Dara

Yes, the quick release plate has two bolts connecting it to the lens. How would I go about getting a custom dovetail made?

The mount being looked at was the NEQ6 (depending on the thickness of the wallet when it came to purchase time - although purchase would probably be put back rather than get anything smaller).

Thanks for the ideas.

My largest lens is nearly 5.5 kg, with camera body, batteries, possibly extenders as well it's probably around 7 kg.

Solid would need to be the watchword for any dovetail conversion solution - I'm not sure I'd trust any Heath Robinson device I'd created to hold things safely!

I'm looking at finally being able to purchase some equipment to allow me to do some astrophotography. The plan is to do it in two stages. First, a tracking mount that I will use with my existing camera gear to take pictures of moon and planets (and to see how badly it copes with nebulae). Secondly, a reflector OTA to sit on the mount for deep space imaging.

My lenses are fitted with Arca-Swiss compatible dovetails (from Really Right Stuff if anyone's heard of them). The issue is that the width (not length! That varies according to lens) of the dovetail is 38mm, and even an expensive mount with a dual saddle has a smallest dovetail size of 45mm.

Are there any good value ways of putting together a converter - it seems like it could be anywhere between £100 - £200 to get two dovetail pieces to bolt together that would do the job - and that's a long way towards the cost of a good size telescope!