Illuminated finder scope

[Darth Wader]

Maybe a silly question, but what is an illuminated finder scope used for?

Cheers
Wade

[erick]

Perhaps you haven't been to really dark skies??? :D

When the sky is dark, the crosshairs are very hard to see. So a little illumination on the crosshairs really does help to centre the object in the finderscope field of view.

The problem is remembering to turn off the illumination to save finding flat batteries next time one gets it out. The person that comes up with a standard screw in illuminator which includes an "auto-off" function will sell a lot!

There is the "poor person's" way. Just hold your red light torch up near the edge of the finderscope objective lens. You should be able to get enough light to see the crosshairs without obliterating your view entirely.

[Darth Wader]

Nope, not really!:lol:

Thanks for that Eric. Are you using one? I'm in the market for a RACI 9x50 finder, sounds like the illuminated option is the way to go. Any recommendations?

[erick]

I have a recommendation, but its a bit expensive since it will come from Japan. Are you still interested?

[erick]

OK, look here:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=64364

[Darth Wader]

Hmmm... a bit over budget. Beautiful though! Might just try my luck with a BINTEL RACI finder - I just picked up a Rigel Quikfinder too so that should suffice. Thanks for your help.

[astronut]

Wade,
I've had the Skywatcher illuminated finder for the last 6 months.
Works perfectly!!! $129 from Andrews.:)

[Darth Wader]

Hi John,

Is it a right-angle correct image finder?

Cheers
Wade

[astronut]

No, it's a straight through, inverted image finder.
If you haven't used a right angle finder before, I would be careful before you spend your hard earned.
Straight through are a little harder to look through (for some) but it does give you an opportunity to site your object along the tube.
This is not possible with RAF.
Some will swear by the straight through (like me) and others will only use the RAF.
So....check them both out before purchase.:)

John.

[RAJAH235]

FWIW...
I built my own by making a very small aluminium "L" bracket to hold the 3 mm (solid red..not these fancy, clear, hi brite ones) red LED
& bolted that into the rear of the tube facing the objective lens. (Front.)
Drilled a small hole for the thin fig 8 cable & Bob'syeruncle.
;)
Runs off the main t'scope 12 Volt/7AH battery but used dropping resistor to kill the current to ~3 or 4 mA.
Just a nice dim red glow inside.
Works fine.