♦ The 60mm Multi-Use Guide Scope features a precision helical focuser that makes it easy to focus your guide stars quickly and precisely. The focuser, made of machined, anodized aluminum, is the "non-rotating" variety, meaning the guide camera does not rotate when focus is adjusted, but rather moves in or out in fixed orientation, which is important for hassle-free focusing. You don't want stars rotating in the field of view when you're trying to focus! Drawtube travel of the helical focusing mechanism is 10mm and the motion is extremely smooth and fine.
♦ The built-in extension tube can add up to 35mm of additional length, to allow focus to be achieved with most autoguiders available on the market as well as 1.25" eyepieces for use of the 60mm Multi-Use Guide Scope as a visual finder scope. Just loosen the extension tube locking thumbscrew, slide the extension tube out to the desired length, then re-tighten the thumbscrew. When tightened down, you should not notice any flexure in the extension tube; it is remarkably rigid. The top of the extension tube features an engraved millimeter scale to aid in returning to the exact extension tube length needed for critical focus, should you need to switch between eyepieces and autoguider.
♦ Make sure your autoguider is powered on and connected to your laptop computer, and that the software you will use for autoguiding is up and running. Also, make sure the focus lock thumbscrew is not tightened down. With the imaging software set to take continuous exposures, rotate the knurled helical focus ring clockwise or counterclockwise while you watch the star images themselves or the reference numbers from your software on your laptop screen. If you can't see any stars, you likely need to move the extension tube in or out slowly until you see some, then continue with the fine focusing using the helical focuser. When the stars become reasonably sharp, or you've reached the lowest FWHM, you're done!
♦ Once focus is achieved, the focus lock thumbscrew can be lightly tightened to ensure the drawtube remains set at that position,although this may not even be necessary.There's little need to tighten this thumbscrew firmly since most guide cameras are relatively lightweight, and doing so could put sideways pressure on the drawtube that might knock your carefully set focus off a bit.
♦ For best results we recommend focusing the guide camera at the beginning of your imaging session, following the focusing procedures in the imaging software you use for astrophotography, such as MaxIm DL, PHD Guiding, or Images Plus.
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Caring for the 60mm Multi-Use Guide Scope :
1. To keep dust from getting inside the guide scope and from accumulating on the objective lens, keep the front and rear caps installed when the guide scope is not in use. We recommend storing the guide scope in a padded accessory case.
2. Cleaning the Lens: Although it shouldn't need cleaning very often, you can clean the front lens of theguide scope with any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens cleaning fluid designed for multi-coated optics. Never use regular glass cleaner or cleaning fluid designed for eyeglasses. Before cleaning with fluid and tissue, eject any loose particles from the lens with a blower bulb, compressed air, or a soft brush such as a LensPen. Then apply some cleaning fluid to a lens tissue, never directly on the optics. Wipe the lens gently in a circular motion, then remove any excess fluid with a fresh lens tissue. Oily fingerprints and smudges can be removed using this method. Use caution, as rubbing too hard may scratch the lens. Never re-use the same tissue.
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