PeterC65 Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 I just spotted this new product on the FLO website: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astroasis/astroasis-electronic-focuser-with-clutch.html It's an electronic focuser with a clutch so that you can disengage it and still use the original manual focus control, plus it seems to fit very neatly in place of one of the focuser knobs, just extending the focuser shaft a little. The manufacturers product information is here. I've always been put off from fitting an electronic focuser because I still use my scopes for visual and want to keep the manual focus control. This focuser is quite expensive but would fit the bill. Does anyone have experience with it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosun21 Posted March 16, 2023 Share Posted March 16, 2023 5 hours ago, PeterC65 said: I've always been put off from fitting an electronic focuser because I still use my scopes for visual and want to keep the manual focus control. I use an electric focuser for visual. Even if the focus is well off, with the focuser set to fast it’s rapid in its movement of the draw tube. I like the look of this little electric focuser you have highlighted but my concern is if it’s robust enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterC65 Posted March 17, 2023 Author Share Posted March 17, 2023 There is video of the focuser on the manufacturers website and it looks well made and robust. There isn't much information about what focusers it will fit and instead some advise about measuring your particular focuser before purchasing. There are adapters for Celestron SCT scope which look very neat. I wonder if they will fit my Skymax 127? The only downside seems to be that the focuser needs a separate 12V power supply as well as the USB connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigT82 Posted March 17, 2023 Share Posted March 17, 2023 5 minutes ago, PeterC65 said: There is video of the focuser on the manufacturers website and it looks well made and robust. There isn't much information about what focusers it will fit and instead some advise about measuring your particular focuser before purchasing. There are adapters for Celestron SCT scope which look very neat. I wonder if they will fit my Skymax 127? The only downside seems to be that the focuser needs a separate 12V power supply as well as the USB connection. Yes that’s a shame but must electronic focusers do need a separate 12v supply. The only ones I’ve used that don’t are the old Moonlite stepper and the skywatcher unit, both of which have a 9v battery in the handset which make them great for visual usage. This one doesn’t seem to come with a handset but does mention smartphone control, but light on details though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonNeil Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 https://a.aliexpress.com/_Ez8FY1J Seem to ship to the UK. I have one on the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonNeil Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 BTW, I do visual currently and have a skywatcher electric focuser on a st120, and a peg on a knob on Skymax127. The skywatcher focuser works but seems a bit cheaply made so had been considering making my own up until I came across this. I first found it on aliexpress even cheaper but the sellers wouldn't ship to the UK. I happened across that seller the other day and nearly fell off my chair when I was able to put it in my basket AND check out. It sat waiting to ship for a week and I thought, 'they won't ship, my order will get canceled' but Friday it shipped. Due in 2-3 weeks..... we shall see what actually arrives. I'm hoping I can hook up a 12v battery and control it from my phone.... I'll need to do some modifications in sure , which with 3 young kids and no spare time could mean it sits in its box for a looooong while but at the price....a chance worth taking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratlet Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Nice looking bit of kit. Really like the design of the clutch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonNeil Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Yes agreed. I'm the photos and video or looks well made and very well thought out..... as it should be for the FLO etc retail of £300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonNeil Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Looking hopeful it will arrive soon, tracking shows it with local delivery agent and now cleared customs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterC65 Posted March 19 Author Share Posted March 19 (edited) 23 minutes ago, LondonNeil said: Looking hopeful it will arrive soon, tracking shows it with local delivery agent and now cleared customs. I ordered a filter from AliExpress a few months ago at a "too good to be true" price and that's exactly what it was, so it will be good to know what you receive. Looking carefully at the description, I think what you may have bought is an adapter for the Oasis focuser rather than the focuser itself, but if you do receive the whole focuser then let me know and I'll get one too. It's a pity it doesn't take its power from USB though. That would make it perfect. Edited March 19 by PeterC65 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonNeil Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Yes I find it hard to believe its the whole focuser but the picture of the package I selected was focuser, clamp, gear and screws. They say free returns as well.... again we shall see! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterC65 Posted March 19 Author Share Posted March 19 54 minutes ago, LondonNeil said: Yes I find it hard to believe its the whole focuser but the picture of the package I selected was focuser, clamp, gear and screws. They say free returns as well.... again we shall see! The problem I had with the filter was to do with AliExpress playing fast and loose with photos. In the photo the filter was clearly marked Optolong but an unbranded one arrived. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB61 Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Following your link, it looks like typical deliberate confusion of what you will get at what price. If you scroll through all the images you eventually come to one with a ref "standard kit" which shows the focuser, clamps, screws etc at a price currently discounted to £178 excluding taxes etc. With duty and taxes added I suspect it won't need massively cheaper than buying from FLO. If you've paid significantly less than this I wouldn't get too excited about what will be in your parcel when it arrives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonNeil Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Indeed that's what I expect too. Don't worry I paid on the visa card so should get the money back, but if I don't , we'll I decided to take that risk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonNeil Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Arrived. Yep it's a expected really, the screws, gears, mount brackets but no focuser - all the bits in the photo except for the focuser. I'll now be testing the free returns. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart1971 Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 I have just received one of these focusers from AstrOasis for a full review, which I will be putting together in the next few weeks…but first impressions is that it’s a really nice bit of kit and seems to work really well…👍🏻 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterC65 Posted September 2 Author Share Posted September 2 On 04/05/2024 at 09:13, Stuart1971 said: I have just received one of these focusers from AstrOasis for a full review, which I will be putting together in the next few weeks…but first impressions is that it’s a really nice bit of kit and seems to work really well…👍🏻 Have you had a chance to try the Oasis Focuser yet? What scope are you using it with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart1971 Posted September 2 Share Posted September 2 15 minutes ago, PeterC65 said: Have you had a chance to try the Oasis Focuser yet? What scope are you using it with? I have, and it’s excellent, tried on my esprit 100 and now trying on my new Askar 71f, when I get the correct bracket… It’s very precise, neat and very low backlash indeed, and simple to fit, and the clutch type system would be very useful for many people, my only very slight negative would be that they get it to work with the Bluetooth through the ASCOM driver too, so we could lose another annoying cable, ATM the Bluetooth is just to use with there mobile app. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterC65 Posted October 7 Author Share Posted October 7 I've taken the plunge and bought the new version of the Astroasis Electronic Focuser. I've posted a review here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart1971 Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 9 minutes ago, PeterC65 said: I've taken the plunge and bought the new version of the Astroasis Electronic Focuser. I've posted a review here. That’s great, I have the new one on the way too…👍🏻 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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