Views on Telrad

[programmer]

Hi.. thinking of getting a Telrad. Would I find this a useful addition to my scope? Is the Telrad the best, or are other (similar) devices better? I've not done huge research into it, but there is something called the Rigel that one recommended over the Telrad. Apparently the Telrad is heavy? Looking forward to any comments.

[janoskiss]

Yes very useful. Yes Telrad is the best. Rigel is more compact which makes it better suited to smaller scopes. Telrad is not very heavy but bulky. Better optically than Rigel. For 10" or larger Telrad is the way to go IMO/E. (I have both and have used most other 1x finders.) I recommend you get a right-angle 8x50 finder to go with it if you haven't got one already.

[Campus Dweller]

Hi Programmer.
My view is that the Telrad is the best accessory ever invented for visual observing. I used a Telrad and a widefield eyepiece to star-hop to hundreds of deep sky objects. There is a view among some old hands that a Telrad complements rather than replaces a finder-scope but I used one without a finder for years.
The drawback is dew that forms on the glass, but since the screen is not a precision optical surface you can wipe it with any old cloth. Better is to get someone electrically inclined to fix an array of resisters attached to a battery to act as a dew-zapper.
But Telrads are great:thumbsup:.
Cheers
Drew

[Paddy]

Couldn't agree more! I have found the Telrad has made finding DSOs so much easier. I haven't tried other brands, so I couldn't say whether there is a better option. I have also found fogging a bit of an issue, but mostly if I breathe on the thing as I use it in conjunction with the standard GSO finderscope. If I am careful about where I put my nose, I don't have many problems.

Patrick

[Omaroo]

I'm going to play devils' advocate and say that I leave my Telrad unloved and unused on the shelf. It's the only astro accessory I've bought, tried and never used again. The ONLY thing I like about the Telrad is the way that some star charts refer to it for positional reference.

Other than that, I find that the closely concentric circles obliterate whatever is behind them, and make it very difficult to see - even with the intensity turned right down to bare minimum.

I also find the bulk of the thing plainly unnecessary, and can't imagine why the damn thing needs to take up so much scope tube real estate. Try mounting one on a smaller scope from time to time - like an ED80 or something.

The dew shields are positively useless AND expensive, and unless you construct a heated element of your own you'll never keep the darn thing dew-free.

I far prefer a red-dot finder - the William Optics one is a great example. A single, unobtrusive red dot that barely glows when turned down doesn't hide any detail at all behind it.

Just my opinion, but we're allowed to have these I've heard ;)

Pic: William Optics red dot finder with home-made dew strip. Works brilliantly.

[Campus Dweller]

While I may disagree with your opinion I will fight for your right to express it. Not an original thought but certainly pertinent for these forums:).

Certainly the device is best on a larger tube. For my smaller 'scope I found a red-dot finder with a fitting that enables it to slide into the mount for a finder on a synta 'scope. I'm very much a fan of pointing devices rather than finders.

[Omaroo]

Yup - same here. Haven't used a magnifying finder for ages. I didn't mind straight-through finders as you could sight your object in one open eye and use the other through the finder, moving the scope until the two merged - presto! Right-angle finders that see you staring into the OTA with the other eye annoyed me to distraction. Each to their own though!

[programmer]

A great array of responses! I'll probably get a Telrad (although double the price here than in the US :mad2:) because of the charts that are made for it which will hopefully help me hop around between objects. Omaroo let me know if you're willing to sell yours! Even though I will eventually get my DSC set up (which in theory should eliminate the need for star hopping) I'm sure the Telrad will be a handy addition. I just wish it was smaller and prettier :sadeyes: Good to hear opinions contrary to the consensus though.

Edit: Yes I have a right angle finder, whatever came standard on GSO dobs a year or so ago when it was new.

[iceman]

I agree with your thoughts about the Telrad, Chris.. but I do like mine on my 12" - because the RA finder is a real pain to try and line things up.

If I had a standard red dot finder I'd probably prefer that.

[Omaroo]

Yeah Mike, mine's still attached to my 12" LX too. Programmer - It'll stay there because there's enough room, so sorry about that. Silly thing is that it sits right next to the red-dot and a straight-through 7x50. I'm thinking of a Rigel too, just to make a nice little four-pack! ;)

[rmcpb]

On a 10" dob there is plenty of room for a Telrad and its worth its weight in gold. I NEVER leave home without mine!

Quick question, if you have DSCs why do you need to go down this path?

Cheers

[programmer]

Understand completely :P

[programmer]

In case my battery goes flat? :lol:

Maybe because I haven't actually got them to work yet.. I might start a thread on that subject :(

[GrahamL]

I find a telrad great .. On your 10 " it will fit nicely between the focuser and ra finder.. If i was sticking down the base for the telrad again I would
move it slightly further down the tube as I sometimes find your breath
while looking through the finder can fog up the telrad.

[wavelandscott]

I have 2 Telrads (one on an 8 inch Tube Dob and one on a 12.5 inch Truss Dob). I find them to be extremely useful, especially when aligning my Argo Navis. I removed my finder scope a long time ago and just use the Telrad.

Also, it is a very user friendly thing that my kids can use to find stuff...they love it.

Yes, the "dewing or fogging" is a bit of a pain...I have at different times used a towel, a Telrad Dew cover, a Heater and/or an old Foam Stubby Holder to prevent/slow dew formation...any and all of the above work.

Clear Skies,

[programmer]

Will probably pick one up tomorrow.. can't be bothered ordering from O.S even if I save a few bucks.

