(North America)
Attached is the testimonial I had written for Werner before you guys took over.
The nice thing about that fact is......Nothing has changed :)
There STILL is nothing like a FeatherTouch:
When I first started imaging the hardest thing I found after getting guiding down was really
nailing my focus. Using a DSLR made this step even harder as using the viewfinder or a right
angle magnifier didn't really help. At this point I switched to a "Stiletto" and although focusing
became a bit easier this now made the next weak spot in my system more evident. Stock focusers!
I decided that a Robofocus was the answer and for awhile it was. The one drawback I found was having
to bend up the brackets and the hacked look that usually came with these setups.
As they say It worked, but it wasn't pretty.
With the purchase of a TMB 130SS with the Feathertouch 3545 focuser came a revelation if you will.
The fit and finish of the FeatherTouch was something that had to be used to be appreciated. I always laughed at
the term "German Engineering" but here it was right in front of me -- A typical Starlight Instruments product,
flawless fit, finish and execution. From that day on I swore every scope I owned would carry a FeatherTouch
(And they have).
In looking for the ultimate in focus control I knew after using the FeatherTouch line of focusers that nothing
else could be attached to them other than the Digital Feathertouch System. At first glance the price
may seem a bit intimidating but like everything else that carries the Starlight name the equipment is
worth every penny. In reality, when compared to a Robofocus setup the FeatherTouch system is really quite reasonable.
The system combines the ability to vary focusing speeds at the touch of a button. The manner in which the
motor assemblies mount to the focusers provides a seamless match that makes the unit look as if it's one
solid piece, not a hacked together setup. Everything about the system says Feathertouch from the machined
hand control box to the hub to the actual motor assemblies themselves. It truly doesn't get any better
than this. Installation is a 5-minute job with a finished look that no other system can come close to.
And the software installation was just as easy. Updates are always available and the ASCOM based system
performs flawlessly just like the rest of the package.
Some will say that you can't see what the system looks like in the dark and for some that may be good enough.
For those who are like me, it needs to look as good as it performs.
The only problem I have with the
Feathertouch system is figuring out which is better.....The way it looks or the way it performs!
Thanks again for another incredible product from you guys!
Bob McCourt [ StonyHillObservatory.com ]
"I have received my Feather Touch Focuser in perfect condition. Here are my first
impressions:
* WOWWWWWWW !!!!! as my first words when I discovered the focuser:
really very nice, rock solid and beautifully finished focuser ! Same for the adapter.
Congratulations, you did a great great job !
* Adaptation on the scope: no problem at all, everything went without any problem
* 1st use on my scope: I can not understand why I did not buy one, 1 or 2 years
earlier .... : Fantastic feeling, much more than any other focuser I have tried, period.
I now have the best, and get the touch as advertised! I do not use my CN212
focus knob anymore. No slippery problems with all my CCD stuff plugged into.
No ghost images at all during CCD work. I join the first
Saturn picture
taken with it. Not my best one, but it is the first one!
So my conclusion is: I now have joined the legions of fully satisfied
customers."
Jean-Pierre Prost, France
"I wanted you to know I received the focuser today and got it mounted on my TV85.
It is a beautiful piece of equipment you have made! The fine focus is just the thing
for Saturn, and the brake allows me to completely eliminate drift in position of the
drawtube and still have a light focus touch. I did reverse the knobs already to the left
handed position so that the fine knob is at the top of my case and that the scope is not
resting on it.
I do find I can just reach focus with a 22 Panoptic with the drawtube within a fraction
of a mm of fully extended (my AP diagonal is a little longer path length than my TV, so
I'm using that one). Since I can focus with every eyepiece I have, it seems like I will
not need the riser. I'll of course let you know if I do decide I need the 0.65"
spacer after all.
Anyway, the focuser works great, installation went perfect (having already spent an hour
patiently digging the epoxy out of the factory set screw), and no change in collimation
or anything like that."
Dave McGough, San Diego, CA
“I've had one of your focusers on my 20 inch Obsession for almost six years now and
also have your micro reduction units on three Astro-Physics focusers and am totally pleased
with all of them.
If you would ever make the replacement reduction units for the original TMB CNC German 4
inch and 3 inch focusers I would buy them too, in a heartbeat.”
Harvey Gryttenholm
hgrytten{@}gmail.com
"I recently purchased your Feather Touch focuser for my new TAK TOA-130 through
Highpoint Scientific. Let me tell you this has definitely improved the TOA-130's
performance! I already have one on my NS11GPS for three years now so I am quite familiar
with its capabilities. The TOA-130’s focusing though good wasn’t quite good
enough when skies were not so calm and I could not get a clear image and for the investment
I made into the TOA-130 I decided it needed your focuser. Replacing it was easy and quick.
The supplied tools helped in the replacement process. The Feather Touch focuser even looks
cool on the TOA-130! So I am recommending it to other TAK owners. Your product definitely
improves my visual viewing through my TAK. "
Mike Heuler, New Jersey
“Y'all definitely have the focuser thing figured out! It's beautiful! Just a
note of thanks for the wonderful job Starlight Instruments did on my focuser. I had many
observers comment on the buttery smooth action of this fine focuser, especially when critical
focus was needed on tight double stars. Keep up the great work!”
