PrimaLuceLab Side by side Losmandy plate 240mm PLUS
- Losmandy-Style Side-by-Side Plate
- Mounts Two Telescopes in Parallel
- Dual Vixen and Losmandy Compatible Saddles
- CNC-Machined Aluminum Construction
- Part of the PrimaLuceLab PLUS System
The PrimaLuceLab Side by side Losmandy plate PLUS allows you to mount two separate optical tubes on a single mount, creating a stable platform for advanced imaging or versatile visual observing. This Losmandy-style plate provides a rigid, dual-saddle system compatible with both Vixen and Losmandy dovetails, ideal for running a main imaging scope and a separate guide scope in parallel.
This side-by-side plate is engineered to support two optical systems simultaneously. You can mount a primary imaging telescope alongside a guide scope, or pair your main telescope with a DSLR and lens for capturing wide-field vistas of the night sky. The two saddle clamps are designed to accept both Vixen-style and Losmandy-style dovetail bars, offering maximum flexibility for your existing equipment.
The fixed separation between the two saddles provides a rigid, non-flexing connection, which is critical for maintaining precise alignment during long-exposure astrophotography. This design eliminates the potential for differential flexure that can occur with less robust, multi-part solutions.
As part of the PrimaLuceLab PLUS (Prima Luce Universal System), this plate is more than just a mounting accessory; it's a component in a fully integrated ecosystem. Each PLUS element is CNC-machined from a solid block of aluminum, sandblasted for a smooth finish, and hard-anodized to protect against scratches and oxidation. This construction ensures your setup remains rigid and reliable, night after night.
The plate features an array of threaded holes and slots, allowing for secure, direct attachment of other PLUS accessories like guide rings or clamps. This modularity gives you the freedom to build and expand your telescope's mechanical support system with maximum rigidity and minimal complexity.
The primary purpose of the Side by side Losmandy plate PLUS is to securely mount two telescopes or cameras in parallel on a single equatorial mount. This is commonly done for astrophotography, allowing an imager to use a main telescope for capturing the image and a second, smaller telescope for autoguiding.
The two saddles on the plate are designed for universal compatibility. Each saddle can accept both Vixen-style and Losmandy-style dovetail bars, allowing you to mix and match equipment from different manufacturers without needing additional adapters.
The plate itself features an integrated Losmandy-style dovetail bar along its base. It is designed to be clamped into any equatorial mount that is equipped with a Losmandy-D compatible saddle, such as those from Sky-Watcher, Celestron, iOptron, and others.
Yes, this is an ideal scenario for this plate. Since each of the two saddles accepts both Vixen and Losmandy dovetails, you can securely mount your 80mm refractor on one side and your 60mm guide scope on the other, regardless of which dovetail standard they use.
The plate provides a fixed, generous separation designed to accommodate common combinations like an 8" SCT and a guide scope. However, it's always recommended to measure the physical diameters of your two optical tubes to confirm they will fit side-by-side without physical interference.
The PLUS system ensures mechanical rigidity and modularity. Key advantages include: