More Information  · Images of Some Features

The Focusmate’s polished stainless steel housing mounts easily on either the left or right side of the TeleVue focuser. On a TV-76 or TV-85 used on a TeleVue altazimuth mount (such as the Tele-Pod or Panoramic) it must be mounted on the right hand side to maintain proper scope balance and the use of a #PBA scope balance aid is recommended.

The Focusmate has large clear-anodized dual concentric focusing collars. The larger outer collar (with the knurled rubber grip to match the size and feel of the standard focus knob) focuses the telescope normally. The smaller inner fine focus knob (with the finely ribbed metal gripping surface) is geared to operate at a 6 to 1 reduction ratio. Six turns of the smaller fine focus knob turns the larger focusing collar one revolution. This allows focusing that’s six times more precise than even the already smooth and accurate TeleVue focuser can provide. Ball bearing races in the focuser provide smooth focusing in all temperature extremes. The larger focusing collar can be used at any time to override the fine focus knob and make quick large-scale focus changes.

Except for a user-supplied common Phillips head screwdriver, the Focusmate comes with all the tools, appropriately-sized Delrin attachment and spacer blocks, and hardware you will need to install it on your TeleVue refractor. Installation takes only 5-10 minutes. The focuser is designed to be left in place on your scope permanently.

Pushbutton electric drive motors (#TVFMRHD and #TVFMLHD) are available for the Focusmate for no-touch focusing that eliminates the possibility of scope vibration during high magnification visual observing and critical CCD focusing.