Is there a great finderscope??

[Gem]

Hi all,

Over the years I have used many telrad (or equivalent) devices. I found them particularly good on the ol' 10 inch dob when under dark skies. However, back then I was observing nearly every night and knew the sky really well. It was kind of an instinct as to where everything was.
However, when it comes to finderscopes... all the ones I have used over the years seem inadequate. Most have been 6x30 or thereabouts and seem to do NOTHING. The new scope on the way this week has, again, a 6x30 finder...
I don't believe even a 7x50 would be a big improvement (though maybe I am wrong)... there needs to be a better alternatively!!
Can you get a longer focal lenght illuminated recticle eyepiece? If so, maybe I can use the 80mm f/5 refractor as a finderscope.

Has anyone cracked this one? Or do all finderscopes disappoint?

[gbeal]

Personal choice, 100 different replies will give almost the same amount of choices.
Me? I don't like the Telrad, but that is me. I use 8x50, and the one I like the most is the Antares 8x5 RACI. But that is just me. The next ten will say they love Telrads.
Yes, no reason why you can't use the 80mm f5, slip it in some rings, and obtain an illuminated reticle. No reason at all.
Gary

[multiweb]

Anything that hasn't got a battery or is not laser operated. Laser don't work in the cold and a finder has to be reliable no matter what so no battery either.

[kustard]

There are 8x50 and even 9x50 finderscopes that also have right angle view that might suit.

The 8x50 finder I have on my scope is pretty decent though I only use it for initial alignment and then I let the go-to take care of the rest :)

[ballaratdragons]

I'm another one who doesn't like Telrads.

I really like all the 50mm finderscopes that come with the GS Dobs, right-angle and straight.
They have served their purpose well for me and I never have a problem finding an object with them in my dark skies.

The Straight-through version from GS even makes a nice little quick-grab telescope for a quick glance at a richfield view.

I like 'em :)

This one: http://eridanusoptics.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=167_20_31_32&products_id=255

and this one: http://eridanusoptics.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=167_20_31_32&products_id=256

[Gem]

But can you get a recticle eyepiece that is 30mm?

[TrevorW]

Good but expensive

Stellarvue 10 x 60 or 10 x 80 finderscopes

[qld]

stellarview is best value for money and their mounting kit is the best around the whole system is soooo light i have two stellaeview 80's and an antares 80 the antares is not inthe hunt nor is the orion 80 get them fromthe maker in the USA while the Aussie dollar remains high

[Gem]

Ok... now that I look more I can see that you can get eyepieces at longer lengths!

[Gem]

Thanks! I will look into them!

[jjjnettie]

https://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=105-166-168-15356
I like this one. :D
Though they do have a newer right angle version out. Makes it easier to use I feel.

[SkyViking]

I'm using an Antares 80mm which I'm very happy with. It picks up a lot more than a 50mm, the difference is quite remarkable. So it really helps in finding many targets as they are visible in the finder straight away. It does magnify a lot though (cant remember if it's 12x), but I've gotten used to that now.

[GrahamL]

I had a sparrowhawk for a good while its a great little finder
http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1324
,, and you can buy 1.25 "naglers for them :thumbsup:
Some of its bigger brothers as mentioned maybe what you after to .

I only sold it off when I got an argo , the telrad stayed ,
the little blue box killed that fantastic little finderscope though .

:)

[Manav]

Stellarvue F80M - Grab and go! OPT link click here (http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=105-166-168-9776)

[stevous67]

I've got this finder and the optics are excellent. I saw some negative comments on the OPT site for it, and I agree the illumination device is poor. Opt will send me out a replacement...

Steve

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Second the Stellarvues.
I've got the 9 X 50 and 10 X 60 versions. The first makes an excellent small spotter as well and is sold with a tripod mount, by SV as the 'Sparrowhawk'. The 60mm is just as clear but has some noticable field curvature.
I've also seen a TAK FC60 and WO Z66 used as finderscopes, though they are a good deal heavier than 'normal' 'scopes they were both brilliant dual-purpose instruments.
Also highly recommend is the Orion 20mm WA illuminated reticle EP which will fit almost any FS with a removable EP.

[toc]

With my new scope, Im finding (pardon the pun!) that BOTH a telrad and Meade 8x50 finder are really really great. Not sure I could cope with only one.

The telrad is great for getting close to the target, but the 8x50 is what I need to get the object in the eyepiece. (at 3000mm, I find that the inner circle of the telrad is not quite small enough)

Optically the Meade is good enough for me...

[rider]

I have a Stellarvue 80mm and a Stellarvue 60mm.

IMHO they are very good finderscopes and they are both very light.

Both are much better than the other correct image illuminated reticle finderscope options, but the Stellarvue 60mm is the better of the two.

Three things to beware of with the 80mm.

