Accuracy
- 12mm Thick Mirror Substrate
- 100% Real Carbon Fiber Side Plates
The William Optics 1.25" Dura-Bright Diagonal delivers maximum image brightness and contrast through its 99% reflective dielectric coatings and a precision 1/12λ mirror. Built on a thermally stable 12mm thick substrate and housed in a patented, permanently aligned chassis with 100% real carbon fiber plates, this diagonal ensures your telescope's optical path remains perfect from the first day of use.
A star diagonal is a critical element in the optical chain, and the Dura-Bright is built around a laboratory-grade mirror. The 12mm thick substrate provides exceptional thermal and mechanical stability, while the surface is polished to a 1/12λ wave accuracy, preserving the sharpness produced by your telescope's objective. Dielectric coatings provide 99% reflectivity, noticeably brightening the image and increasing contrast on faint deep-sky targets and subtle planetary details like the cloud bands of Jupiter.
William Optics rejects the idea that a diagonal should ever need user adjustment. Where competing designs use collimation screws—an admission of potential mechanical flexure—the Dura-Bright employs a patented, fixed housing that guarantees perfect alignment for life. The 100% real carbon fiber side plates provide extreme rigidity and a touch of class, while internal baffles eliminate stray light for blacker backgrounds.
Compared to standard aluminum or silver diagonals that typically offer 90-94% reflectivity, the Dura-Bright's 99% dielectric mirror transmits significantly more light to your eye. This 5% or greater increase in light throughput makes a visible difference when observing at the limits of your telescope, rendering faint galaxies brighter and globular clusters more resolved. The dielectric coatings are also far more durable than standard coatings, ensuring this brightness advantage does not degrade over years of use and cleaning.
The 99% reflectivity from the dielectric coatings ensures the maximum amount of light from your telescope reaches the eyepiece. This results in brighter images and higher contrast compared to standard diagonals (which are often 90-94% reflective), making faint objects easier to see and planetary details more distinct.
Yes. The combination of high reflectivity and the 1/12λ mirror surface preserves the finest details your telescope can resolve. This allows for sharper views of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, subtle cloud bands, and the Cassini Division in Saturn’s rings, especially when compared to a lower-quality stock diagonal.
William Optics considers adjustable alignment systems a sign of poor mechanical design. The Dura-Bright uses a patented, rigid, non-adjustable housing to guarantee perfect alignment from the factory that will not shift over time. This ensures consistent, optimal performance without the need for user adjustment.
While the 100% real carbon fiber side plates are visually striking, their primary purpose is structural. Carbon fiber is exceptionally strong, rigid, and lightweight, contributing to the diagonal's robust, permanently aligned construction.
You attach standard 1.25" threaded filters directly to the barrel of your 1.25" eyepieces before inserting them into the diagonal. The diagonal itself does not have filter threads.
For a task like splitting the colorful components of Albireo (Beta Cygni), the Dura-Bright excels. Its high-precision 1/12λ mirror prevents any degradation of the star's Airy disk, ensuring the tightest possible stars. The high light transmission also helps maintain the brightness and rich color contrast of the binary pair in a smaller 80mm aperture.
| Diagonal Size | 1.25" |
| Viewing Angle | 90° |
| Reflectivity | 99% |
| Mirror Coatings | Dielectric |
| Mirror Surface Accuracy | 1/12λ |
| Mirror Thickness | 12mm |
| Side Plate Material | 100% Real Carbon Fiber |
| Alignment | Patented Non-Adjustable Design |
| Eyepiece Holder | Brass Compression Ring |
| Baffling | Internal Anti-Reflection Baffling |
| Safety Feature | Internal Stop for Eyepiece Barrels |
1.25" Dura Bright Dielectric Diagonal
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Dust Caps
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