Cometeer

50 minutes ago, Stu said:

They look nice, sourced directly from Japan?

Yep. Also, the part numbers for the K-Astec plates are DP45-190 (vixen) and DP38-190 (arca).

Twins! I highly recommend the K-Astec TB-80AS rings if you are looking for new ones. I mount a Vixen dovetail on one side, an arca swiss dovetail on another, and a finder clamp on the 3rd side. These are lighter than More Blue rings too.

3 hours ago, moriniboy said:

Thinking of getting a Rowan AZ100 Saddle Altitude Adjuster, just how essential is it when mounting two scopes, I would hope the AZ100 would not be that far out knowing Rowan's attention to detail.

Also as scopes vary there is a good chance that it would be adjusted every time, how easy is it to adjust?

Thanks

Pretty essential IMO. Alignment of two scopes is not only reliant on the Rowan mount’s tolerances, it’s also dependent on alignment of the two saddles (in altitude), alignment of scope rings to dovetail, alignment of scope in rings. You will absolutely need the Saddle Adjuster - not only for altitude adjustment, but also for azimuth adjustment. You will also need to mess with the alignment with each different  pair of scopes, unless all of your scopes are perfectly parallel with each other to start off with. It takes me roughly 5 minutes to adjust it, but I wouldn’t want to do it often.

I like the Tak clamshell for observing, but tube rings are definitely the way to go for imaging. You can mount a lot more stuff on rings. I prefer the look of the More Blue rings. Very simple and minimal like the K-Astec rings, but much cheaper. The only knock is that they’re slightly darker than the Takahashi silver accents. 

I used to own that linked wedge. Adjustments in altitude were near impossible. It’s difficult to lift the weight of the SA + scope + counterweight just by turning the little red knob. You need to tilt the altitude of the wedge up by hand and then freely turn the red knob. It is a solid wedge though.  I swapped to the WO wedge and I’m much happier. I have no experience with the SW wedge. 

10 minutes ago, Highburymark said:

Thanks Cometeer - I had been following this thread on CN but had missed the last few days - what's interesting about the Feathertouch is it seems to centre the sweet spot - something I'd very much welcome in my own scope. I like the look of the Moonlite but at the moment am favouring the single speed Feathertouch

I have a FT (dual speed) on the way for an outreach scope. Will post a review on CN.

7 hours ago, Highburymark said:

Good to see this thread spring back into life. Moonlite looks v smart Garry. I'm waiting to see what the Feathertouch for the Lunt will be like before deciding - but interested to hear what you think of your new focuser.

John - good to see your beautiful DL primed for white light. I'm close to pressing the button on an FC-100DC at the moment, and if I have any change left, which frankly is unlikely, a Lunt wedge wouldn't go amiss.

Perhaps I can be of assistance: http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/552017-feathertouch-focuser-for-lunt-50/

Some more: 

"There is no room to make it have any shorter profile in a crayford 
design. Sorry, we would if we could- but the design will not allow it.
We gave it a little over .4" of travel and the same exact racked in 
profile as the stock focuser.
Price for the new Moonlite mini 1 1/4" crayford is $215 for a single 
rate or $315 for the dual rate. All colors are available.
Plus it can be automated with our motor systems if customers need to."

So from the looks of it, both will have the same in travel. 

Price is steep for a dual speed. Might go for a feathertouch single speed at only $35 more than the Moonlite single speed due to the 0.6" of travel versus 0.4".

Edit: Looks like the feathertouch is shorter than both the helical and Moonlite at 48mm minimum height versus 50mm for the other two.

An update from Ron at Moonlite:

"I'm making right now on the mill.

Yes it is a 2 speed, 1 1/4" format mini crayford focuser.
Looks cool-- Should have them ready to ship in about 2 weeks.

All colors are available

Thanks
Ron"

6 hours ago, bunnygod1 said:

Looks similar dimensions to the helical focuser. Minimum focuser height of 48 mm and 15mm of travel. My replacement focus was a little under the minimum height and the travel is around 13mm on both of mine. The minimum travel is not an issue for ZWO camera uses threading direct in to the blocking diagonal. "In focus" is certainly of interest to myself as I still use a imaging source camera.

I emailed Lunt asking for details about the feathertouch's infocus compared to the stock helical focuser. I may still hold out for a Moonlite in case it has more infocus or atleast a dual speed focuser.

2 hours ago, Waldemar said:

I use my DS Lunts on my TMB 92SS ... awesome!!! It is quite a deal to get things fine tuned... patience and perseverence are key elements in this.
Would like to buy a Baader Mark V binoviewer, but they are not available for the coming time...bummer. Instead I bought a 2nd hand Maxbright. 

I would like to get some suggestions for eyepieces, preferably zooms. Any advice is really appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Waldemar

I love using my Delos with the Lunt, but the Baader Hyperion Zoom also works quite well.

I don't know if you guys saw this:

https://luntsolarsystems.com/product/1-25-feather-touch-focuser-2/

A feathertouch for the LS50. Looks like it's only single speed.

21 hours ago, bunnygod1 said:

As you said earlier once you use the D/S you probably will not use it without. As an imager the 2nd thing I do after powering up the PC, is screw on the Double stack

I never even take mine off 

Without for me. Even if I do imaging I'll be attaching the camera to the bf, not the focuser. If it doesn't hurt to leave it on, I don't mind as long as it doesn't add any extra length to the overall focuser draw tube.