Paul Webb
“The focusser arrived safely about a week ago. I have just returned from the Equinox
Star Party the biggest such event in the UK. The clear skies gave me a real chance to use my
NP101 with its new Starlight Focusser. The NP101 is in my view about the best 4" apo there
is for visual work. With the Starlight focusser attached the best simply got better. I am very
pleased with the upgrade which has outstripped all my expectations. Engineering of Startlight
Instruments quality is rare these days and caused quite a stir as folk looked over my upgraded
NP101. Under the dark skies of North Norfolk the scope performed exceptionally with the focusser
really improving the performance of the scope. Please pass on my best wishes to all at Starlight
Instruments. Your products are quite simply stunning.”
John Orr, UK
"I have owned 4 telescopes with Starlight Instruments Feather Touch focusers and find them to
be of exceptional quality and value. Purchased my first Feather Touch focuser for a
Celestron CGE 1400 SCT in 2003. Through the C14 OTA had very little image shift and
was easy to turn I found I needed something better for planetary imaging when using a web
camera. The Feather Touch worked perfectly allowing me to make very fine focus adjustments
without the planet moving in off the CCD sensor.
When I started looking for a short focal length 80mm telescope for wide field
astrophotography and as a grab and go scope, one of the main reasons I decided on the
Stellarvue SV80S because it had a Feather Touch focuser. After using the one on my CGE
1400 I just could not see buying a high end scope without one. I have had numerous comments
on how well the focuser works on the SV80S.
When I replaced the CGE 1400 with a Meade LX200GPS 12” I upgraded the focus knob with
a Feather Touch Microfocuser. This made focusing much easier and precise but image
shift was still a problem. The Meade LX200GPS has a motorized Microfocuser as standard
but I kept wanting to just turn a knob instead of pressing a button so I replaced it with a
Feather Touch. That made life much more enjoyable for visual viewing and I could
replace the star diagonal with the Meade Microfocuser and have both while doing imaging.
I came upon the good fortune of obtaining an Astro-Physics 900GTO mount so I sold the
Meade LX200GPS 12” and purchased a Meade LX200R 12” OTA. I kept the Feather
Touch focuser and placed it on the LX200R.
The Feather Touch focusers I have owned and have used on other scopes, the astronomy club
I am a member of purchased one for their CGE 1400 and my brother has one for his 8 inch
Newtonian, have always worked flawlessly and hold the Televue Nagler 31mm without even
knowing it is a very heavy eyepiece.
I consider the focuser the second most important part of any telescope and Feather Touch
focusers are best I have ever used.
Starlight Instruments also has great support. One of the Feather Touch focusers I
purchased arrived not working correctly, the movement was hard and uneven. I was
told the focuser was most likely dropped in shipment. A replacement was shipped to
me from them directly from Starlight Instruments. It was very nice to deal with the
company who makes the product and can correct any problems right away. Everyone
has been a pleasure to deal with and I greatly appreciate all their help."
William Rison
Visit William's Website
"Telescope makers would be wise to install Feather Touch focusers as stock
equipment on every telescope they make. If they all did so, the world would be ridded
of focuser-related complaints! I won't be satisfied until all of my telescopes
say "Feather Touch" on them. Thanks for making such a well designed and beautifully
executed product."
Daniel Perry
Visit Daniel's Website
"I recently purchased one of your focusers to replace the stock model on my
12.5 " Obsession. I just wanted to let you know what a pleasure it is to use the
Starlight focuser. The mechanics and finish are superior, and the smooth motion
makes observing a lot more comfortable and rewarding. Thanks very much.
Will Hopkins, McLean, VA
"I would like to say that if all companies in the world paid as much attention to the
quality of their product, and to customer satisfaction as Starlight Instruments do, we
would have nothing to complain about, ever again.
Already being a convert, using a Crayford Feather Touch for the past few years, I have
today received the TRF102 Micro Focuser for my FS128. What can I say, it is a work of
engineering beauty, it is a shame to fit it to a scope, every home should have one on
display, to prove to any doubter that perfection in a product is possible.
Not only is the focuser excellent, the instructions for fitting it are clear, well written
and presented, and your customer service is a lesson to anyone. I am looking forward to
enjoying the many years of use this fine addition to my telescope will give me.
I would have no hesitation recommending your product to the most discerning of astronomer."
Martyn Pitt, UK
“Starlight, Thank you for this fantastic focuser. I never dreamed a focuser could
add so much to the observing experience. I can finally focus my eyepieces without even the
slightest movement of my scope thanks to the ultra smooth performance of the fine focus knob.
I love it!"
George N. La Grange, IL
“I have just installed your zero backlash Feather Touch Focuser TM on my Meade 16-inch
telescope. This focuser is the finest I have ever used! It is built with the precision of a
Swiss watch. Your superb workmanship has produced a focuser in a class by itself. I attached
a dial micrometer to measure the focus differential required for demanding CCD tri-color
imaging and cannot get over the smooth performance of this incredible instrument.
My Pictor1616XT and a large filter wheel have a combined weight of over 7 pounds. Even
bearing this heavy load, the focuser moves with micrometer precision. Thanks, Starlight
Instruments, for this wonderful contribution to my CCD focusing!"
Jack Newton
"I have one of your focusers on a 25” scope and it is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!
Thank you for making the best focuser in the universe."
Peter Read, Victoria, Australia
SDM Telescopes
"The fit and finish of your work is extraordinary. The focuser works perfectly, up to
your usual standards. Thank you so much."
John, Northville, Michigan, USA
"I like to express that the Starlight support is just great. Thank you again for such
wonderful support, this is unfortunately rare in Europe nowadays."
Gradimir Petrovic, Switzerland