Worth getting a dew shield? Or just use a stubby holder :D

[cyndon]

When you order one get the optional flasher unit as this eliminates the problem of the rings being to bright or obscuring the target makes a great finder even better!
Don H:thumbsup:

[Deeno]

Love my telrad.
Great for lining up targets quickly. Try using old batteries in it and it won't as bright. Dew problems are easily solved by making a varient of the recipes for dew heaters found here on iceinspace.

Deeno

[Dez]

After just two sessions with my new scope I'm also thinking seriously about a telrad. I have an 8x50 right angle finder but still find myself kneeling or squatting behind the scope trying to line it up. Not very comfortable or accurate and I'm predicting once I have a telrad or similar, the other finder may rarely be used...

I'll be interested to hear how it goes for you Programmer

[wavelandscott]

Good question...My answer and opinion is "it depends"...The stubby holder is functional and an interesting talking point...The Telrad dew shield "looks" the part but at a cost...

In terms of performance, I haven't seen a difference in performance between the two...my family as a gift got me the Telrad dew shield (and later a Telrad heater) and they work well too...but no better than the stubby holder...

Your Astro Budget and "fashion sense" can drive the choice (in my opinion).

Clear Skies!

[programmer]

After just a couple of sessions, I find I can pretty much get something in the finder with a quick look along the tube.. I'm surprised this works so well. But I'm hoping the Telrad will reduce that need by a large factor. Whether I leave the 8x50 on remains to be seen.

Re dew shields, anyone know what the 'plus' version has over the 'normal' version (at Bintel). How can a piece of plastic like this be worth nearly $50? Think I'll be making my own.

[programmer]

Bintel don't seem to be offering the flasher? Or maybe I just can't find it.

[Omaroo]

As I said - ridiculous price for such a piece of junk. Some manufacturers just love taking people for a ride. They don't even work. :lol:

[programmer]

Got the Telrad. I'll see if I can try it out tonight, if so I'll report my impressions. They didn't sell the pulser thing as it's a 3rd party product. I like the lever idea for dimming though. Now, no more spending for me for a while :help:

[Glenhuon]

I just bought a red dot finder, well really a red dot aiming device for an air rifle that has no dimmer. Was a bit too bright on the scope and pretty well sealed up so no internal mods possible. Solved it by sticking a small piece of a dark photo negative over the LED window at the back of the finder. Might work for the telrad too.

[janoskiss]

Telrads do have a dimmer built in. I know what some are saying it's not dim enough but my Telrad goes almost invisibly dim - certainly dim enough for me. So before you start worrying about how to "fix" it, just try it out first and see how you go.

[programmer]

Don't worry I won't be modifying it :)

Do you (or does anyone) know of Telrad charts for the southern hemisphere?

[rmcpb]

To stop dew you can go the stubby holder, very cultural, or just put a bit of plastic over the glass and remove it when viewing.

As for Telrad charts try Utah Skies (http://www.utahskies.org/deepsky/messier/charts/messierTelradFrameSet.html) and have a general dig around their site. Very nice and handy!!

[programmer]

I had a very brief session last night, barely enough for first impressions. I mounted the Telrad further down the tube from the focuser and finder scope on suggestions from others (was too crowded up the top anyway). Being a brief session, my night vision wasn't great. I can see why it's said they're best for dark skies, as you need some reference stars visible near to what you want to locate before the Telrad is really useful! Just seemed to be a really 'bright' night, despite the Moon having long set.. lots of skyglow. I didn't have any Telrad charts ready either. Aligning the thing was easy, took a few minutes, using my 8x50 finder as reference. Looking through it, I definitely felt I had to get my neck into some uncomfortable positions. I'm surprised nobody mentioned this. After coming inside and looking on the web, I notice there are risers sold for just this reason! Again, I hadn't come across this in my research, but can see a definite need for one. I could make the projected cirlces very dim, so no problems there as far as I can tell. Will definitely need longer sessions to get a feel for the Telrad. I just hope it's useful in my 'bright' backyard :(

Edit: how could I forget.. dew was a real bugger!

[janoskiss]

You do need to mount it at the very top of the tube. You might need to move the 8x50 finder to make room for it (though it should fit between 8x50 and focuser). Then it's not so pain in the neck for seated observing and combined with a right-angle 50mm finder (which takes the pain out of the neck completely) it works really well for me at least. I find I need at least one straight thru finder so I can look at the sky with naked eye as well as through the finder at the same time. I find that the Telrad is best for that job.

As far as having no reference stars, you'd be amazed how few you really need once you get used to it, and a little also to reading charts. Telrad is certainly enough to get any object within the FOV of the 8x50, but typically it's better than that.

[DougAdams]

I've come into this a little late, but I had a Telrad on my dobs and found it brilliant. You do need the Telrad up the top of your scope so you can aim straight through without lying on the ground. You can align it with bright objects by looking "top down", but straight through is better. You don't really need Telrad charts either, just a reasonable star atlas. Sky Atlas, Uranometria and even the Pocket Sky Atlas has Telrad support/overlays.

Last night wasn't great - there seemed to be a lot of high, wispy stuff.

[programmer]

I think you're right, was almost like a fog. Very damp all round too. Thanks for your take on things. Must invest in a star atlas.

Here's an interesting page (http://www.craigcolvin.com/Astronomy/telrad.html)with one guy's ideas of Telrad placement and even a custom dew shield (with pictures :D).

[taminga16]

Programmer, As Steve has said just use it, after all your requirements may well be miles away from others solutions, I have constructed a dew sheild that swings down to cover the Telrad whilst I am using my finder and reduces
breath condensation, different stokes!

Regards,

Greg.

[taminga16]

Something that I forgot to mention is the advantage of having true scale in space without lifting you head to count or measure, and when using charts I measure off with various sized key rings to match the scale of the Telrad (0.5,2.0 and 4.0deg).

Greg.