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Dovetail Bars, Plates & Saddles
The dovetail is the backbone of your setup. It does two jobs: it locks your telescope to your mount, and it lets you build outward — adding guide scopes, cameras, and accessories to your main rig. Farpoint machines the complete system in both standards: D-size (Losmandy) and V-size (Vixen).
What a dovetail system does
A dovetail is a precision rail-and-clamp system. A bar (or plate) with angled edges slides into a matching saddle and locks with a secure clamping mechanism — solid, repeatable, and tool-free. That simple joint serves two distinct purposes in your setup.
1 Mount your telescope
A dovetail bar bolts to your optical tube; the matching saddle is fixed to your mount. Slide them together, lock the clamp, and your scope is mounted — loosen the clamp to take it off again. This is the single most important mechanical joint in your setup: how stiff it is determines how sharp your views are, how round your stars image, and how fast vibration settles after every touch or gust.
2 Build out your rig
The dovetail also lets you attach more to your telescope — a guide scope, a camera, a finder, or a piggyback rig. Most telescopes carry at least one dovetail bar on the bottom, which clamps into the mount’s saddle; many also mount a second accessory bar along the top. That top bar is where most extras go: dovetail adapter plates clamp onto it to carry piggyback adapters, guide scope rings, cameras, and more. Adapter plates come two ways: bare, drilled with a grid of holes for you to configure however you like, or pre-configured with the hardware already fitted.
D-size vs V-size: which dovetail?
Telescope dovetails come in two widths. The narrow one is the V-size (Vixen) standard; the wide one is the D-size (Losmandy) standard. They are not interchangeable — each size fits its matching saddle size.
Rigidity is everything in a telescope system. A stiffer link between scope and mount means sharper visual detail, rounder stars in your images, and vibration that settles in a heartbeat instead of lingering after every touch or gust. The wider the dovetail, the wider its clamping footprint — and the more it resists the flexure and twist that blur fine detail. So when you have the choice, wider is better.
| V-size (Vixen) | D-size (Losmandy) | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | ~44 mm narrow | ~3″ wide |
| Rigidity & vibration control | Fine for light loads | Superior — the wide footprint resists flexure and damps vibration fastest |
| Best for | Small refractors, grab-and-go, visual use, mounts that only take a Vixen clamp | Imaging rigs and SCTs — and smaller scopes when you want maximum stability |
| Load capacity | Lighter payloads | High — carries heavy trains with margin to spare |
| Commonly found on | Most entry and mid-level amateur mounts | Heavy-duty equatorial mounts |
Why we lean toward D-size
D-size isn't just for heavy gear. Put a small imaging refractor on a wide D-size bar and the rigidity advantage shows up immediately — rounder stars, faster settle-time after focus, and less sensitivity to wind and touch. Rigidity is king, and the D-size system simply gives you more of it. If your mount accepts a D-size saddle, it's the connection we'd choose.
Stick with V-size when your mount only takes a Vixen clamp, when grab-and-go weight and portability matter most, or for casual visual setups where the difference is negligible.
Not sure which you have? Look at your mount's saddle and any existing bar: a Vixen bar is about an inch and a half wide at the base; a D-size bar is noticeably wider, around three inches. Many premium mounts ship with a dual saddle that accepts both.
Browse by type
Every Farpoint dovetail product, organized by standard and component. Start with the size your mount uses, then pick the part — whether you're mounting a scope or building out your rig.
D-size (Losmandy)
- SCT Dovetail KitsPlate & radius-block kits for Celestron & Meade SCTs
- Dovetail SaddlesD-size clamps for your mount
- Universal Dovetail PlatesMulti-purpose bars, multiple lengths
- Adapter PlatesAttach cameras, handles & accessories — bare or pre-configured
- Guide Scope RingsAdd a guide scope or finder to your rig
- CounterweightsBalance heavy imaging payloads
- Specialty PlatesClamshells & OTA-specific bars
V-size (Vixen)
- SCT Dovetail KitsVixen plate & radius-block kits for Celestron & Meade SCTs
- Dovetail SaddlesV-size clamps for your mount
- Universal Dovetail PlatesMulti-purpose Vixen-format bars
- Adapter Plates & AccessoriesAttach cameras & accessories — bare or pre-configured
- Guide Scope RingsAdd a guide scope or finder to your rig
The parts of a dovetail system
A quick glossary if you're new to the system — what each component does and where to find it.
Adapter plates
Clamp onto your dovetail to add cameras & accessories — bare or pre-configured. D-size · V-size
SCT kits
Matched plate-and-radius-block kits sized to a Celestron or Meade SCT. Radius blocks cradle the tube; SCTs take both an upper and a lower bar. D-size · V-size
Counterweights & specialty
Balance a heavy rig, plus clamshells & odd jobs. Counterweights · Specialty
Frequently asked questions
What does a dovetail system do?
Two things. First, it mounts your telescope: a dovetail bar on the optical tube slides into a saddle on your mount and locks in place. Second, it lets you build out your rig — dovetail adapter plates clamp onto your setup to carry a guide scope, camera, finder, or second instrument.
What's the difference between a D-size and V-size dovetail?
Width. The V-size (Vixen) bar is narrow, about 44 mm; the D-size (Losmandy) bar is wide, about 3 inches. The wider D-size connection is stiffer and resists vibration and flexure better, while the V-size is lighter and is the more common standard on entry and mid-level mounts. A bar only fits the matching saddle.
Which dovetail do I need for my telescope?
It's set by your mount's saddle, not the scope. Check what your mount accepts. If it takes a D-size (Losmandy) saddle, we'd choose D-size for its rigidity — it pays off even on smaller scopes with sharper views and faster vibration settling. Choose V-size if your mount only accepts a Vixen clamp, or if light weight and portability are your priority.
How do I attach a guide scope or camera to my telescope?
With a dovetail adapter plate that clamps onto your existing dovetail. Bare plates come drilled with a hole grid so you can mount almost anything yourself; pre-configured plates arrive with the hardware already fitted — a camera adapter, ball-head mount, or guide scope rings ready to use.
What is an SCT dovetail kit?
A matched dovetail plate and radius-block kit sized to a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (Celestron or Meade). The radius blocks cradle the curved tube and the plates screw to the front and rear cells of the SCT, giving it a rigid dovetail bar. SCT tubes mount both an upper and a lower bar, and kits are sold by model in D-size and V-size.
Is D-size really better, or just for heavy telescopes?
Rigidity is the deciding factor in any telescope system, and the wide D-size footprint delivers more of it. It's the obvious choice for heavy SCTs and imaging trains, but the stiffness advantage also helps smaller imaging refractors — rounder stars, less wind and touch vibration. If your mount supports it, D-size is the connection we recommend.
Can I adapt a V-size scope to a D-size mount, or vice versa?
Yes. Adapter saddles and plates bridge the two standards — for example, our FVS2D V-to-D adapter saddle lets a D-size mount accept a Vixen bar. See our dovetail saddles and adapter plates for the right bridge.
Are Farpoint dovetails made in the USA?
Yes. Every Farpoint dovetail bar, plate, saddle, ring, and adapter is CNC-machined in the USA.
Build your setup
Start with the dovetail standard your mount uses, then mount your scope and build outward — saddles, adapter plates, rings, and counterweights, all CNC-machined in the USA.
Browse all dovetails Compare D-size vs V-size