Optical quickmount

An optical apparatus comprising:

• an optical assembly receiver comprising a main body bounding a viewing opening extending therethrough;
• a first optical assembly comprising:
• a first housing bounding a first aperture extending therethrough;
• and
• a first optical element secured to the first housing so as to be positioned within or aligned with the first aperture;
• and
• a second optical assembly comprising:
• a second housing bounding a second aperture extending therethrough;
• and
• a second optical element secured to the second housing so as to be positioned within or aligned with the second aperture;
• wherein the first optical assembly is securable to the optical assembly receiver and the second optical assembly is securable to the first optical assembly by a magnetic force, such that when the first optical assembly, the second optical assembly, and the optical assembly receiver are secured together, the first aperture and the second aperture are aligned with the viewing opening.

A method comprising:

• aligning a first aperture of a first optical assembly with a viewing opening of an optical assembly receiver so as to align first coupling portions on the first optical assembly with mating second coupling portions on the optical assembly receiver, the first optical assembly having a first optical filter element positioned within the first aperture;
• while the first and second coupling portions are aligned, moving the first optical assembly closer to the optical assembly receiver until the first coupling portions couple with the second coupling portions and a magnetic force secures the first optical assembly to the optical assembly receiver;
• aligning a second aperture of a second optical assembly with the first aperture of the first optical assembly so as to align third coupling portions on the second optical assembly with mating fourth coupling portions on the first optical assembly, the second optical assembly having a second optical filter element positioned within the second aperture;
• and
• while the third and fourth coupling portions are aligned, moving the second optical assembly closer to the first optical assembly until the third coupling portions couple with the fourth coupling portions and a magnetic force secures the second optical assembly to the first optical assembly such that when the optical assembly receiver, the first optical assembly, and the second optical assembly are secured together, the first and second apertures are aligned with each other and with the aperture of the optical assembly receiver.

A filter wheel assembly kit comprising:

• a filter wheel comprising a main body bounding a plurality of viewing openings extending therethrough;
• and
• a plurality of optical assemblies, each comprising:
• a housing bounding an aperture extending therethrough;
• and
• an optical element secured to the housing so as to be positioned within or aligned with the aperture, the optical assembly being releasably securable to the filter wheel at any of the viewing openings by a magnetic force between the optical assembly and the filter wheel.