KineOptics HC Focusers

I'm poking around for some good quality, low-priced, low profile focusers for a dob. I came across KineOptics and it looks like their HC-2 is just what I'm looking for. They look relatively simple (which is often a good thing), and I think they will do everything I need them to. Before I sink money into it however, I'm wondering what experiences people have had with these focusers, positive or negative. Thanks guys!

Hi:

I have never used one or even seen one. Looking at the page though I would be concerned about the rotal travel of 1.25 inches. If you have a good handle on where the focal plane is and aren't using any odd ball eyepieces, barlows, Paracorrs or stuff that may require more travel in or out, this maybe enough. If you are replacing a focuser on an existing scope it may be a problem.

Jon

Evan Reed said:

I'm poking around for some good quality, low-priced, low profile focusers for a dob. I came across KineOptics and it looks like their HC-2 is just what I'm looking for. They look relatively simple (which is often a good thing), and I think they will do everything I need them to. Before I sink money into it however, I'm wondering what experiences people have had with these focusers, positive or negative. Thanks guys!

I have a friend who has one, and I am planning to put one in a dob truss (T-Scopes used to use them as standard equipment). His experience of the HC-2 is that it is a very good focuser, the length of travel did not prove to be a problem for him. It is a nice smooth focuser.

He feels that it is a harder to Sqare the HC-2 to a round tube than the more conventional crayfords. His is mounted through a wooden bevel on a sonotube, and any adjustment has to come via shims. He does not feel this would be an issue on a truss dob with a flat focuser board. You can lower the "l" length about an inch with that focuser, if you stick to typical focal-extention eyepieces.

I have one on a T-Scope and am very pleased with it. It is very smooth and easy to fine-focus. I'm not sure it would do well with heavy optical trains but for single EPs or EP with a barlow it has worked very well for me.

It works very well for visual observing.

If you've got a round tube, you'll need to make an adapter with
a flat surface. Or use some spacers between the focusser and tube
where the mounting screws are.

It will not work for imaging or anything with a non-axisymetric load.
For example, a 35mm camera will want to rotate on its own, with the
heaviest part of the camera pointing down. Or if theres a camera
with cables, everytime the cable flexes the focus will change.
It turns a little too easily for imaging.

Travel is not generally an issue. You can always get another
1/2" of out-travel by lifting up the eyepiece in the focuser.

Thanks everyone. Well from reading reviews, looking online, and asking here, it looks like nobody has had any complaints beyond the restrictions of this type of focuser. I would be strictly using it for visual applications, and I don't plan to use massive eps. Although I read on their website that they have an upgrde kit which allows it to handle heavier loads. I wonder if a simple tapped hole through the 'base' with a nylon screw could be used as a focus lock (not that I plan on doing this). Thanks again!

Evan