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Agena Synta / Vixen Style Deluxe Dovetail Mounting Base / Shoe for Finders – Cross Slot # XFURB

4.8 (9 Reviews) Read Reviews Write Review
Brand Agena AstroProducts
Part Number OFIN-AG-XFURB
Availability available

Product Info

Manufacturer Description

Agena's new XFURB Deluxe Mounting Base / Shoe features a new, unique cross-slot screw hole pattern, making it usable on a very wide variety of telescope tubes.

This base can be mounted on tubes that are 3.5" or larger in diameter (not telescope aperture), as well as flat surfaces. The long slots on the dovetail base also allow you to suitably position the finder at the most convenient or usable location on your tube or focuser, especially if you attach it to a Crayford focuser body using just a single mounting screw.

Perpendicular to the optical axis, this base can be used with mounting hole spacings ranging from 10mm - 29mm (0.39" - 1.14") if you use 5mm mounting screws. With 4mm mounting screws, hole spacings can range from 9mm - 30mm (0.35" - 1.18"). Note that this spacing is not sufficient to be used on 8" and larger SCT telescopes.

If you happen to have a telescope tube in which the mounting hole pattern is along the optical axis, then this base can be used for hole spacings ranging from 9mm - 32mm (0.35" - 1.26") with 5mm mounting screws.

The screw slots can accomodate screws up to 5mm in diameter. So commonly used M4 or M5 screws will both work with this. Virtually every other dovetail base on the market allows you to use only flat head screws. The recessed screw head slot on this base allows you to use most screws with even oval, hex, button, or other head types besides flat head screws as long as the screw head height does not exceed 3.25mm. However, note that no mounting screws are included with this shoe.

The base is made of die-cast metal and features a smooth black finish and two large locking thumbscrews. The center-to-center distance between the two locking screws is 24mm (0.94"). Total footprint size of this base is 42mm (1.65") perpendicular to the optical axis and 38.9mm (1.53") along the optical axis.

Note that some Synta / Vixen style brackets often have a small extension that slots into compatible bases to prevent slippage. This base does not feature this indented slot, so your finder bracket might stick out of the base by a little bit.

Reviews

4.8 (Based on 9 Reviews) 100% of reviewers recommended this product.
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    1. Guest

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      Review by RICHARD C.
      1522581912
      Apr 1, 2018

      5.0 Quality Product

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Finder shoe was well made and just as described.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    2. Guest

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      Review by David N.
      1513632656
      Dec 18, 2017

      4.0 Great product

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      This is my 2nd mounting shoe like this. Very few on market with dual thumb screws to make finder scope very secure. Would have given a 5 rating but for having to slightly modify with a dremel to fit the screw holes on my C8 OTA. Still and all, it's very worth the price.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    3. Guest

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      Review by Justin M.
      1511591249
      Nov 24, 2017

      5.0 Good deal

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Works pretty good on my Meade ds 90 refractor. T

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    4. Guest

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      Review by Leroy W.
      1508078145
      Oct 15, 2017

      5.0 The mounting slots are very

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      The mounting slots are very convenient for attaching to different type of scopes.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    5. Guest

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      Review by David N.
      1497455032
      Jun 14, 2017

      4.0 Pretty good, could be improved upon.

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      This was the best choice for the situation I was working with. On the plus side - it is as advertised and does hold finders with this type of base.

      Downside - A couple of M4 and M5 screws that are long enough to reach beyond the stand-off height would have been helpful. I ended up creating one. I don't think 0.10$ is going to seriously impact the bottom line.

      Downside - The base is pretty snug, depending on which finder is being installed. Again, it works but I should not have to remove paint from the finder for a smooth fit. 37.2 mm vs 37.0 would make things easier.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    6. Enzo V

      Enzo V New Member

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      Review by Enzo V.
      1487365110
      Feb 17, 2017

      5.0 Very Nice

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Excellent dovetail mounting base.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    7. Guest

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      Review by mjb of Waterloo, On, Canada.
      1453593600
      Jan 23, 2016

      5.0 This product solved my dilemma

      Pros:

      Accurate,Strong Construction,Unique,Compact,Lightweight,Easy to Use

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Required to mount a guide scope to my main scope, Issue was that the pre-drilled mounting holes on the main scope are perpendicular to the guide scope's dovetail requirement.

      This dovetail bracket had two orientations (normal and perpendicular).

      The perpendicular orientation was just what I needed.

      The guide-scope mounted perfectly!

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    8. Guest

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      Review by Rich of Brentwood CA.
      1453593600
      Jan 23, 2016

      5.0 Well made mount

      Pros:

      Nicely Made Part,Strong Construction,Accurate

      Cons:

      None

      Comments:

      I mounted this on my ES-AR127 telescope to mount a guide scope and it worked out perfect.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    9. Guest

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      Review by Don of Arkansas.
      1443225600
      Sep 25, 2015

      5.0 Best adapter ever

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Two thumbscrews. Horizontal and vertical mounting slots. And by the why they are SLOTS and not holes. This is the best adapter ever designed. I bought 2 of them. One for my guide scope and one for my finder. Simply perfect.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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