WANTED: 10:1 Newt Focuser

[davewaldo]

Hi Guys,

I'm chasing a good quality Newtonian focuser for use on my 8" Newt.

Looking to spend less than $300 :thumbsup:

Cheers,

David.

[astronut]

Hi David,
I have a Guan Sheng 10:1 focuser on my 12" Lightbridge.
It works very well and smoothly.
I highly recommend it.
At Andrews or Bintel, they're approx $130.
Cheers, John.:)

[davewaldo]

Thanks Jon!

I'm hoping to be able to purchase something more precise than the GSO 10:1 crayford. I will be using it for imaging and in my experience the GSO units aren't the most accurate ie. focus shift when locking or tube slop.

The GSO's are very good value for money (especially for visual obs), but I'd rather something more accurate for imaging.

Cheers,

David

[astronut]

Dave,
For something more substantial the Moonlite Focusers are the way to go
http://www.focuser.com/cgi-bin/dman.cgi?page=category&plugin=dstore.cgi&category=3
At the current exchange rate with postage, it will be just over $300AUD.

John.:)

[davewaldo]

Thanks John, I would love a Moonlite focuser, I'm hoping someone will have one second hand they want to sell.

A moonlite with 8:1, compression ring and locking shaft works out to be close to $500 with current exchange rate and shipping.

Cheers,

Dave.

[monoxide]

Hi Dave,

the standard GSO 10:1 is pretty good, i never noticed any shift in it but avoid the low profile one, its useless for anything really

i was using the standard 10:1 + the jmi motofocus + pcfocus on my 6" newt and it worked perfectly, a great little setup for the price.

[davewaldo]

hmm.... interesting :)

If I was going to buy a new focuser, I have my eye on the Long Perng 11:1 Newtonian crayford at Andrews. It looks and feels quite nice, similar to a william optics style focuser. Its only $50 or so more than the GSO but I think it looks better machined.

I can't find much info or user reviews of the LP focuser though....

[Tandum]

Steve has moonlight focusers listed for $440. Might be a pre dollar crash price though.

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-385

[davewaldo]

Thanks Robin.... But $300 really is my upper limit :)

[AlexN]

If I were you, I'd go to this thread (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=34872), and snag this JMI EV 1N crayford... A sensible offer around the $320~$340 mark might get it... Would be perfect for what you're after.. :)

Cheers.
Alex.

[davewaldo]

I have Pm'd but no reply just yet......

[AlexN]

Best of luck with it mate... It will be a very nice bit of gear... I was going to buy it for my newtonian, then I had my 2nd car (which i was trying to sell) written off by a garbage truck... so I went out and bought new scopes instead :)

[davewaldo]

Gee Alex, thats no good about your car mate!

As for a focuser, I've found a way to adapt my William Optics SCT focuser to fit my Newtonian. Its a great little focuser and the adapter plate will only cost $60!

I'll post pics when its all complete... :)

Thankyou everyone for your advise!