Will a SCT Rack & Pinion focuser get in the way of the forks?

[CaptSolo]

Hello, I was wondering will a SCT focuser get in the way of the forks? I am looking at the William Optics Digital Display Gauge (DDG) SCT Rack & Pinion focuser I know it will hit the forks with a diagonal in place, but what I am wondering if anyone gets irritated needing to take it off when OTA gets too close to the forks. If I use my super wedge should I be fine in most positions? Thanks.

[Joe Lalumia]

May I suggest a Moonlight focuser instead -- the digital readout is just a gimmick in my opinion.

MoonLite Telescope Accessories

[CaptSolo]

Thanks Joe, First I want to say I love your TelescopeMan site! I think I have looked at everything on there ten times. The MoonLite focuser is very nice looking. Price wise it puts it close to the Feather Touch which I have also looked at. I have more to think about now.

[tjbdallas]

Oh, Joe thinks electricity is a gimmick. I actually like the red digital readout but see no use for the temperature gauge in the knob. Now that's a gimmick. I think the digital readout would be handy, especially for those of us imaging. Still, for the money and quality I'd go with the Moonlight focuser. I just think is a better quality item.

Terry

[Joe Lalumia]

DON'T listen to Terry ------------- heck he is even OLDER than I am! however he takes very nice astro-photos using equipment that most people think CANNOT be used to take good images!

[CaptSolo]

OK, you guys have me laughing now. At this point I am drooling over the Moonlight. The red one should get some attention. Even if it does not work it will still look cool!

[CaptSolo]

Ok, I am calm now. After doing some more reading it looks like people complain about loosing brightness and they see a softening in the image when using a Crayford type focuser on a SCT. I have that heavy 12" mirror and I have not seen too much mirror flop so how about a Starlight Instruments Feather Touch Focuser that just replaces stock focusing knob so I can get a precise focus?

[Joe Lalumia]

NEVER heard that -- and why would a focuser with a hole in it make you loose contrast? Anyway the solution to mirror flop is to mount a focuser on the rear of the scope.......... using the regular focus knob you will stll encounter "flop". You can help this a lot by running thye focuser knob all the way IN and all the way OUT-- 7 or 8 times which spreads the grease on the central baffle.

[Skyhawk727]

Can't see how a Crayford focuser would soften an image unless the guy sent it out to be chromed inside and out to go with the flames painted on the optical tube. (by the way I want to build a Legend Cub plane, improved replica of the old Piper J3 Cub, and paint it jet black with flames coming off the engine. My wife says NO... we're in negotiations)

Anyway, I have an LX200ACF 10" with the Moonlite 2 speed manual focuser. It is very precise. I put a Bucks focus kit on the scope and that helped, but the Crayford makes a HUGE difference for imaging. I should note that on nights when the temperature drops significantly, I spend some time chasing focus. I set the Moonlite in the middle of it's range and get close using the primary mirror focuser, then I lock doen the main mirror and use the Moonlite exclusively.

Beyond that, the Moonlite is well made and very smooth.

Dave

[Skyhawk727]

Oops I forgot. With the Moonlite in place I can use a 1.25 diagonal at high declinations (75-90). I can also use my Meade DSI III without the filter holder adapter. The DSI III has about 3/8 inch clearance, so I'm very,very careful doing this.

Dave