Can you still buy the legacy ZWO EAF new?

Not from ZWO: its store sells the Type-C EAF and the EAF Pro in its place, and First Light Optics lists the legacy EAF as unavailable. The Agena and ZWO links on this page go to the Type-C EAF.

How do I tell the legacy EAF from the Type-C EAF?

Look at the back. The legacy EAF has a red back plate with a USB 2.0 Type-B socket and a TEMP/HBX jack; the Type-C model has a black back plate with a Type-C socket.

Does the legacy EAF work with the ASIAIR?

Yes. ZWO's manual lists native ASIAIR support, and the ASIAIR only drives ZWO's own focuser. ZWO says the newer Type-C EAF does not work with the first-generation ASIAIR or the ASIAIR Pro.

What did you compare it with?

The GEMINI EAF, in my cheap against expensive video. The GEMINI came with a remote and a temperature sensor and does the same job for far less.

What have I not tested on the EAF (legacy)?

I have not recorded autofocus runs, backlash or temperature-compensation logs with the legacy EAF.

ZWO EAF (legacy) review: the USB 2.0 focuser on my FF110

Where does it rank on our leaderboard

Nine of the 46 accessories on my board, against price
Rank	Accessory	Stars for Your Buck	Recorded UK price
1	GEMINI EAF	100 out of 100	£42
2	Generic Dew Heater	93 out of 100	£9
3	SVBONY Guide Scope 30mm f/5	93 out of 100	£57
15	Flat Panel 300mm	78 out of 100	£54
27	ZWO 5x1.25″ Filter Wheel	65 out of 100	£198
38	Celestron 3x Barlow	45 out of 100	£145
40	ZWO EAF (legacy)	44 out of 100	£199
45	SKY ROVER 2x54 Binoculars	28 out of 100	£139
46	365 Solar Telescope Cover	5 out of 100	£73

Contents

01 Where does it rank on our leaderboard
02 Specifications and features
03 In use
04 From the video
05 Watch it in my videos
06 Should you buy it?
07 Questions and more about this review

In 30 seconds

Stars for Your Buck 44/100

Reviewed 18 Dec 2024 Updated 25 Sep 2026

Rank: #40 of 46 accessories
Verdict: With reservations

Written by Damon Scotting 3 min read

Buy it if

You find one second hand and run a first-generation ASIAIR or an ASIAIR Pro, which the Type-C EAF does not support.
You already own one and want to know what it can do before you upgrade.

Skip it if

You are buying new: ZWO now sells the Type-C EAF in its place.
You want a remote and a temperature probe included: ZWO sells both separately.
You want the lowest price: the GEMINI EAF does the same job for far less.

The legacy ZWO EAF is the red USB 2.0 motor focuser ZWO sold before the Type-C model: one cable for power and data, 5760 steps and a 5 kg load.

Specifications and features

Against the accessories I have reviewed

Compare with

ZWO EAF (legacy) reviewed #40 of 46	ZWO EAF #33 of 46	ToupTek EAF #20 of 46	Altair EAF #26 of 46
Recorded UK price	£199	£199	£170	£139
Stars for Your Buck	44/100	51/100	75/100	70/100
Model	EAF with a USB 2.0 Type-B socket, powered over USB	EAFN, the standard Type-C EAF	AAF	AAF-UNIV
Motor	35 mm stepper, 7.5 degree step angle, 1:120 reduction	Stepper, 7.5 degree step angle, 1:128 reduction	35 mm stepper	not recorded
Steps	5760	6,144 nominal full steps per output-shaft revolution (derived)	not recorded	5,760 minimum angular increments per revolution (derived)
Torque	1.5 N m	not recorded	1.2 N m	1.2 N m
Payload	5 kg	5 kg	5 kg	not recorded
Power and data	USB 2.0, powered by the USB cable	USB Type-C, 5 V 500 mA	USB Type-C, 5 V	USB Type-C, 5 V
Accessory socket	3.5 mm jack for a temperature sensor or hand controller	Temperature sensor or hand controller	TEMP/HBX jack for the temperature sensor or hand controller	TEMP/HBX jack for the temperature sensor or hand controller
Dimensions	60 x 50 x 40 mm	41 x 52 x 70.3 mm	45 x 60 x 47 mm	45 x 60 x 47 mm
Weight	277 g	215 g	not recorded	not recorded
Software	ASIAIR, ASIStudio, ASCOM and INDI	ASIAIR, ASIStudio, ASCOM and INDI	ASCOM and INDI, ToupTek AstroStation	Altair ASCOM driver (NINA, SharpCap and other ASCOM programs)
In the box	EAF body, bracket, flexible coupling, spacers and screws, M4 and M5 wrenches, USB 2.0 cable	EAFN; bracket; four couplers; 2 m USB-C cable; five spacers; mounting screws; two hex keys; quick guide	Hand controller, temperature sensor, two mounting plates, flexible couplers, USB cable	Focuser, universal bracket with screws and washers, 4, 5, 6 and 7 mm couplers, temperature sensor, USB cable, hand controller

