Made in USA Since 2009
Farpoint Bahtinov Focus Masks
The original. The standard. Built by the manufacturer.
Perfect telescope focus for astrophotography in under 90 seconds. Every mask is precision laser-cut in our facility from virtually indestructible ABS plastic — designed to last a lifetime in the field.
17+Years Manufacturing
100K+Masks Sold
<90sTo Perfect Focus
2.5"–18"Telescope Sizes
Choose Your Mask Type
Three designs for every telescope and every skill level. All made from indestructible ABS plastic in our facility.
Adjustable Bahtinov Masks
Universal-fit with adjustable grommets and pegs. One mask covers a range of telescope sizes. Perfect if you own multiple scopes.
2.5" to 18" OTAs • From $23
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Telescope-Specific Masks
Precision-sized for your exact telescope model. No adjustment needed — snap on and focus. Celestron, Meade, Sky-Watcher, ASA, RASA.
6" to 14" SCTs • From $21
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Tri-Bahtinov Masks
Advanced 3-panel design checks focus and collimation simultaneously. The ultimate tool for demanding astrophotographers. Free analysis software included.
Adjustable & Scope-Specific • From $29
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Why We Build with ABS Plastic — And Why It Matters
Not all focus masks are created equal. The material directly affects durability, safety around your optics, and longevity in the field.
✗ Acrylic (Plexiglass)
Looks clean but cracks on first impact. Drop it at a star party, flex it during attachment, bump your mount — it fractures. The thin slit patterns make it especially fragile. Many budget brands use acrylic because it's cheap to cut. A cracked mask is a useless mask.
✗ Aluminum
Permanently bends. Low elasticity means one drop, one telescope case sliding onto it in the car, and it's deformed forever. ABS flexes and returns to shape — aluminum doesn't.
Scratches your telescope. Aluminum is harder than powder coat finishes and optical glass. Every time you place a metal mask near your corrector plate or OTA, you risk damage. ABS poses zero scratch risk.
✓ ABS Plastic (Farpoint's Choice)
The same material used in automotive components, protective equipment, and heavy-duty cases. Chosen specifically because it's virtually indestructible.
- ✓ Won't crack like acrylic — survives drops, flexing, and years of field use
- ✓ Won't permanently bend like aluminum — flexes and returns to shape
- ✓ Zero scratch risk to optics, corrector plates, or powder coat finishes
- ✓ Handles temperature extremes and UV exposure without degradation
- ✓ Precision laser-cut with clean edges and exact slit geometry
Why do some manufacturers reject ABS? Because it costs more to laser-cut and finish. They chose cheaper materials to protect their margins. We made the opposite choice — the best material for the astronomer, not our bottom line.
Designed, Engineered & Manufactured In-House
Farpoint isn't a retailer putting a label on someone else's product. We are the manufacturer. Every step happens in our facility.
- ✓ Our lasers, our facility. We own the laser cutting equipment that produces every mask. No third-party contract manufacturers.
- ✓ Purpose-built hardware. We custom-machine attachment grommets, pegs, and mounting hardware — designed specifically for focus masks. No generic off-the-shelf thumbscrews.
- ✓ Quality control at every step. We cut, assemble, inspect, and ship every mask ourselves.
- ✓ Continuous improvement. Customer feedback goes straight into our next production run — not months later through a supply chain.
17 Years. Hundreds of Thousands of Masks.
The Results Speak.
Since 2009, Farpoint Bahtinov masks have been the standard that astrophotographers trust. We don't rely on manufactured comparison charts or marketing-driven test data. Our proof is in the field — in the images our customers produce night after night, year after year.
Some competitors publish elaborate 3D intensity plots claiming marginal advantages. But look carefully at their own comparison photos and you'll notice the "competitor" sample often shows tighter diffraction spikes and a darker background — the opposite of their marketing claims. What actually matters is that the mask survives years of field use, doesn't scratch your telescope, gives you clear diffraction spikes, and attaches securely. That's exactly what a Farpoint mask delivers.
How a Bahtinov Mask Works
An elegantly simple tool. The precisely angled slits create a diffraction spike pattern on a bright star — an X-shape with a central line through it.
The Bahtinov diffraction pattern — when the central spike is centered in the X, you're in focus.
1
Attach the Mask
Place it over the front of your telescope or dew shield and point at a bright star.
2
Start an Exposure
Take a 2–5 second exposure with your camera or use live view on your DSLR.
3
Adjust Your Focuser
Watch the central spike slide through the X-pattern as you adjust.
4
Centered = Focused
When the central spike is perfectly centered in the X — you're in focus. Remove and image.
The entire process takes less than 90 seconds — far faster and more reliable than trial-and-error, and far less expensive than a motorized focusing system. Works with DSLR, CMOS, and CCD cameras.
How to Choose the Right Size
Measure the outside diameter of your dew shield or OTA where the mask will sit.
With a dew shield: Measure the dew shield's outside diameter. Often the most convenient mounting location for astrophotography setups.
Without a dew shield: Measure the OTA's outside diameter. For adjustable masks, nothing should project from the tube end.
Distance doesn't matter: Bahtinov masks work equally well at the end of a long dew shield or directly on the OTA. The mask doesn't need to be perfectly centered — the slit angles ensure accurate results regardless.
Who Uses Farpoint Bahtinov Masks
Astrophotographers
From first-light beginners to seasoned imagers, precise focus is the foundation of every great image. A staple at dark sky sites across the country — from Bortle 1 skies in West Texas to mountaintop observatories in the Sierras.
Visual Observers
The same diffraction spike technique delivers the sharpest eyepiece views, especially on planets and double stars where focus precision matters most.
Star Party Regulars
Compact, lightweight, and indestructible. Farpoint masks travel to star parties in Arizona, the Appalachians, the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes dark sky preserves, and everywhere in between. They survive the trip every time.
Clubs & Education Programs
Many astronomy clubs and university programs standardize on Farpoint masks — durability in shared-use environments where equipment gets handled by many different users.
What Astronomers Are Saying
★★★★★
"Great customer service and product. The mask was easy to assemble, made in the US, well-made, and works like a charm. Perfectly focused stars!"
★★★★★
"I like that it's adjustable since I can also use it with my 6SE SCT. Shipping was fast and it was packaged well."
★★★★★
"Kicking myself for not getting one earlier. It's well made and does the job. Focusing is vastly easier with this thing, and without the fuss and expense of a motorized focus."
Find Your Mask
Every Farpoint Bahtinov mask is made in the USA from indestructible ABS plastic, backed by 17 years of manufacturing expertise.
