I recently found an Antares 2FOCR2 focuser on ebay which fits my ST80
perfectly. It has 2 locking screws (not your requested compression
ring) and Rack and Pinion but it was only $43. List is about $60.

Eventually I will either use nylon tip locking screws or modify it to
add a compression ring. It has a very long travel (5.4") focus tube,
comes to focus well with or without a 2" diagonal, has three internal
baffles, the finder dovetail and has the T-Mount camera threads. The
R&P works well and handles an SLR camera easily. With the long focus
range it also works well as a telephoto camera lens. I don't see any
major vignetting with the long tube but I have not done a diagram of the
light path yet. The tube and rack can be cut shorter easily if desired.


It looked like a good balance of performance, features and value in a 2
inch focuser for the ST80.

Britt Ferrill




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