I had NEVER heard of this focuser! Let's put it to the test 😇 Astroasis Oasis Focuser
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
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Focuser: ja.aliexpress....
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Focuser via various dealers (no OPT, Agena, or HPS yet :-( ):
FLO:
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Cuiv, thanks for being the A-#1 consumer reporter for astrophotographers 👍🏻
Happy to be able to feature the more unknown brands and makers!
100%, your the last word in Astro gear.
I’m amazed the simplicity of installation and use of this focuser. Thanks for sharing 👍
I think it's simple for some scopes and more complex for others (like the Askar V!), The number of parts available for mounting was a bit overwhelming
Another great review and explanation, Cuiv! Thanks from Brazil!
The end result of the oasis is fantastic, and I certainly appreciate your enthusiasm, but the assembly process seemed very elaborate, and requiring your expertise to make it happen. Seeing you put this onto a supported telescope, might help confidence.
I agree - I had to think about it quite a bit before I could get it to mount. I don't have one of the supported scopes though!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek - understood
Yes it's a little complex for installation on some telescopes. For some telescopes we only need a clamp to install Oasis focuser. But for some we need to use "universal adapter". We have made a video which demonstrates how to install with the "universal adapter", but it's only the Chinese version now. We will translate it into English. The "universal addapter" is the one that Cuiv used for Askar V telescope.
Also we provide detailed document for the installation.
Thanks.
Oh man that is a sweet little focuser! It looks very high quality and well built. I went to their website and I see that they make an adapter for SCTs!!! The even added the manual focus capability for SCTs too! Thanks for the review Cuiv! Clear Skies!
Thanks Dave! And yes to SCTs especially with people switching between Hyper star and secondary, being able to have a clutch is so much more convenient
OMG WHAT?! I’m sold!!!
I had to rotate my EAF about 200K steps to go from focus at f/10 to f/2. So yes, this is incredible.
I followed the sheep and bought a ZWO EAF for my 120 mm refractor. I will be selling it as its a real pain having to use the ZWO manual focuser (extra cost as well! ). This looks like much a better opition , more accurate. Also do not like being locked into the ZWO framework. NINA fixes that issue, Brilliant clear review as always!
I think it's great you're testing other products! Please do more.
Thank you, and will do!
I like the idea of a motorized focuser where there is also the ability to use the focuser manually.
Great Video, quick question, does the Temp Compensation work on this, as I have one and it does not work in NINA, it’s greyed out..?
The clutch is brilliant and I hope other focusers get it soon.
Hello Cuiv, I discovered this focuser which looks great (I'm used to Pegasus focusers for my refractors and I'm looking for a new focuser for a "small" TS85)... Do you think I could uninstall this focuser after the night. I'm afraid of breaking it (It sticks out on the side, you don't want something to press on it)...
There's a single clamp to unfasten to remove the focuser, so I think it's doable!
Looks like a nice product, the only other focuser system i've ever known to use a clutch is Moonlite, and they also carry quite a big price tag!
My only complaint with things like this is that i wish manufacturers would stop wasting money on things like bluetooth!
Good point on Bluetooth! A super barebones version at a low price would be nice
Excellent video as always many thanks
Nice review Cuiv looks like it works very well ,
Yep, I just wish it were cheaper!
I really like your videos, especially since your break! Have you ever used a Esatto focuser? I use one on my Truss-Newton. Its really good and has no backlash
Ooh I had a look, seems it doesn't have a base plate for 150 but I'm sure they could make one, it looks very solid!
Hi Cuiv. The design looks great but I’m wondering how the focus position stored in NINA is affected by using the clutch. Does it always know the correct step/position if the clutch has been disengaged and the focuser moved manually while it has no power?
Hi Richard, the focuser software doesn't know if the focuser is engaged or disengaged. if the clutch has been disengaged and the focuser moved manually, the focuser position is not changed.
Nope, it would have no idea! Typically since I only use the focuser near the best focus position it doesn't really matter to me :-)
Another awesome video Cuiv!
Thank you Christian!
That had been for a long time in China, pretty popular!
Interesting! I really had no idea it existed!
Interesting product I like the clutch system as that's always been a flaw with a lot of these, I use the Pegasus focus cube but again it has no clutch. It does seem a bit pricey compared with what else is out there but it certainly ticks a lot of boxes to especially with how it performed in the test & I for one won't be forced into one system either as I like more choice.
