FT or ML

[LewisM]

Helping a mate chose an upgrade to his generic Chinese "Crayford". He wants to start imaging.

His choices are either a rack and pinion Feathertouch (my choice) or a Moonlite New Bearing design with all the locking clutches etc.

The ML works out a bit cheaper at just a bit over $500, but is the FT worth paying the small additional to go with it? (I feel so)

The FT can be Crayford too, but I swayed him to R&P for imaging Of course, ML don't offer that option.

[Clancy Lane (Phil)]

Lewis,

My new Explore Scientific 127 APO came with the R & P focuser and it feels better than my other scopes with Crayford focusers.

These newer R & P focusers are miles ahead of the old models in terms of smoothness and stability.

cheers,

Phil

[casstony]

I like feathertouch better.

[Allan]

I've used both, only for visual, and I prefer the Feathertouch. I think your reasoning for the R&P is a good one.

Having spent a lot of time on Cloudy Nights I have come across stories of people replacing their Moonlites for Feathertouch, but never the other way around.