Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Cats & Casses Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 DFEmery member Reged: 05/09/08 Posts: 25 Loc: Maine What kind of a focuser should I use on a C8-plus?       #2402632 - 05/17/08 08:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have acquired an older Celestron C8-plus with very good optics and I want to improve and upgrade the focuser (actually, the original focuser knob is missing entirely). What are my options? What should I get? The scope is used primarily for visual observing, but I will probably try some imaging eventually. I'd appreciate some advice. Post Extras:       nofxrx scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 07/12/05 Posts: 912 Loc: palm bay,florida Re: What kind of a focuser should I use on a C8-plus? [Re: DFEmery]       #2402782 - 05/17/08 10:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I just aquired a William Optics 2speed SCT crayford, It is an absolute dream to use with eyepieces or ANY one of my camera's and thier accs. I got mine on Astromart for $150..it was worth every -------------------- Brent Oliver 3 Wonderful dogs: Sadie, Kara and Ozzie Celestron C9.25///Orion 80ED///WO ZS66SD White....Celestron CI-700 Eq. Mount Nikon D40Xa///SBIG ST-402ME/Class 1/CFW///DSI-PRO... My Photobucket Ohh yeah,and a VERY undersanding wife!! Post Extras:       mclewis1 Thread Killer Reged: 02/25/06 Posts: 2225 Loc: Colorado Re: What kind of a focuser should I use on a C8-plus? [Re: nofxrx]       #2403587 - 05/18/08 12:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A few choices ... Starlight Instruments Feathertouch Microfocuser - replacement for existing (or non existing) focuser knob assembly. Really smooth dual speed setup. Keeps the weight down and doesn't extend off of the back of the scope to interfere with the base when you're pointed at the zenith. WO, GSO, others - lower priced dual speed crayford like external focusers. Good price points, solves coarse focusing problems but in your case you'll still need to fix that stock focuser. External focusers have a limited amount of focus travel ... much less than what's available with the built in version (moving the primary mirror and having a 5x magnification on the secondary mirror makes for lots of focus travel). The other issue with an external focuser is that they make it almost impossible to use an F6.3 reducer/corrector. The extra length of the focuser doesn't allow many configurations to come to focus with the reducer/corrector in place. JMI, Starlight (Feathertouch), Moonlite, Optec and others - premium focusers with all kinds of bells and whistles. Same issues as the ones above, except the Moonlite which has an option for mounting the reducer internal to the focuser. Premium means 2x and more of the price of the WO, GSO focusers. So if you are just missing the rubber knob but the focuser mechanism is still in place then you can likely find some form of replacement knob, and then get the external WO, GSO external crayford (do check how much clearance you're going to have with the new focuser between the base and whatever you're going to hang off of the new focuser. If the focuser mechanism itself is missing (no brass post) then I'd absolutely go with the Feathertouch Microfocuser since it will solve two problems at once (stock focuser replacement and dual speed capability). Personally I like the Microfocuser just because it's the simplest solution and just as inexpensive as the basic external crayfords, I have one on both of my SCTs. -------------------- Mark C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager 25x100s, 8x56s, T-Mount Light, and Mark 1 eyeballs Modded 350D, SPC900, Mallincam Post Extras:       jason_milani Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/03/04 Posts: 1335 Loc: Northeast Ohio Re: What kind of a focuser should I use on a C8-plus? [Re: mclewis1]       #2404013 - 05/18/08 03:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good advice. -------------------- Antares 1529 6" Refractor Astrotech AT80SE Carbon Fiber Refractor Orion Atlas mount with EQ MOD William Optics EZtouch mount Mallincam Hyper Color Plus Canon 350D Post Extras:       DFEmery member Reged: 05/09/08 Posts: 25 Loc: Maine Re: What kind of a focuser should I use on a C8-pl [Re: jason_milani]       #2404173 - 05/18/08 05:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks, Mark... The brass post is there and the built-in focuser itself is fine... its just missing the knob. My thought is to get some kind of a 'planetary' ('planetary' in the mechanical sense) dual-speed focuser that would attach to the existing brass post... do I understand correctly that this is the arrangement of the Starlight Instruments Feathertouch Microfocuser that you mentioned? Post Extras:       mclewis1 Thread Killer Reged: 02/25/06 Posts: 2225 Loc: Colorado Re: What kind of a focuser should I use on a C8-pl [Re: DFEmery]       #2404218 - 05/18/08 05:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes I think that is internal arrangement of the microfocuser ... and it doesn't attach to the brass post it actually replaces it. The dealer for the FT microfocuser is Starizona. -------------------- Mark C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager 25x100s, 8x56s, T-Mount Light, and Mark 1 eyeballs Modded 350D, SPC900, Mallincam Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 5 registered and 7 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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