Great video as always clear skies.
Exactly - it's a nice product but I wish it were cheaper!
Very nice video!!! That's a great focuser to try!!!
Thank you Gary!
The focus was out of this world 👏🏻👏🏻 the technologies are surely making Astrophotography a piece of cake.
I have a question if you don't mind, I've bought an Asiair Pro and I already have a Talentcell 3000mah 12V/3A max DC output, and I want your opinion if this powerbank is enough to power thr AA pro
(AA pro will only be connected to Asi224MC camera, nothing more)
Thank you so much in advance
Thank you so much Cuiv for this video
It will definitely power your camera, asiair and any other equipment, but the capacity (3000mah) will tell you how long for. as an example if you had a 3 amp continuous draw from your equipment this power bank could power it for 1 hour, although in reality you probably wouldn't want to use much more than around 80% capacity of the battery.
I would say that a 3000mAh battery pack would be a little small to run an imaging rig for any length of time. I usually use a 100Ah battery (100,000mAh) which is good for around 2 nights for the Mount, Camera, Focuser, Dew Bands and a 100W laptop supply.
Ryan hit the nail on the head here!
Hey Cuiv, that focuser looks very good from initial tests. It seems they included hardware to attach to a variety of OTAs. Love they have the clutch available. I would consider them from your review. Thanks.
Yep, it looks nice, I just wish it was a bit cheaper
Glad to know a focuser with clutch buildin. I haven't use such focuser yet. Just curious to know if it's needed to reset the zero position every time the clutch is engaged in order not to hit the OTA focuser limit accidently? Thanks.
Yes if you use the focus knob manually the electronic focuser has no way of knowing where it is located! That said ou would typically only be using the area near the point of best focus
Thanks for your reply. :)
So, how long before astrograph telescopes come with built-in autofocuser motors? Built right into the focuser mechanism and can be switched from manual to auto and vice versa. I think that day is coming.
I remember an older William Optics model having that - I think the issue would be with electronics failing before the optics! So it would have to be user replaceable, but yes I hope that day comes!
Do you expect a HEQ5 could handle and Askar V with kit?
Great Video Cuiv. That's a nice alternative to the EAF. Less backlash for sure.
Would reducing the step size (sample resolution) on the auto focus routine result in an even lower final figure? (between 2 steps) .At what point does it become negligible (trade off between time it takes to auto focus vs final accuracy)
It's a tough balancing act, finding the right step size - and it can depend on seeing, etc...
Some focusers have an issue with keeping the racking knob shaft aligned with the motor shaft. With the ZWO EAF, they come with a series of flex couplers to allow for shaft misalignments. Now with two gears meshing, I wondering if they will have tight and loose spots as they move about in full rotations. Too loose and you might have backlash, too tight and possibly a stall.
Hi John, this is good question. The gear solution that Oasis focuser used are designed to have axis offset. This perfectly avoids the shaft-alignment issue while still have good stiffness, and the stiffness is very important for getting accurate focusing result. Also all the clamps, adapters and the main body are designed and calculated carefully to guarantee the gears can mesh smoothly and perfectly to minimize the backlash, no matter on which telescopes the focuser is installed.
@@astroasis2020 Sounds good. I suppose the last twist before tightening the clamp will set the tension.
I seem to remember this exact focuser some number of years ago (minus the bluetooth capability) but under a different name.
Maybe Optec? Looks similar but not quite the same
We started developing Oasis Focuser on July, 2020, and started selling Oasis focser on March 2022 in China. Before selling we didn't public any info of the focuser so it looks the focuser you mentioned is a different focuser :)
It's a focuser that I have eyes on for a very long time by now, but it's just too expensive for me to justify it, it also needs 12V which is somewhat not as fun as the 5V EAF.
The mechanism is very cool though.
Yep agreed
Hello, are you sure about the price? When I checked, I was shown a price of 22.63 euros. Would the focuser also fit a Skywatscher reflecting telescope or is it only for APO'S. Thanks for the great video.
That price is just for a clamp. When you choose one of the other images it will show you the actual price of the focusser.
