Wanderer Snowflake 7+1 Filter Wheel - 50mm/2" - SFW50

Snowflake 7+1 Ultra Low Profile 50mm/2" Filter Wheel

• Eight slot design for seven (7) 50mm or 2" filters & an additional 50 mm unmounted filter or the included dedicated dark filter.

• Ultra low-profile at just 16 mm

• One-piece filter mask, no light leak

• Fully enclosed design, refined aesthetic

• No need to disassemble the filter disk

• Compatible with most cameras and off-axis guiders

• Reliable operation down to -30ºC

Low Profile = More Possibilities

The thickness of this 7+1 Filter Wheel is 16mm, although if you want something even thinner,  the SFW50S is only 14 mm.  You can compare them in the Specifications sheet by scrolling a bit.

If you'd like to add a CAA or ETA to your imaging set-up, a Snowflake filter wheel is definitely one of your better options.  And the closer your filters and sensor are to each other, the larger the effective aperture of your filters will be, helping to minimize or eliminate vignetting.

The Wanderer Astro Snowflake SFW50 Filter Wheel comes with two 2mm back focus spacers as standard equipment, allowing the user to increase the thickness of up to 20mm when changes to back focus distance is required.  

High Positioning Accuracy

The Snowflake uses a gear-driven system combined with a damping anti-backlash mechanism and high-precision sensors for amazing repeatability for long-term consistency when doing flat frames.

Fully Enclosed Design

With the Wanderer Snowflake there are no exposed motors or circuit boards, and the one-piece filter mask prevents stray light from entering the system.  You will also enjoy the simple process when installing the filter mask, as it requires half the screws to hold the filters in place.  A one piece filter mask also helps prevent a dropped screw from falling through and lodging some place inconvenient!

For those who are mixing 50 mm unmounted filters with 2" threaded filters or who just prefer conventional filter masks, Wanderer Pro has included individual filter masks as well.  A nice touch.

Wanderer included many other thoughtful features when designing the Snowflake Filter Wheel:

Easier Camera Connection:  The 8th filter slot allows screws to pass through the filter disk and attach to the camera, eliminating the need to disassemble the filter disk when connecting the Snowflake to your camera.

Light Blocking Grooves

Stepped light-blocking grooves along the edge of the wheel prevent any stray light intrusion.

Light Blocking Foam

Some cameras require a light blocking gasket to maintain full sealing.  Wanderer provides a self-adhesive foam sealing ring with the Snowflake.  By providing this sealing ring as a separate item, the user can decide whether to install it or not, depending on their camera model.

Exceptional Rigidity

The Snowflake includes a central mounting screw as well as fixing screws around the perimeter, unlike most filter wheels, which only include those around the perimeter.  This simple addition creates a more unified structure.  In testing filter wheels by other brands against the Snowflake under the same conditions, deformation was reduced by half, effectively doubling rigidity!

Compatible with ZWO, QHY & Other Camera Brands

This 8x50 Filter Wheel features several mounting holes that support, ZWO, QHY, ToupTek & PlayerOne APS-C and full-frame cameras & OAG's.  The Snowflake includes a recessed groove specifically designed to accommodate QHYCCD cameras without increasing the back focus.

Extreme Cold Tolerance - ASCOM & INDI Compatible

The powerful motor and zero-flex design of the Snowflake allow it to operate smoothly even in winter conditions as low as -30ºC.  The motor requires a 12V supply (user supplied) that plugs into a 12V hub output, simplifying wiring.

Supports simultaneous connection & individual identification of multiple Snowflake filter wheels via ASCOM drivers.

Specifications & Dimensions