50mm finder scopes

[Hol_dan]

Looking at upgrading my R.D.F that came standard on my 8" SCT. Can not afford a stellarvue so was considering a Celestron...then I came across this on eBay and was wandering if anyone knows anything about them?

The link is
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Compact-CCD-Imaging-Guide-Scope-Finderscope-1-25-Double-Helical-Focuser-Track/191895211366?_trksid=p2047675.c1000 05.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC .MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D39923%26meid% 3Dfa27b8076b824d8785c8d97b8f308a1a% 26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%2 6sd%3D272365311894

Thoughts and opinions much appreciated

Holly

[iborg]

Hi Holly

That unit looks like it is intended primarily as a a guide scope. Seeme to have no eyepiece with it, so you would need to get an eyepiece with cross hairs to use it well.

On my SCT, I have both an RDF and finderscope. I have found both to be useful.

Philip

[DarkKnight]

That scope you linked to looks like a generic model that seems to go from the price in your link up to about $269.00. (I've just gone through this exercise)

One downside is that they all seem to be coming from China, and what isn't these days, so it will take a month or more to arrive.

I just bought a budget eyepiece from this mob in Germany .....

http://stores.ebay.com.au/Seben-Europe and it arrived in about ten days and seems fine for my purposes.

They also have some cheap finder-scopes on their website although the one you are looking at is a big step-up from those.

Or by the time you add in an eyepiece this would be around the same price

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/917605-REG/celestron_93781_illuminated_raci_fi nder_scope.html

$AU106.34 + 31.32 post, total $AU137.66. :thumbsup:

[Hol_dan]

Thanks Phillip and Kev for your replies...

Kev I was looking at that RA Celestron from B&H...Do you know what the Optical quality is like? And can it be used without the illuminated ?

Is the eyepiece in the Celestron interchangeable?

[DarkKnight]

The illumination appears to have an on/off/adjustment knob.

http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/astronomy/accessories/other-accessories/illuminated-right-angle-correct-image-finderscope

Google 'Celestron RACI Illuminated 9x50 Finderscope Reviews' for mostly good feedback.

re the eyepiece I think most are interchangeable.

[doppler]

Hi Holly, I got that same finder (same supplier) just before Christmas. I got mine for a guide scope, but it works fine as a finder scope as well. The quality is good and it is quite adaptable as it takes 1.25" eyepieces. Mine was supposed to come from China but came in under a week from a Sydney warehouse.

[ChrisV]

I just got one. Arrived yesterday. Looks solid enough. But I've never had a guide scope before. And weather is to crap to test it out !!

The slide and helical focusers seem good. The dovetail is small and weird so replaced it. And i don't know what people think of plastic screws holding the scope ?

Mine took a week to come.