Jeronimo Cruz
super member
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 141
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Hi all,
I'm considering a Feathertouch focuser for my TV 101.
Should I get the retrofit MPA-TELBb or a completely new Feathertouch focuser assembly? I thought that maybe you guys had some experience comparing the different Feathertouch focusers.
Also, has anyone dared to put a Moonlight focuser on a TV scope? I've yet to see one. If yes, do you have any pics?
Thanks for your responses!
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Jeronimo
TeleVue 101 + Gibralter
Celestron NS11 GPS/wedge + Hyperstar
Photon Instruments 127mm + SV F50W2
Lunt Solar Systems LS60DS Ha + Celestron CG-5
Naglers, Panoptics, Radians, Nikon binoviewer
Fujinon 10x70 FMT-SX, 7x42 CD; Canon 15x50IS;
Pentax 7x50 PCF WP, 10x50 PCF WPII, 10x50 DCF SP
Work
20" R/C RCOS on Paramount + Tak FSQ
16" R/C RCOS on Paramount + TEC 140
16" Meade LX200 SCT + TV 76
Ethos, Naglers, Panoptics
Coronado Solarmax 90mm Ha
Coronado Solarmax 70mm Ca
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Jim Romanski
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 844
Loc: Guilford, Connecticut
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I have a Feathertouch retrofit on my NP101 and it's fantastic. Smooth as silk and very precise.
The stock focuser works well but a scope of this quality really should have a focuser to match.
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Jim
17.5" Dob "Project"
13.1" Coulter
8” Cave
NP 101 on a CG-5
25x100 binos
Naglers, Ethos, etc.
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KerryR
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 1168
Loc: SW Michigan
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I put a FT pinion retrofit on my Genesis. Works ridiculously well-- can hold anything at any angle (I have the version with a brake), and is a real boon for the incredibly narrow focus window on the Genesis.
Expensive, but a work of artisanship.
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Kerry
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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I use the TV Focusmate as well as the Focusmate Driver on my NP-101. I couldn't be happier. Having owned an Feathertouch, I can say this compares quite well. Very smooth. And the motor is designed so if I want to use it I just twist it over so the rubber wheel makes contact with the knurled rubber insert on the fine-focus knob.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan
Reged: 02/28/06
Posts: 4349
Loc: Petaluma, CA
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I have a Feathertouch Microfocuser on my TV-102 and a 3.5" Feathertouch focuser on my TEC 140. I think that the Microfocuser is more than adequate for visual use, but if imaging with a big load is in the cards, perhaps the full Feathertouch focuser is a better choice.
Also be sure to check the "blems" section on the Starlight Instruments' website. You can get cosmetic seconds for a decent savings off of the MSRP.
Regards,
Jim
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"I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."
- Sir Issac Newton
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Buck
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/29/05
Posts: 576
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Jeronimo
I could be wrong here but I believe you will need the MPA-TELOb (no brake) or the MPA-TELOBb (with brake) for your older TV101. The TV101 has a black anodized finish and has a slightly smaller focuser diameter than the newer NP101 with the black powder coat finish. When TV went to this new powder coat finish, there were some issues with the FeatherTouch retrofit units that could not be adjusted correctly. The folks at Starlight Instruments came out with the newer version with a slightly larger radius where the FT mates with the focuser body. Best bet is to talk with them first for the correct version.
Buck
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RStar
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/04/06
Posts: 782
Loc: New Jersey
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Jeronimo, I installed a 2 speed MoonLite focuser on my NP101 earlier this year and couldn't be happier. Smooth and solid...looks good too.
http://www.pbase.com/bobstarzynski/image/114849888/original
Bob
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Celestron CGE
Orion 190 Mak-Newtonian
TeleVue NP101
Orion ED80
WO 66 SD
ST-4 guider
Hap Modified 350XT
http://www.pbase.com/bobstarzynski/astro_imaging
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Wehkoja
sage
Reged: 05/06/07
Posts: 242
Loc: Finland
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What´s wrong with the TeleVues focuser(s)?
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Lomo 80/480 in Megrez tube
Ethos 13mm
Powermate 2" 2x
Powermate 4x
Heq5pro
WO 2" Dielectric (Carbon)
TV 2" Dielectric Everbrite
Nikon Monarch 8.5x56
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nyc_nurse
sage
Reged: 07/29/09
Posts: 254
Loc: nyc
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Quote:
What´s wrong with the TeleVues focuser(s)?
Absolutely nothing for the most part. One of the best stock focusers in the industry. With that said the shorter f/l models like the TV NP101 have a very shallow depth of field which makes precise focus difficult to achieve without a fine-focus reduction. However, IMO with their longer f/l models, such as the TV-102, the stock single speed R&P focuser does the job as nicely as many after market options - and the larger curled knobs makes it easier to use with gloves on. 
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Sam P.
www.agirlandaguy.blogspot.com
Pentax 7X50
TV-102 APO w/ (Starbeam - on backorder  )
Ash Gibraltar w/ SkyTour DSC
NZ3-6, N9T6, N13T6
TV 20 Plossl
Pan 24, 35
Pentax XW10, XW14
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johnnyha
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/12/06
Posts: 1138
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Televue used to make a simple extension rod you could screw into the rim of the focuser knob for fine focusing. Picture a wheel with one longer spoke. Worked quite well.
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Johnny
Spicewood, TX
Sherman Oaks, CA
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Downward Bound
Adrenaline Junkie
Reged: 03/29/06
Posts: 2642
Loc: Seattle
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I have the FT retrofit on my TV-85 and I like it very much. On my NP-127 I have the TV Focusmate. Performance wise I consider it a draw between the two but I am a visual-only user so I cannot compare how they would perform with a heavy AP load. The FT is a much more compact design and the TV seems a bit lumpy so I favor the FT on my 85 as this is my travel scope less is more when trying to keep the overall package small. Starlight builds great focuers IMO.
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Bill
'flector: R200SS, 22" f/3.6 (on order)
'fractors: PST, AT-66, TV-85, FS-102, NP-127, TMB-152
'bins: 15x63, 10x52, 22x85
410+028B, Sphinx, Telepod, EZ Touch, G-11
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gts055
super member
Reged: 05/01/06
Posts: 158
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Hmmm, I have the TV Focusmate on a Pronto and Feathertouch on an NP101. They perform similarly but the TV Focusmate is very bulky, has an "add on" appearance, and is not mounted nearly as solidly as the Feathertouch. The Feathertouch is compact, solidly mounted and looks like an original fitting. Regards Mark
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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I have no complaints with the TV Focusmate. It works perfectly. The feel is excellent. And that's coming from someone who's own an FT focuser. I like the larger knobs on the Televue. That was the one thing I didn't like about the FT. My Moonlite has larger, nicer knobs compared to the FT.
My Focusmate is firmly attached. So's the motor.
As for the Focusemate not looking good, I also tend to disagree.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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