Since it’s going to be a long while before I save up to build my “big rig” telescope, I decided why not get the most out of my current setup. I’ve noticed that my Samyang 135mm lens is quite front-heavy which can cause the tracker to drift as it struggles to keep the declination balanced due to the heavy lens. I scoured the internet and found a few options, but they were upwards of $100 or more!
Enter my custom-designed Samyang/Rokinon 135mm lens collar clamp thingy! (I’m not entirely sure what to call it). A typical lens collar only has a single ring…
This 3d printed “cradle” will hold the lens more centered. I have designed it to work with an Arca Swiss clamp and will be designing different bottom plates for different mounts in the future.
The top plate has a channel for a standard 1/4″ camera mount screw, so I can mount my finder scope right on the top. I will also be making different top plates to accommodate other mount styles such as vixen dovetails and others.
I have been hard at work making assembly instructions as well, so as soon as I make some test prints and make sure everything fits well, I may decide to sell these or perhaps just upload them for everyone to enjoy for free. I haven’t decided yet. Stay Tuned!