Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2
Mount your DSLR or CCD to the Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 lens assembly and the quality of full frame photos will be spectacular since star image sizes on the image plane can be less than .001″ over the full frame for an f/4.5 mirror. Edge-of-field sharpness is further enhanced since Paracorr also acts as a field-flattener. Works on all f-ratios f/3 and slower without adding any false color or spherical aberration! NOTE: Curves shown are typical for mirror focal lengths in the 1200mm or longer focal length range. For focal lengths shorter than 1200mm, you might find some field curvature. In general, we recommend APS size formats, which would typically yield 90% illumination over a 30mm diagonal chip.
The Paracorr Type 2 allows separating the optical assembly from the Tunable Top and using it with Tele Vue imaging system components to permit use with SLR and CCD cameras. APS size formats 27mm diameter are recommended to minimize field vignetting. Ideal for mirrors as fast as f/3.
Background
An optical chain is as good as its weakest link. With the development of 82 degree Nagler and 100+ degree Ethos eyepieces, Tele Vue offers the largest, flattest and best corrected visual fields in the industry. Combine the Nagler/Ethos revolution, Dobsonian revolution and Paracorr for the ideal mating for spectacular wide and sharp “spacewalk” observing.
Life without Paracorr
Coma makes stars look like blurry comets whose tails point out radially from the center of the field. The faster your scope’s speed, the worse the effect. All parabolic mirrors used in Newtonian reflecting telescopes are limited in field sharpness due to coma. Even a perfectly made 13″ f/4.5 parabola has only about 0.1 degree diffraction limited field.
Previous attempts to correct for coma have been limited in usefulness. Some correctors were designed mainly for astrophotography, some required difficult installation in the focuser’s draw tube. Dedicated coma correcting eyepieces were another approach. However, these were limited to 50 degree apparent fields and would orphan your existing eyepiece collection.
Life with Paracorr
Paracorr is a universal corrector that tightens and intensifies star images on all f-ratios down to f/3! (see spot size graphs: PDF or JPG) without adding any false color or spherical aberration! You no longer have to constantly shift a Dobsonian to keep objects centered for sharp viewing. Using a Tele Vue eyepiece, put M-13 at the edge of the field and enjoy fully resolving its beauty as it drifts across your view.
Paracorr is easy to use. It slips into your focuser, just like a Barlow. To minimize focuser in-travel, due to additional length, a mild 15% Barlow effect was designed into Paracorr to effectively push the focus out. Paracorr is recommended for use with all Tele Vue eyepieces because our Plössls, Radians, Panoptics, Naglers, Ethos and Delos eyepieces achieve higher levels of aberration correction than competitive models. However, Paracorr is also compatible with other eyepiece makes.
Paracorr Eats Coma
Paracorr can be used with both 2″ and 1¼” eyepieces. For visual use, slip Paracorr Type-2 into your focuser like a Barlow lens, and your eyepiece into Paracorr. 1¼” eyepieces will make use of Paracorr’s special low profile 1¼” reducing adapter. Paracorr is threaded for 2″ filters.
SIPS
Note: The Paracorr Type 2 optical assembly is also available in a special adapter housing made by Starlight Instruments for their Feather Touch focusers. This unit avoids the need for a tunable top to optimize eyepiece position. Some Dobsonian manufacturers may also offer the Feather Touch focuser with integrated Paracorr type 2 as standard. Starlight Instruments offers Paracorr Type 2 integrated with Feather Touch focuser or as an add-on if you already have a Feather Touch focuser.
Astrophotography
Paracorr also works with DSLR and CCD cameras. Just unscrew the lens assembly from the Tunable Top and attach appropriate threaded accessory tubes and camera mounts. See 2″ Imaging (Paracorr Type-2) and 3″ Imaging (3″ BIG Paracorr Type-2) sections for more on Paracorr imaging.