In use

The legacy EAF on the FF110 focuser

Bracket and flexible coupling

Fitted to the FF110

Checking the fit

Ready to go back on the tube

With the CAA and camera behind it

From the video

Four frames from my video

Beside the GEMINI EAF

On my ZWO FF80

USB 2.0 and TEMP/HBX sockets

On the desk before fitting

Watch it in my videos

CHEAP v.s EXPENSIVE Telescope Gear?! · published 18 December 2024 · 14:15 · Watch on YouTube · 66,557 views, 1,854 likes on 2 Oct 2026

Jump to

0:57 What an electronic focuser does
1:52 The ZWO EAF
2:28 The remote and sensor cost extra
4:38 The EAF on my ZWO FF80
4:54 Against the GEMINI and the ToupTek AAF

Should you buy it?

44/100 Stars for Your Buck

Pros

“Arguably one of the top focusers available on the market. Simple design, powerful function.”
One USB 2.0 cable powers it and carries the data: no 12 V supply to run.
5760 steps from a 35 mm stepper motor, rated for a 5 kg load.
Native support in the ASIAIR, plus ASCOM and INDI drivers for everything else.
Still in use on my ZWO FF110 in 2026.

Cons

The remote and the temperature sensor are not included and cost extra.
Discontinued: ZWO now sells only the Type-C EAF and the EAF Pro.
A USB Type-B socket, where ZWO's newer gear has moved to Type-C.
The GEMINI EAF does the same job for almost a third of the price.

Arguably one of the top focusers on the market, but the remote and the temperature sensor cost extra, and the GEMINI does the same job for far less.

Three alternatives I have reviewed

Questions and more about this review

Reviewed by

Damon Scotting

The Telescope Man Verified

BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology, Loughborough University PGCE / QTS, University of Nottingham

About Damon About Damon Damon Scotting is The Telescope Man. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology from Loughborough University and a PGCE with QTS from the University of Nottingham, and taught physics in secondary schools before becoming an astronomy creator. He is a contributing writer for BBC Sky at Night Magazine and the author of 42 Wonders of Our Night Sky, and his photograph of the galaxy M100 with the dwarf planet Ceres was Highly Commended in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 competition run by Royal Observatory Greenwich. He has appeared on the BBC's Blue Peter. More than 750,000 people follow his astronomy channels on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and he has reviewed more than 140 telescopes, mounts, cameras, filters and accessories hands-on for this site. More about Damon · How I test · Damon's book

I review all kinds of gear: most of it I buy, some is gifted and some is loaned, and all of it is reviewed the same way. How this site is funded

Five questions, answered

Questions about the ZWO EAF (legacy)

Reviewed 18 December 2024 ·Updated 25 September 2026

I review all kinds of gear. Most of it I buy, some is gifted and some is loaned, and all of it is reviewed the same way: no company sees or approves a review before it is published. Shop links marked Ad are affiliate links: I earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. How this site is funded

Can you still buy the legacy ZWO EAF new? Not from ZWO: its store sells the Type-C EAF and the EAF Pro in its place, and First Light Optics lists the legacy EAF as unavailable. The Agena and ZWO links on this page go to the Type-C EAF. The verdict, the readers and the sellers ↓
How do I tell the legacy EAF from the Type-C EAF? Look at the back. The legacy EAF has a red back plate with a USB 2.0 Type-B socket and a TEMP/HBX jack; the Type-C model has a black back plate with a Type-C socket. In use ↓
Does the legacy EAF work with the ASIAIR? Yes. ZWO's manual lists native ASIAIR support, and the ASIAIR only drives ZWO's own focuser. ZWO says the newer Type-C EAF does not work with the first-generation ASIAIR or the ASIAIR Pro. The specifications and the comparison table ↓
What did you compare it with? The GEMINI EAF, in my cheap against expensive video. The GEMINI came with a remote and a temperature sensor and does the same job for far less. Watch it in my videos ↓
What have I not tested on the EAF (legacy)? I have not recorded autofocus runs, backlash or temperature-compensation logs with the legacy EAF.