Baader Planetarium Dovetail Bar 3", 610mm (24") – for Celestron / Custom builds
- 3" Losmandy-Style Dovetail
- 610mm (24") Total Length
- Black Anodized Finish
- Ideal for Celestron OTAs and Custom Builds
The Baader 3" Losmandy Dovetail Bar provides a rigid, 610mm (24") mounting platform engineered for large optical tube assemblies and custom imaging rigs. This bar is the foundation for a stable, flexure-free connection between your heavy telescope and a high-capacity equatorial mount, ensuring precise tracking and alignment throughout your session.
This dovetail bar adheres to the 3-inch "D-style" Losmandy standard, which is the industry benchmark for mounting heavy instrumentation. The wider 3" profile creates a substantially larger contact area with the mount saddle compared to the narrower Vixen style, dramatically increasing rigidity and preventing torsional flexure under heavy or off-axis loads. It is the required standard for most large Celestron SCTs and other OTAs in the 40+ pound class.
At a length of 610mm (24"), this Baader dovetail offers exceptional latitude for mounting and balancing. The extended length allows you to easily slide your optical tube forward or backward to achieve perfect equilibrium, even with a heavy imaging train of cameras, filter wheels, and off-axis guiders. For custom builders, the 24" length provides ample real estate for mounting multiple instruments side-by-side or for attaching guidescopes and other accessories directly to the bar.
While the Vixen-style dovetail is lighter and ubiquitous on smaller telescopes and mounts, it becomes a point of mechanical failure when used with larger, heavier optical tubes. The primary advantage of this Baader 3" Losmandy bar is its resistance to flexure.
Yes, absolutely. A Celestron C11 or C14 benefits greatly from a long 610mm (24") bar like this one. It provides the necessary length to slide the OTA and achieve perfect balance, especially when you have a heavy camera, filter wheel, or even a guidescope attached.
A 24" bar is an excellent choice for a 10" Newtonian, which often has a long tube and requires a wide balancing range. This Baader bar provides ample length to not only balance the main OTA but also to mount a guidescope and other accessories without running out of space.
The primary difference is size and rigidity. A 3" Losmandy bar is significantly wider and stronger, designed to support heavy telescopes without flexing. A Vixen-style bar is narrower and lighter, suitable for smaller, more portable setups. For any serious astrophotography with a large telescope, the 3" Losmandy standard is essential for stability.
You need a mount equipped with a dual "D/V" saddle or a dedicated "D-style" Losmandy saddle. Most mid-to-high-end equatorial mounts from brands like Celestron (CGEM, CGX, CGE Pro), Sky-Watcher, iOptron, and Losmandy are compatible with the 3" standard.
The black anodized finish serves two purposes. First, it provides a durable, scratch-resistant surface that protects the aluminum from corrosion. Second, the matte black finish minimizes stray light reflections near the telescope, which helps to maintain image contrast.
Yes. The long 610mm (24") platform is ideal for creating custom configurations. Many astronomers use the extra space to mount guidescopes, finder scopes, or even small, wide-field imaging cameras alongside their main telescope, all on the same rigid bar.
| Dovetail Standard | 3" Losmandy "D" Style |
| Length | 610mm (24") |
| Finish | Black Anodized |
Baader 3" Losmandy Dovetail Bar (610mm)
× 1