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Webster Telescopes Forum • View topic - New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
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 Post subject: New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 3:44 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:48 am
Posts: 80
Location: Detroit Michigan
I just got off the phone with Starlight Instruments and we are getting the first Feathertouch focusers with the built in Paracorr corrector in them. They will be delivered mid August.

For those of you who have not heard, the new Paracorr is going to be available in two versions, one model is mobile just like the old unit; you drop it into any 2" focuser and place your eyepiece on top. The other will be attached to the back of a specially machined Feathertouch focuser, and will be left in place. David Nagler says the new unit is a 3 group, 5 element array. The new focuser will only be available in 1.5" travel.


Pro and Cons:

1. The mobile model can be used in all of your scopes, the mounted model is just going to work with one. You would save money with the mobile model if you have more than one fast scope.

2. To collimate, you will need to remove the lens group from the back of the focuser.

3. To use a binoviewer with the built in unit, you are going to have to remove the Paracorr lens. This is going to be a little extra work.

4. The built in unit will have a one time calibration, then you will never again have to adjust it for any eyepiece in your collection. A nice time saver (and you don't have to remember what eyepieces are #5 or #1)



How do I do the one time calibration?

After installation, you simply place a piece of frosted tape across the opening of the focuser. Adjust for a pin point of light from a star and lock it down. This will be done already if we do the install for you.



Do you need it?

The old Paracorr works just fine down to f/3.5 , if your scope is faster than that, you need it.

The choice of mobile or built in is totally up to you, based on how many scopes you want to use it on and maybe how heavy of a binoviewer user you are.



Can you add it to an existing Webster scope?

Yes, it looks like the current design has the exact same bolt pattern if you want to add the built in model. Preliminary pricing for the Feathertouch and built in Paracorr is $700.



How will it affect collimation?

You will remove the lens group from the back of the focuser before collimation. It will unscrew with an O-ring to keep it from simply falling out



Do you want it?

If you are getting a scope delivered soon, and you want a built in unit, kindly let us know in an email. There will be an upcharge to cover the difference between the standard focuser and the Paracorr unit. Preliminary pricing makes that difference about $350, but we won't know exactly until they send us an invoice.


We will keep you posted on any late breaking news.

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Eric Webster
http://www.WebsterTelescopes.com


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 Post subject: Re: New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
PostPosted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:39 am 
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Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 2:25 am
Posts: 122
Oh, and I guess I should have made this clear:

The new Paracorr 2 will fit any 1.5" travel Feathertouch focuser made after 2003. It may fit other earlier ones, but when Werner still ran Feathertouch, he never kept records on exactly when the models changed over.

We have a few of the earlier focusers around the shop, so we will post the results once we have the units in hand.


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 Post subject: Re: New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:53 pm 
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The Paracorr2 has been renamed the SIPS (Starlight Intergrated Paracorr System).

Should be shipping in the next 2 weeks I'm told.


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 Post subject: Re: New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:59 pm 
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Here is how the SIPS is removed for collimation or Binoviewer use


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 Post subject: Re: New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 6:35 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 08, 2010 5:51 pm
Posts: 2
Has the upcharge been finalized yet for ordering the SIPS with a new scope?

Thanks!


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 Post subject: Re: New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 4:34 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:50 am
Posts: 12
Location: NM
Did anyone see this review?

http://www.astromart.com/articles/article.asp?article_id=799


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 Post subject: Re: New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 11:21 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 2:25 am
Posts: 122
Nice review. We have not had a clear night to give the SIPS a real testing, but it looks very well made.

The charge for an installed and calibrated SIPS is $625

Thank you,


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 Post subject: Re: New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:45 am 
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Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:48 am
Posts: 80
Location: Detroit Michigan
Last night we FINALLY had enough clear weather to put the SIPS/Paracorr2 through its paces. It had been cloudy (or windy) for weeks, and usually September is a clear month in Michigan.

The correction it provides is great. We tried it at f/4 - f/3.6 and it gives a really clean image. We were of course worried that it would not come to focus in the same range as the old P1, but it has so much adjustment room that our worries were unfounded.

Now that we have tried it, we can recommend it.

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Eric Webster
http://www.WebsterTelescopes.com


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 Post subject: Re: New Feathertouch Focuser w/built in Paracorr
PostPosted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 2:14 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:48 am
Posts: 80
Location: Detroit Michigan
We get a lot of emails about the built in P2 and thought we would give a quick update.

We have tried it with scopes as fast as f/2.7 and it still provides great correction. How fast can it go before it runs out of steam? I've heard that it is still great at f/2.4, so it will cover any mirror we are likely to encounter.

It only takes a few seconds to remove it for Binoviewing.

Yes, you can remove it and replace it as many times as you want. It has big metal threads - they are never going to wear out.

Yes, you can get filter slides that will work with it.

Yes, it is much better than having to adjust the settings on the regular Paracorr when changing eyepieces.

After a few years of using it, we can honestly say we like it a lot.

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Eric Webster
http://www.WebsterTelescopes.com


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