Sesto Senso 2 review
By Henri-Julien Chartrand
April 4, 2021

I will be brief. After more than a year of use and handling both a DSLR and a CMOS camera (QHY163C), the Sesto Senso 2 is still fun to use. Reliable, precise and consistant night after night, it becomes the extension of your eyes as you reach for the best focus for your object to image, how ever you want to measure it. Worked no problem in -15C conditions. I confirm with other users s that Sharpcap recognize the unit with the ASCOM Driver. Load capacity, WIFI capability and no external bracket needed for a simple and yet sturdy installation did it for me. I ordered yesterday a second unit for my larger refractor. Cant wait to use it again.
Respectfully,
Henri-Julien Chartrand
73,39,11 W
45,30, 29 N

Sesto Senso 2 review
By Henri-Julien Chartrand
April 4, 2021

I will be brief. After more than a year of use and handling both a DSLR and a CMOS camera (QHY163C), the Sesto Senso 2 is still fun to use. Reliable, precise and consistant night after night, it becomes the extension of your eyes as you reach for the best focus for your object to image, how ever you want to measure it. Worked no problem in -15C conditions. I confirm with other users s that Sharpcap recognize the unit with the ASCOM Driver. Load capacity, WIFI capability and no external bracket needed for a simple and yet sturdy installation did it for me. I ordered yesterday a second unit for my larger refractor. Cant wait to use it again.
Respectfully,
Henri-Julien Chartrand
73,39,11 W
45,30, 29 N

Il prodotto è semplicemente uno spettacolo!!
Già aprendo la scatola si percepisce subito che fra le mani abbiamo un oggetto ben fatto, curato nei dettagli, bello a vedersi.
L'installazione è semplice, le istruzioni ben dettagliate. Se poi prima si è guardato il video che si può trovare direttamente sul sito di Primaluce il tutto è ancora più semplice.
Altrettanto semplice l'installazione dei driver (sia Ascom, che di sistema) così come il software "Focus Manager". Disarmante l'immediatezza e la semplicità del software di gestione, calibrazione rapida e precisa. Spettacolare la possibilità di salvare proprie posizioni in modo da andare subito a fuoco nelle diverse situazioni in cui si fotografa. Molto interessanti e ben studiate le varie velocità che si possono sia impostare a proprio piacimento sia utilizzare tramite i "preset" che si trovano nelle impostazioni avanzate e che variano a seconda del fatto che il fuocheggiatore sia più o meno montato con camere e accessori pesanti.
L'interfaccia wi-fi è anch'essa semplice ed immediata nel suo utilizzo. Ho provato l'hand control sia su sistema operativo Android sia iOs. Entrambi funzionano egregiamente.
Ho potuto testare l'utilizzo del Sesto Senso 2 anche con altri software qali NINA e SharpCap 3.2; entrambi si sono interfacciati tramite Ascom e il tutto ha funzionato senza fare una piega.
Tornassi indietro lo acquiesteri "prima" perché davvero mi domando come abbia fatto sino ad oggi senza questo capolavoro di tecnica e ingegneria.

Un GRAZIE a tutto lo staff anche per la gentilezza e professionalità.

Dario Gozzini

With Sesto Senso my astrophotographs have consistently and significantly better focus than I could achieve manually. I used to keep tweaking the focus alot but now with Sesto Senso I just set, lock, and forget about it for a good while. Star Images (FWHM) are frequently only about 2” or less when using narrowband filters on an image scale of about 1” per pixel. I defocus slightly to both directions until I get about equally out of focus star images and then set the focus to halfways.

I have been looking for a robotic focuser that will fit on my C9.25 Edge SCT with the giant Celestron F/7 reducer installed but had been unsuccessful until this week. I purchased a Primalucelab Sesto Senso 2 focuser for my Esprit 100 refractor. Turns out that it fits on my 9.25 Edge Featherlight Focuser with about 1/4 in clearance. The Sesto Senso 2 focuser is a mechanical marvel, fits very rigidly and operates very smoothly. This is now dedicated to the C9.25 Edge and intend to purchase a second one for the Esprit 100 refractor.