@@HubertHuijbregts Thanks, I didn't see it
It can fit Newtonian telescopes or APOs, Celestron SCTs etc. It can already be installed on most telescopes popular in China. But for some telescopes we may still need to do measurements to determine how to install Oasis focuser on them. Thanks.
I'm just enjoying what appears to be Venus stealing your focus as you are talking about this focuser.
Arg that darn Venus hahaha
Great video Cuiv as always! How heavy is the Oasis compared with the ZWO EAF?
I'll need to detach both and weigh them, but they felt similar
@@CuivTheLazyGeek Nahh don’t go to that trouble I was just looking for a rough estimate…I haven’t decided whether or not to attach an EAF to my AT72EDII…maybe an upgrade I will consider next year after I get more DSO experience!
The main assembly (not including clamp or adapters) is about 170g. Thanks!
Is there an option to change the focuser path in the software? When you changed steps to 200000, you increased the path of the focuser i supose? Or is there another way how focuser knows min and max position?
You can configure that in software - set min, max and which position you're on.
The software driver provides ability to allow users set or sync the current position, reserve moving direction, and set zero or max positions.
Maybe i need to rephrase the question. Normally when you give the autofocuser path distance, lets say 80 mm in this case, program should calculate for itself how many steps it should do to achieve the wanted path? 80000 steps / 80 mm = 1step/nm. If changing that to 200000 steps / 80mm = 2,5 steps/nm. I supose focuser itself has its gear ratio and to me is not clear how number of steps can change it to get faster movement without changing the focuser path. Only way to do that is change the microstepping of the motor itself. I would appreciate if someone could clarify it because im getting something wrong here probably.
@@leviner18 Hi friend, the step/mm (or mm/step) ratio is fixed when Oasis focuser is installed on a certain telescope focuser. The focuser and its driver doesn't know this ratio and the distance of the telescope focuser. It only moves steps on demand. If an electronic focuser has an encoder then it may be able to do distance/step calculation but Oasis focuser doesn't have an encoder.
@@astroasis2020 thank you for your reply. I was assuming correctly then and Cuiv will break his focuser or autofocuser if enters a wrong value. This is specially dangerous when you have a remote telescope as i do. Although you have a very nice engineered product! 👍
@Cuiv - dont break your stuff 😁
Nice focuser! I like the form factor as it's much smaller than any box focuser, and probably lighter too. Too bad it needs 12V to operate. What's up with that ancient USB type B connector? I don't understand why companies still implement this old version. Type C would have been so much better...
Yes it's pretty nice! I'm still on the fence about USB-C for astro accessories. With good cable management it makes sense, but with poor cable management I'm worried about the port breaking, the cables coming loose during the night, etc...
@@CuivTheLazyGeek Yeah, the key word is cable management. Without it you could get a snag and disconnect any type of USB, regardless of breakage. I guess the reason I'm not buying this focuser is the wiring complexity of 12V plus USB-B. A USB-C would have been a breeze, just like modern guide cameras... It supports 12V too...
Looks nice, although pricey. Isn't it is the same (or similar) focuser advertised by OPT some time ago?
You're right, it looks similar! Although not quite the same (and cheaper)
This looks good. Thanks for providing reviews of alternative suppliers - market domination by a single supplier is never a good thing. The link provided took me to an Aliexpress page for an adapter only. I clicked on the Astroasis store and found the full set-up for $369US plus shipping. This will be on my radar for a future purchase.
Thanks!
Hopefully it will prompt ZWO to improve the EAF and add a clutch at least
Would be nice! Although they've kind of got the market cornered
This seems quite pricey, especially for an aliexpress product. $520 Australian. The ZWO is $399 AU. I'd like to find a cheap focuser in the $250AU range, but i don't like my chances.
This focuser will cost about $350. We could ask ourselves question “do I need to get this or Optec Third Lynx for 525?”. In my opinion, it is no brainer.
Real test will not be “under stars”, but will be the time to see how it works after 1-3 years.
I wish they would make a cheaper, more barebones verions...
Regarding the test I very much agree with you Ana. We started selling Oasis Focuser in March 2022 in China and now it has been used/tested by China users more than one year. During the past year we designed many adapters to fit as more telescopes as possible. It worked not only in traveling or backyard, but also in remote observatation stations due to its stability and accurate focus result. Some of them are installed in a remote observation station in north China where the temperature may be lower than -20°C in winters.
