The Denkmeier 2" Power x Switch Diagonal #R2 for Refractors
#R2 provides tremendous versatility allowing a binoviewer to move through up to 6 different magnifications with a low 1.26X power factor to a high power of 3.2X with 4 magnifications in between. This is because it includes two Power x Switches: one on each side of the diagonal housing. Slide out the binoviewer and slide in a single eyepiece and move through 7 magnifications ranging from .76 reduction to 2.3X multiplication. This diagonal can also be used for F/10 SCTs allowing focal reduction and barlowing in binoviewers and single eyepieces.


Uses of Diagonal #R2
The #R2 Diagonal has been designed to allow use of a binoviewer or single eyepiece and creates instant magnifications changes when the Power x Switch Arms are used. The observer may change from Binoviewer to single eyepiece without removing the diagonal from the telescope. There is nothing to unscrew or remove from the diagonal when moving between binoviewer and single eyepiece use. R2 provides up to 7 varying magnifications when using a single eyepiece and up to 6 varying magnifications when using a binoviewer. Any Denkmeier Binoviewer can be loaded into the eyepiece tube of the star diagonal and no additional corrector system or Power x Switch needs to be used. That is included and self-contained as part of the #R2 Diagonal. Changing magnifications takes seconds and some re-focusing is required.

IS This Diagonal Suitable For All Refractors?
Because #R2 is fairly heavy and contains two 2" format Power x Switches, the Refractor mount must be robust enough to handle this very special star diagonal. The four fully multi-coated optics are 2" format and are fairly heavy themselves! The weights of all Power x Switch Star diagonals are included in the manual and focuser travel requirements are covered in the manual charts. We love this unit on our comany's Tak FS102 and EM1 mount so it certainly can be used on mid-size refractors with well made mounts.

Using With SCTs
Those Refractor owners who also use SCTs will find that #R2 will allow focal reduction, normal and multiplication factors to be produced with a Denk Binoviewer or single eyepieces in SCTs.  However, this is a fairly heavy item and the extra magnifications possible with the two Power x Switches intefrated into #R2 may be too high for practicle use unless seeing conditions are quite steady. Those users owning both a Refractor and SCT should read the manual for details and consider both #R1 and #R2.

Use this link: The Power x Switch Star Diagonal Manual for detailed instructions and a lot of photographs of #R2 and the other Power x Switch Star Diagonals.