I'd been considering upgrading the scope's basic rack & pinion focuser for some time. After various bouts of tinkering, I'd managed to reduce the "Synta Slop" image-shift in the original focuser as far as I could without major surgery, and was fairly happy that it was the best that I was going to get, the other option being to shell out £100+ on an upgrade that I couldn't justify.
Then I chanced upon a bargain Crayford-style focuser at a keen price from Astronomica. After a few emails to check that the thing would fit with the minimum of hassle, I took the plunge and ordered one.
And guess what? It's a little gem. OK, it's unbranded, but I'm not one for paying for a label. Silky-smooth action with no discernible image-shift, plenty of travel, enough friction to lift the D50, and the Skywatcher Auto-Focuser fits it as well. The only tin-butchery required was the elongation of two of the mounting-holes in the scope OTA, but it was easy with the right kit.
I'll give it a thorough workout next time we get a clear night. Don't hold your breath, though - last night was the first (partially) clear one since we got back from Denmark, and the forecast says that it'll get worse before it gets better.
THE SMALL(ish) PRINT... (updated 23/07/2016)
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You cannot kid us Stef - you have pinched a picture off that Hadron website, haven't you! And slung in a few phone cables for good measure too. All very clever stuff.
You won't fool us outdoor bloggers, you know.
Damn. Rumbled again. There's not much gets past you, eh?