iOptron 178mm Vixen Style Dovetail Plate

The iOptron 8422-178 is a precision-machined 178mm (7") Vixen-style dovetail plate, made to provide a secure and stable mounting interface between your telescope or accessory and a compatible equatorial or alt-azimuth mount. With its lightweight aluminum construction and versatile mounting hole pattern, this dovetail plate is ideal for small to mid-sized OTAs, DSLR camera rigs, guide scopes, or other accessories you want to mount with confidence.

Whether you're building a portable astrophotography setup or upgrading your existing mounting hardware, this dovetail delivers the reliability you need in the field or under the stars.

Vixen-Style Compatibility with Mounts and Accessories

This dovetail plate is designed for use with mounts and saddles that accept the Vixen-format narrow dovetail, including many iOptron, Sky-Watcher, Celestron, and third-party systems. It provides a snug, slip-resistant fit in Vixen-style saddles and is long enough to allow for easy balancing on most small refractors and imaging loads.

• Standard Vixen dovetail profile (narrow)

• Compatible with iOptron mounts and other Vixen-format saddles

• Great for refractors, camera setups, or piggyback accessories

Machined Aluminum for Strength and Lightweight Performance

The 8422-178 is made from anodized aluminum alloy, giving it excellent strength-to-weight performance. It’s resistant to corrosion and won’t deform under typical clamping pressure. The matte anodized finish also prevents reflections when imaging near bright sources.

The plate includes a combination of pre-drilled mounting holes and a slotted channel, giving you flexibility in how you attach cameras, rings, or other hardware.

Dimensions and Fit

• Length: 178mm (7.0 inches)

• Width: 1.75 inches

• Weight: Approx. 0.6 lbs

• Hole spacing: Pre-drilled at 1.5" and 3" centers (common for many tube rings)

• Slot: Central elongated slot for flexible mounting or balance adjustment

• Mounting thread compatibility: Accepts 1/4"-20 and M6 hardware (not included)

Ideal Applications

• Mounting short refractors or imaging scopes

• Attaching DSLR cameras with long lenses for wide-field astrophotography

• Pairing with guide rings or piggyback hardware

• Adding an extra dovetail to an OTA for alternate mounting configurations

Observing Tip:
When using this plate with a DSLR and long lens, consider using a ring system or dual-point attachment to reduce flex and improve balance. For wide-field imaging, even a small shift in framing due to hardware sag can show up over longer exposures.