RACI or Red dot finder?

[Thiink]

I'm asking opinions for options on replacing or adding to the straight through finder on my 10" dob, as using the standard straight through finder hurts my neck. I could either grab a RACI finder (is there a market at all for the stock 8x50?), or grab a red dot finder like the one Andrews have one for $39 (similar to this (http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/ProductsTA.html) one I am guessing) which I could mount in tandem with the 8x50, or Bintel have the Telrad for $89 odd. Does the Telrad usually replace the stock finder altogether, or is it used in tandem with the stock one?

Any opinions?

[slice of heaven]

The Telrad can be used alone or be supplemented with a finder scope.
I use the telrad alone and use the scope with a low power ep to zone in on the desired object. I cant see the point of a finderscope when you do it this way.
The Telrad has 3 targetting rings rather than a single dot to make it easier to starhop.
The rings are 1/2 , 2 and 4 degrees.
I've 2 Telrads 1 new one and 1 about 20yrs old. They are a great tool .

[astroron]

I agree with slice, I havn't used a finder on my Dob for 3 years, the Telrad is worth its weight, you don'tneed a finderscope if you know your way around the sky and you have your Star charts to get down to the nitty gritty. astroron

[stringscope]

I am not sure you could use a RACI finder on its own. Could be frustrating to place objects in the finder FoV.

My solid tube Dob has both Telrad (excellent) and RACI finder (13X70). For faint objects I use the Telrad to place the correct star field in the RACI finder FoV and then use star patterns to place the desired object in the scope FoV.

My StringScope has a Rigel QuikFinder only. Not quite as nice to use as the Telrad but OK. I am having to relearn star hopping using a finder eyepiece with this scope. Great fun!!!

Cheers,

[Starkler]

Optical finders are far more important where there is light polution.
If you live where skies are dark you could do without a finderscope, but in the suburbs, there are large spaces of sky with no visible stars to starhop by.
This is where a finderscope comes into its own.

[slice of heaven]

Good point Geoff,I keep forgetting that not everyone has a sky full of stars that are visible to the naked eye.

[Thiink]

Hm interesting. I have a sky full of stars so it really isnt that much of a problem. The Milky Way fields would really stand out if it wasnt for the damn street light out the front (I know because we had a total blackout not long ago!).

It looks like the Telrad is the go. Any of you smaller dob owners looking for a cheap upgrade to a 8x50 finder? :P