Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
-
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 1493
- Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 1:05 am
- 4
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
- notFritzArgelander
- In Memory
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 14925
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Idaho US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
That's because there is none. It's purely mechanical and has no optical effects. The only thing a focuser does is achieve good / optimal focus. Some stock focusers don't do that job so well.Refractordude wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:46 pm Besides smooth focusing, what other advantages are there in upgrading from a stock focuser? I googled/binged this question. However, could not find much info on a focuser's effect on magnification, image, color etc. Thanks to you all.
- Bigzmey
- Moderator
- Articles: 8
- Posts: 7724
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
- 4
- Location: San Diego, CA USA
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
Dual speed focusing - micro wheel helps with precision.
Focuser travel - with stock focusers, in particular on fast
Payload - ability to hold focus with heavy attachments like glass grenades, binoviewers, filter wheels, cameras, etc.
Collimation - some of stock focusers are too clumsy or poorly designed, that even with all the adjustments there is a play in the draw tube which will affect scope collimation and in the result image quality.
I could keep going. Unless you have a premium scope with a good focuser already in place, upgrading stock focusers is a good move.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Delos, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.
Solar: HA: Lunt 50mm single stack, W/L: Meade Herschel wedge.
Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2461, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 261
- Ozypic
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 849
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 10:26 pm
- 4
- Location: NSW Australia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
SCOPE : Skywatcher 120X600 ST Achromatic Refractor.
EP's : 25mm & 10mm Plossl , Celestron 8/24mm Zoom EP,
Filters : Solar filter, Badder Fringe Killer & Moon/Skyglow.
MOUNT : Skywatcher Star Discovery goto Mount.
CAMERAS : ZWO 120 asi MC. / Sony HX400V 50X Zoom.
Binoculars : Saxon 10x50
- notFritzArgelander
- In Memory
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 14925
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Idaho US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
I have happy memories from 50 years ago with a motorized focuser on a professional 16" Cassegrain. That was deluxe! My fat fingers can press a button better than they can turn a knob, that's for sure. Hope you enjoy yours.Ozypic wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 11:48 pm Ah hocus pocus ,its all just smoke and mirrors ... you have to be a magician to work out focus. I want a focuser that says in a big loud voice " STOP you fool " before you go past that perfect focus point . I do often wonder just how central my view is down the tube, as the focuser does have an amazing amount of slop in it. My son bought me an electric focuser for my birthday a few weeks ago and I havent had a clear or available night to try it. I expect the best thing will be not having to touch the scope .... we will see . Phill
- Ylem
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 7594
- Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 2:54 am
- 4
- Location: Ocean County, New Jersey
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
Sounds like the Mr T focuser :cool:
-Jeff
Member; ASTRA-NJ
Orion 80ED
Celestron C5, 6SE, Celestar 8
Vixen Porta Mount ll
Coronado PST
A big box of Plossls
Little box of filters
-
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 1493
- Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 1:05 am
- 4
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
- bladekeeper
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 3603
- Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2019 2:39 am
- 5
- Location: Lowell, Arkansas, US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
I've had good luck with this one: https://agenaastro.com/gso-crayford-foc ... -86mm.htmlRefractordude wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:45 am What upgrade budget focuser would you use for a Meade LX70 f/8 achro refractor? The stock focuser is kinda sloppy. At high power I have to use a 3 inch aperture mask to get star rings. Thinking a focuser upgrade might change things.
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100
- notFritzArgelander
- In Memory
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 14925
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Idaho US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
In the early 2000s I had the Orion version of the same scope. I found that mine arrived out of collimation and I had to collimate it. It had a collimatable lens cell. The focuser was OK. I don't know about the Meade version. The tube and mechanics might be a little different. I'd check collimation first.Refractordude wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:45 am What upgrade budget focuser would you use for a Meade LX70 f/8 achro refractor? The stock focuser is kinda sloppy. At high power I have to use a 3 inch aperture mask to get star rings. Thinking a focuser upgrade might change things.
Yes. That's the one to use as a focuser upgrade.bladekeeper wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:50 am I've had good luck with this one: https://agenaastro.com/gso-crayford-foc ... -86mm.html
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10022
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
One I have always recommended as being in the top three ways to get better results from your refractor.
Do not forget to make sure it is aligned well with the telescope tube.
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- notFritzArgelander
- In Memory
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 14925
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Idaho US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10022
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
I would be checking the lens out if that was the situation.
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- notFritzArgelander
- In Memory
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 14925
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Idaho US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
I'm getting some differences of opinion on whether the Meade has a collimatable lens cell or not. The discontinued Orion did and the Celestron version does.Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2019 4:52 am I missed a post somewhere then.
I would be checking the lens out if that was the situation.
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/6090 ... refractor/
So the OP needs to check for push-pull screws on the lens cell, I think.
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10022
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- notFritzArgelander
- In Memory
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 14925
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 4:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Idaho US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
- yobbo89
- Moderator
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 2604
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:44 pm
- 4
- Location: australia qld brisbane
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
cameras : asi 1600mm-c/asi1600mm-c,asi120mc,prostar lp guidecam, nikkon d60, sony a7,asi 290 mm
mounts : eq6 pro/eq8/mesu 200 v2
filters : 2'' astronomik lp/badder lrgb h-a,sII,oIII,h-b,Baader Solar Continuum, chroma 3nm ha,sii,oiii,nii,rgb,lowglow,uv/ir,Thousand Oaks Solar Filter,1.25'' #47 violet,pro planet 742 ir,pro planet 807 ir,pro planet 642 bp ir.
extras : skywatcher f4 aplanatic cc, Baader MPCC MKIII Coma Corrector,Orion Field Flattener,zwo 1.25''adc.starlight maxi 2" 9x filter wheel,tele vue 2x barlow .
-
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 1493
- Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 1:05 am
- 4
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
-
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 1493
- Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 1:05 am
- 4
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
- Lady Fraktor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 10022
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 5
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
I think Astro Agena has a chart of which ones fit which tubes. You can also email them if you cannot find the information on site.
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- pakarinen
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4037
- Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
- 4
- Location: NE Illinois
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Upgrading Focuser For Refractor Telescope
Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2019 7:57 pm If the focuser to tube adapter is the same size it will fit, another adapter may be needed.
I think Astro Agena has a chart of which ones fit which tubes. You can also email them if you cannot find the information on site.
https://agenaastro.com/articles/gso-cra ... ility.html
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute