TS Optics Tilter and Adapter - M68/M48
Every experienced astrophotographer knows the problem. Stars in the centre of the frame are sharp, but towards the corners they blur or distort into irregular blobs. No amount of focusing solves it - you are always making a compromise. Focus for the centre and the corners suffer. Focus for the corners and the centre goes soft. The result is either cropping away the corners in post-processing, or the nagging feeling that your equipment is not performing as well as it should. The cause can be surprisingly small - and that is exactly the problem the TS Optics Tilter sensor tilt corrector is designed to fix.
Why do corners go soft?
There are several possible causes, and they are not always obvious at first glance.
- The camera sensor may be very slightly tilted relative to the focal plane. Even a fraction of a millimetre is enough to produce visible aberrations at the edges of the frame.
- The focuser may not hold a perfectly perpendicular position when locked down.
- Newton telescopes frequently show a slight tilt in the field of view itself.
- Adapters and accessories on the eyepiece side of the optical train can introduce small, unwanted angles.
None of these causes needs to be visible to the naked eye or measurable without specialist equipment. Yet their effect on the final image is very real and frustrating. The TS Optics Tilter addresses the problem directly within the optical train - no need to adjust the optics or the mechanics of the telescope itself.
How the Tilter works
The Tilter fits between the telescope and the camera. It lets you adjust the precise position of the sensor relative to the focal plane. You make the adjustment using Allen key screws - the process is accurate, repeatable, and requires no special tools.
One important condition: keep the orientation of all adapters, correctors, and the camera itself consistent throughout your session. When you do, the results come relatively quickly - even sharpness across the entire frame, with no focusing compromises required.
M68/M48 adapter - compact and practical
The TS Optics Tilter M68/M48 adapter connects an M68 thread on the telescope side to an M48 thread on the camera side. The total height of the adapter is only 9 mm. This compact build means that adding the Tilter to your optical train has minimal impact on the overall back focus distance and will not cause problems with focuser travel.
| Parameter |
Value |
| Thread - telescope side |
M68 |
| Thread - camera side |
M48 |
| Total height |
9 mm |
| Adjustment method |
Allen key screws |
The M68 thread on the telescope side provides a large enough diameter to work with a bigger image circle. The M48 thread on the camera side follows the most widely used astrophotography standard, so it is compatible with the majority of current camera adapters and filters.
Who is this for?
The TS Optics Tilter is aimed at astrophotographers who want to get the best from their equipment and are not willing to accept compromises. If you have exhausted your focusing options and soft corners in your images are still a problem, correcting the sensor tilt is the logical and effective next step.
