Dob Focuser upgrade

[Tiotion (Jack)]

Hi all,
I'm looking into upgrading the stock Focuser on my 12" GSO dob to a "premium" one. I've read tons of reviews and the general consensus is that the JMI 1n, feather touch and moonlite are all as good as each other. Agree disagree?
Given that, and their relatively equal price for each, it would come down to the one that's easiest to install, or the lightest, as there's a lot of weight on that end of the tube already. Also, if anyone has done this on a 12" GSO if like to know which base was used.

Cheers

[astronut (John)]

Jack,
Check out Sarkis's 16"LB on Saturday night.
He has heavily modded this scope and changed out the standard focuser for one of the premium ones you mentioned.

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

If you check out the Moonlite focusers website, they give relatively detailed instruction for which size telescopes their products match. A little bit of browsing and you can pin point the focuser and base plate in a snap. I'm looking to upgrade my focuser as well in a little bit. The moonlite focusers come in all sorts of colours too, to help give your telescope that personal touch, and to make it a bit more interesting.

But, most in the know will state the most premium of all the focusers is the feather touch - buttery smooth and all that. But I've read, its really hard to determine a meaningful performance difference between a feather touch and a moonlite focuser, which are both stated to be magnificent. So, I'd go with the more interesting focuser~~~or maybe the cheaper one... haha

[Louwai (Bryan)]

I've got a Feather Touch on my SCT & a Feather Touch on my 20" SDM Dob. Both are absolutely faultless.
When I get around to changing the focuser on the 12" Dob I'll be putting on a Feather Touch.

[Tiotion (Jack)]

John, Sarkis was the one that planted the idea in my head lol. His is really nice! But if Bryan will be buying his third FT... I think I know which I'll choose. Which of the options are must haves Bryan? Brake? Compression ring?

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Originally Posted by Tiotion

John, Sarkis was the one that planted the idea in my head lol. His is really nice! But if Bryan will be buying his third FT... I think I know which I'll choose. Which of the options are must haves Bryan? Brake? Compression ring?

Jack,
Compression ring & brake are a definate no matter what focuser you get.
On the SCT I have the fully motorised unit + also the Micro-Focuser on the primary.
The focuser on the 20" was purchased with the full motor kit, but as yet not fitted. Still manual.
I think, when the time comes to do the 12" I won't be getting the motorised option.

B