One word of caution. Primalucelab suggest you read the complete instruction manual before starting the installation. I instead just serially followed the mechanical installation instructions, then software load instruction but when I got to the calibration steps for a SCT, the manual says " rotate the focuser clockwise to the stop, then install the robotic focuser". After removing and reinstalling the unit, everything works perfectly.

Sesto Senso 2 review
By Henri-Julien Chartrand
February 14, 2020

When they say highly accurate, compact, lightweight, vibration free, easy to install and to use, they mean it.
I strongly suggest that you immediately download the instruction manual before you do anything. No need to print the 24 pages. Read it, study it. It will make the installation more enjoyable.
Next, download all drivers and software packages for the Sesto Senso 2. The link is at the bottom of page 3 of the manual.
Everything you need to install the unit on your telescope is included in the box. Just a quick note on that:
1) The USB-C to USB cable is a great idea, no fiddling there;
2) The supplied Allen keys are the minimum you can work with. If you have a set with larger or T handles, the easier it will be for you;
3) I suggest that you put in all the grub screws before you start your installation. It is much easier to do when you can hold and work with the unit in your hands before it is attached to the telescope (bushing already installed + the required bushing for your particular micro focuser’s shaft + the self-centred clamp);
Follow the instructions starting on pages 4 and 5. At the earliest stage, putting in the grub screws in advance will facilitate the installation. Make sure they don’t protrude inside the bushings and the Self-Centered Clamp. This is particularly important when it will be time to slide the outer ring of the Sesto Senso 2 to the collar of your focuser.
At that point, start with the two opposing grub screws to help centering it on the bushing that goes on the shaft of the micrometric knob. Make sure they are tight and evenly secured in order to prevent slippage. Same goes for the grub screws on the bushing already installed on the unit. For the self-centering clamp, start with the two opposing grub screws and finish with the third and last one. Gently at first, until you feel resistance. Even the pressure for all three. Check the smoothness of the unit by hand. (Don’t worry if your focuser has some backlash. The software will take care of it). Following these steps, I was able to install the unit first time out. It took me about ten minutes. Great start. Depending on the type of telescope you have, you might have to rebalance. Mine is a 6-inch, reflector astrograph. Despite the Sesto Senso 2 light weight, I had to rebalance my set-up since the focuser is offset on the telescope. So, do this now.
If downloading was done at first and you got confirmation that everything is OK, you are good to go. Make sure you have the right power source. From that point on, follow the instructions in the manual starting at page 6 and enjoy the simplicity of how the unit operates. One word of caution for the initial calibration: allow ample room at the minimum and maximum travelling distance. Depending on the load on the unit and the quality of your focuser, there might be some slippage. Keep some mm to spare just in case. Calibration is a breeze.
Bottom line for me: this unit will show the mechanical shortcomings of your focuser. This is a high-precision instrument. It will take some practising during the day to figure out how sensitive this unit can be in order to reach focus. Game changer for me. No more going back and forth between the computer or the telescope. (WIFI and a tablet will solve this.)
In the software, you can choose between three (3) different profiles or pre-sets of settings (speed and toque of the motor). Another great idea.
Different options to move the focuser make the operation simple and effective.
You can also choose the orientation of the unit in respect to the cables and connections you will use. Another great advantage over the other computerized focusers in the market using a backplate.
Everything works flawlessly. It connects, opens and closes with precision. The software is stable and intuitive to use. I encourage you to go thru every step mentioned in the user’s manual.
Noise? Not even an issue.
Well designed. Beautifully put together. More important: it works as advertised.
You get what you pay for.
I have not tried it with WIFI or with any of the other available imaging software yet (SGP, APT, Sharpcap, et al.). More at a later date. I did not have a chance to try it under the stars. Right now, it is -22 C in Montreal. So, forgive me.
Focusing is one major factor in collecting great data, hence great astrophotos. This piece of equipment will not only help you reaching your goal but also make this hobby more enjoyable.
Respectfully,
Henri-Julien Chartrand
73,39,11 W
45,30, 29 N