Thank you!
@@astroasis2020 Nice! Cornerstone of success of any company is reliability and consistency of their products. I often here my IOptron, ZWO, Antila, etc are great. Well on every 2-3 great, there are 1 not great; and these greats turn in faulty products in 2-3 years. These are problems.
Could it be done? Absolutely! Celestron Edge series and SkyWatcher Esprit series telescopes are examples.
@@anata5127 Hi Ana, understood. That's why we sell the product in China first but not sell it out of China for a long time. Product quality issues will lead to significant troubles and waste much time if it needs to be repaired cross countries. We did many tests (driving ability test, -30°C low temperature and 50°C high temperature test etc in laboratory) before selling it in China. Even that we still decided we should not start selling it out of China until it has been fully tested by China users because we won't want to introduce troubles to our users. For Chinese users the situation is quite better because we can response to our users immediately. In fact many Chinese users send their telescopes (including Takahashi Focuser, Feather Touch focuser, RedCat 51 APO etc, C11HD, C14HD, SkyRover 72ED etc) to us to help develop the adapters. Many thanks to all of them!
Clutch is definitely the right word, crutch is definitely not! In traditional English it would be like a walking stick or support however in America english it is interchangeable with crotch 😀 (I am fully aware that my french and Japanese ability is none existent)
For a Redcat 51 it appears to be 2x the cost of the EAF.
Yep for the Redcat, and EAF with proper mounting sounds simply better and cheaper. I don't like how the Oasis sits under the Redcat, putting the weight further from the RA axis, increasing the moment of force. Not good for small mounts like the AZ-GTi in EQ mode
Definitely looks like a superior design to the ZWO… Of course you won’t be able to use it with the ASIAIR because ZWO is ridiculous and doesn’t allow for other brands to be used.
One of the many reasons I’m switching to the Eagle
Oh wow, EAGLE 5? I hope it's going to work great!
Nice focusser Cuiv but expensive !!!
Yep no cheap
Same idea as the feathertouch
Very expensive. Like the manual clutch, but ouch.
Yes... I remember when all decent ASCOM focusers were this price or more. And then the EAF and the Sesto Senso came by :-)
That's so sexy! If only it would work with our ZWO ecosystem... That Cluch is genius ñ
Right?? I'm wondering if there is a way to make the ASAIR believe it's an EAF :p
If company want to beat ZWO EAF, they should go cheaper. This focusser cost almost 200 dollar more than the EAF.
Yeah I agree - I wish this were cheaper. It has some distinct advantages (can carry heavier imaging trains, clutch), but I wish it were more like $250 to be honest...
This 'hobby' is getting too expensive... I should sell everything I have and go back to my 60mm Sears refractor I got when I was 12 years old, which I still have. The feeling I got when I first pointed it at the night sky has never really been the same ever since...
Yes I completely understand the feeling
Anodized gray aluminum isn't as astro-cool as anodized red aluminum.
Great video, but is a clutch and not a crutch….😂
Sorry :D
That looks like a clone/copy of the Optec focus motors.
I'm all for clones/copies as long as they don't infringe patents yet bring competition!
EAF not good enough 🤣🤣😂.
Hehehe
Lol the cheapest one is £300.
I wonder how much it will be in the US - EU and UK always gets the (focuser) shaft on prices
Thanks for sharing Cuiv! In case your viewers are interested, an alternative focuser with similar design is the Radian Autofocuer. It has the same clutch sysyem and does not require any brackets so it can be mounted on any feather touch style focuser system, plus has a build in temp sensor. I currently use them on my Tak 150b and Radian scope plus have used them on Askar scopes too and work flawlessly. The only downside is to my knowledge they do not offer adapters to mount to a SCT and it is up to $100 more in price compared to the Oasis focuser (depending on the Oasis kit). I do like how the Oasis focuser has SCT and Red cat adapters so it is very versatile, I might have to get one and test it on my Edge11 as the Celestron Autofocuers are crap and tired of replacing them. Thanks again for sharing this with others!
optcorp.com/products/radian-raptor-electronic-focuser-upgrade
I like the idea of a motorized focuser where there is also the ability to use the focuser manually.
Yep it's a great feature - I just wish the focuser was a bit cheaper...