Leo.A

Oh, I forgot to say "thanks for the information on processing"

I have so much trouble with that!

Ah.. now that's one of the vagaries of some of the cheaper lenses, they focus past infinity. I cheat and use the liveview and zoom in all the way. Otherwise, if the moon is up, use that with the AF, then switch the lens to manual focus. I've not really got the experience of focusing using other techniques, but I think you're best bet, is to set the lens to the end stop, back off a little, take a test exposure. Zoom in all the way on the preview and check it. Adjust the focus a little, repeat the test, until it's as good as you can get. A bhatinov focus mask would make this much easier to do.

My Nikor 80-200 F2.8 ED lens, older make with 16 glass elements and a long way from being a cheap lens ($3000+ new), always focus's past infinity. It does however come with a focal range window and has an infinity marking. My cheaper lenses don't have this feature and I have to play in daylight to set infinity.

I have a method for doing it, I focus on a distant object using autofocus during daylight, then switch the camera focus switch to manual. WIth the newer lenses (Nikon anyway) they have a manual/auto focus switch on the lens itself. Once I achieve perfect infinite focus, I set the camera switch to manual but leave the lens switch on auto so it won't move if I bump it.

There's always focus lock but that feature won't retain the memory once the camera is turned off and my system (probably used by many but I've just discovered for myself) can be set during daylight then carried to dark skies and my shots are mostly in focus.

There's always going to be the one night though when you're out freezing in the name of getting a great shot but the focus has been moved.....

Better late than never??

A great source of these items is a local metric motorcycle shop. Most motorbikes (other than American manufactured) now use metric threads and most riders such as myself like to upgrade the standard bolts to an Allen head because they don't strip as easy as cheap hex head and they also greatly improve the aesthetics of the beast.

These bolts can also be acquired in a high tensile aluminium (alloy) from some bike shops and any go-kart sales/spares dealers. Most towns have a cycle sales or repair shop.

There's no point in me providing links as I'm in Australia and most members here seem to be from the UK but Google is always your friend.

Hope this helps!