1. if you buy the optional 20mm 70 degree eyepiece, it will only just come to focus at the full "in" position of the helical focusser.
2. if you are even moderately shortsighted you will have to wear your glasses to get even the standard 23mm 50 degree eyepiece to come to focus.
3. in extremely cold conditions the alignment thumbscrews in the rings contract enough to loosen the finderscope and it loses alignment. (replacing them with nylon thumb screws fixes this problem)

The 60mm finderscope does not have these (small) limitations.

The Stellarvue 80 is about f3.75 so you get a bigger aperture without loss of any field of view, - like you would by using a small refactor as a finderscope.

[astronut]

My 2Cents.....My 12" Lightbridge has had a few different finders on it over the years, but the best one I've used is the Skywatcher 9X50mm, with variable illuminated crosshairs.
The crosshairs also have a gap in the centre to help align your object.
I bought mine from Andrews last year for $129, with the $$ being so high now the price has dropped to $99......well worth it.:)

[bartman]

Not sure if this is for you Grant, but Bintel are selling this. (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm)
Maybe with a reducer you could use a laptop to view the field on a larger scale?????
And use it as an autoguider to boot!
Anyway ...just a thought
Bartman
mmmm the link doesn't want to go to the page I want.
It's the Orion mini 50mm Guide scope - with or without the ccd- under the 'imaging and accessories' section page 5.

[Gem]

Interesting thought! Might be a bit complicated though... without the laptop I'd still need a reticle eyepiece to use it as a normal finder.

Now the question is... who can spare a 32mm or 40mm reticle eyepiece for the 80mm refractor? :)

[Gem]

Nice! The Stellarvue sounds impressive...
Time for some serious thinking (a.k.a. look at the budget!)...

[Jules76]

Another vote for the Stellavue (see my sig). Great little finderscope which I've found to be perfect as a grab and go as well. :thumbsup:

[dannat]

Kokusai k in japan have a good one, also there is an illum finder on the 127ed which I really like - explore scientific use on a few of there scopes. Intes micro had an excellent one - the optics were razor sharp

[stringscope]

Hello Grant,

Certainly a 50mm will show you a lot more than a 30mm. Once you get above 60mm, finders can become quite bulky and depending on the size of the primary telescope, can cause balance issues.

Finderscopes and reticle eyepieces are not that hard to build if you have access to a small home workshop. Attached images show a home made 80mm F5 finder (SurplusShed objective) and home made 32mm plossel X hair eyepiece. Finder is covered in insulation with integral objective and eyepiece heaters so it looks a little bulky. It is mounted in 100mm WO guidescope rings. I have various other finders here if you want to come around, have a look and get some ideas.

Cheers,

[Gem]

Interested in how you made the cross hairs... maybe I will have to come to a CAS meeting soon! :)

[Logieberra]

Grant, if you can convince Ian to help us... I have 2 x 50mm used binoculaur objectives sitting at home. They are in a threaded / standard binocular housing (kind of of like a refractor primary cell with a small lens hood)... I was not sure how to make the focuser end so I held off on the project :)

Ian, nice work there. Where did you get the machining / CNC done? I know there are people in the club that do it... but the waiting list is about 2 years...

[Gem]

Logan,
I have a 40mm Bintel Plossl that can be used for the job (and then added onto the 80mm refractor). A crosshaired 40mm on an 80mm f/5 should produce a 10x80 finderscope. The eyepiece could also help with doing the two star goto aligment procedure. Either way, we have a project ahead!! :)

[stringscope]

G'day Logan, for the 80mm F5 finder, no machining:

100mm WO Guidescope rings.
Objective lens and cell from SurplusShed
Telescope body and dew shield are standard plumbing fittings plus a 50mm drawtube from a GSO Crayford forcuser, hose clamp and 1.25" reducer.
1.25" UO RACI 90 degree diagonal
32mm
Celestron Plossel circa mid 1990's with added cross hairs.

Grant, at F5, not much point in using a 40mm eyepiece due exit pupil size, suggest 32mm or shorter.

[binofied]

I must have missed this but what telescope are you putting this finder on? The weight of the bigger finders matters more on small scopes (12" or smaller I mean) Also no-one has asked why do you want or need a finder now days? When I built my 16" Binocular telescope I realized there was no sensible place to put a finder. So I only have a telrad, it only ever gets used twice to help me get the two alignment stars in the eyepiece so i can align my ArgoNavis digital setting circles. I then spend the evening actually looking for long periods at objects rather than wasting observing time star hopping.

Finders are irrelevant forget them :-)
:eyepop:

[Gem]

The scope might have goto, but nothing beats the thrill of finding something yourself! I've lived without goto for 27 or so years of astronomy afterall...

Actually, I must have had some dud finder optics in the past since the Celestron 6x30 finder on the CGEM 925 has surpassed my expectations. I wasn't expecting much based off past experiences with finders. Still want something better though...

Thanks everyone for your inputs... much food for thought!