Telescope Focuser Upgrade? Moonlite vs Feather Touch and what is Rack and Pinion vs Crayford?
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- Thinking of upgrading your telescope focuser? This is the video for you! Moonlite vs Feather Touch and what is Rack and Pinion vs Crayford? Watch to find out!
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I upgraded the focuser on my FLT 98 f/6.3 with a 3 inch Feather Touch and upgraded the focuser for my vintage Celestron Super C8+ with excellent optics with a Moonlite SCT focuser. Both focusers are top of the line, beautifully machined and anodized, you get what you pay for. I'm thrilled with both and I'm sure you'll be happy with yours whatever you decide on. Clear Skies.
Thanks for sharing! Yes I agree that both brands are top notch!
The more carefully engineered and refined an item is, the smaller the market. Hobbies are smallish markets to begin with, but specialty products must offer a return for the person building them and bringing them to market. A reasonable compromise, at least to start with, is what the various importers/manufacturers place on their scopes. From there, it's often a happy game to begin to upgrade the components. Then, after spending maybe another $3K on upgrades, you come to the realization that, if you had just spent the $3K on the initial purchase to begin with, you would have been further ahead. So, you upgrade to a nicer scope package, learn about what you dislike about it, and you're on your way to that spiral of hobby spending where nothing is ever quite good enough.
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Nice one just the video I was looking for. Thanks mate 👍👍
Glad it was helpful! Vlad.
Great video!
Learned alot about focusers I didn't even know I didn't know :)
Lol, glad it was informative!
JMI Event Horizon a Crayford style I put on my scope after refiguring my primary. It wasn't cheap either, $450.
Yeah k have used JMI focuser. Still have on on my SCT(with custom stepper). They are nice units👍
@@AVTAstro Outstanding and I'm glad I didn't buy the Chinesium one for $100, my old rack and pinion with its backlash was steady and no shaking. I put it on a cheap scope to replace plastic one.
Hey do you kno what goes into choosing the travel length of a focuser?
Well you would need to know where the focal point is of the scope. You would also need to know where diffrent eyepieces/cameras reach focus that you want to use. Then you pick the tube leanth that will accommodate all the stuff you want to use. I don't know of a way to do this without having an existing focuser.
The crayford supports the drawtube with precision roller bearings. The linear bearing focuser uses flat bearing surfaces.
Might want to learn a bit more about the subject before making a video on you tube.
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Thabks for the correction. I did say very clearly in the video that I'm not a focuser maker/expert. I'll be on the lookout for your expert video on the subject sir;)
Awright... I’m a retired and older fellow that has always looking at the night sky. Just visual. I’ve been wanting to get into visual astronomy for some time now. The problem with most videos that I have watched is somewhat lacking in my perspective as I want a decent setup (limited funds) but want something that I can upgrade as time and money allows. A basic viewing scope that does everything! Hahahaha. Awright... it’s in your ballpark now.
Hey Mike, I'd be glad to help out. Not sure if you seen my video on this subject: czcams.com/video/I9po09jAJ1M/video.html
Generally are you planning to observe from your back yard? If this in a light polluted city? How heavy of a scope are you comfortable with? Also what's your budget?
@@AVTAstro , I don’t have a whole lot of money and don’t want something too awfully heavy as I plan to build a platform next to the house say about 6 feet. Light pollution isn’t a big problem. I really don’t want to put a price tag as I don’t want to limit my my experience. I just need something that is possible to upgrade. I’ve seen your video but will observe once again. Respects🤐
@@AVTAstro , I would also be interested in used if possible 🤐
Well if you have a dark sky in all honesty I'd buy the biggest scope you can manage physicly. Maybe a 12" dob would be a good choice. If you want GOTO and tracking Id do a c8 or c11 SCT like the 8se or cpc line from Celestron. Best, Vlad.
Please tell me what focuser would you recommend for my setup…
Skywatcher Mak Newt 190 and ZWO 1600 mono with OAG and filter wheel.
I think the stock focuser is not sturdy enough to support the weight of the camera setup because I have tilt problems
as observed by elongated and out of focus stars in some corners more than others.
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Yeah pretty typical for a stock focuser to have those type of issues. Overall for AP I would look at Moonlite focusers. Contact them for the specific model they would recommend.
What type of eyepiece/adapter locking system do these use? I have heard some use compression rings. Others are straight set screws. Also, how secure are the focus locks when having a lot of weight attached to the tube? Do some focuser hold (and not slip) better than others? Not a lot of usable info in this video.
Pretty much any decent focuser these days will use compression ring. The bigger ones will have 3 screws witch is plenty to hold any load.
Thanks for the video,
I have a Skywatcher 8" imaging newtonian with a stock crayford focuser. The focuser tube extends into the telescope about 1/4 inch or so. Can I get a shorter focuser tube or can I cut it off or is there another fix for this problem other than buying a new focuser ??
Monty
Not sure on this one. I would need to look at it to tell. It may be able to get cut down but you would need access to a good saw to do something like that.
The little light that the focuser tube is blocking really wont affect too much in the end image though.
Will either of the Feathertouch focusers be superior to the 2.7 inch rack and pinion focuser I have on both my old (circa 1990s) Astro-Physics 155 mm f/7 and 130 mm f/6 EDF Starfire refractors? If yes are there online video instruction on how to install them or should they be installed by a professional?
What are you using the scopes for? How heavy of a load are you putting on the focuser? BTW, that's some amazing scopes u have👍
Do you have any opinions on the Baader SteelTrack Diamond?
Sorry I do not have any experience with it.