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Dovetail Plates, Mounting Rails, & Dovetail Bars

 
 

A dovetail plate is probably one of the most underrated and under-appreciated telescope accessories on the planet! As an amateur astronomer, you depend on this single plate to securely connect your high-priced telescope optics to your telescope mount. There are a few different dovetail plate variations and styles. Details on each type of telescope dovetail plate can be found below.

There are two main types of dovetail plates, a Vixen Style dovetail plate and a Losmandy Style dovetail plate. These are also commonly referred to as V Style plates and D Style dovetail plates.

V Style dovetail plates have a narrower width than their D Style counterparts. Typically, a V Style dovetail plate is used for lighter telescope optical tubes and mounts. V Style dovetail plates come in a multitude of lengths with the most common ones being 4", 7" & 11". Our favorite V Style dovetail plate is the Apertura 7" V Style Dovetail Plate. Its rigidity and durable finish make it an amazing value for the price!

D Style dovetail plates offer a wider base. The D Style dovetail plates are typically used for heavier telescope and mount systems. The Apertura 14" D Style Dovetail Plate is super rigid, and its length, as well as the spacing of the holes, makes it compatible with almost any telescope you may want to mount to it.

How do I know which dovetail plate to buy? The first thing you should consider is your telescope mount. Does it allow for a narrower V Style dovetail plate or does it require a wider D Style dovetail plate to mount a telescope? One of the great things about modern mounts is that many of them accept both V Style and D Style dovetail plates. From there, all you have left to focus on is the length of your telescope OTA and the length of the plate you will need to successfully mount it.

If you have any other questions about the dovetail plate selection be sure to reach out to our telescope experts. Remember, don't overlook our dovetail selection; there is a lot riding on it, literally!