Thread: Finder Scope
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Old 27-10-2021, 11:21 AM
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Eldest_Sibling (Alan)
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Join Date: May 2017
Location: Mid-South, U.S.
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Finder Scope

Round January of 2020, perhaps some time before, I was wanting a finder-scope for my blind-as-a-bat 127/1900 Maksutov...

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I say "blind" for it will be used with manual mounts. A go-to mount is practically out of the question, as I have too many trees upon the lay. In addition, a suitable go-to mount for said telescope would cost more, much more, than I am able or willing to pay.

I didn't want an 8x50 or 9x50 RACI finder-scope; no, out of the question.

50mm is really too small, dim, not to mention the narrow view of the integrated erect-image diagonal. Then, an 80mm is too large and bulky. That leaves something along the lines of a 60mm, or a 70mm even.

There is the Orion(of California) "70mm Multi-Use Finder Scope", a 70mm(actually 63-66mm) aperture at f/4...

https://i.imgur.com/GpbhFAw.jpg

But that one is not what it seemed to be, in the beginning. There have been complaints about the helical-focusser, the lack of thumb-screws to secure eyepieces/diagonals, focussing issues with this eyepiece and that diagonal, poor optics/astigmatism, et al. In addition, specifically, a 32mm Plossl will not come to focus.

I had taken a hard look at that one, but fortunately, in hindsight, I ran from it, leaving it in the star-dust.

No, the only thing that was going to do it for me was a 70/300, a 70mm f/4.3, achromatic-refractor.

There is a veritable sea of them, albeit a small one, on eBay and elsewhere, under this suspect marque and that, the listings oft with glamorous sales-pitches, full of hope, and promises of many merry respites under the stars...

https://i.imgur.com/QSGRSqc.jpg

But I was leery, suspicious of those. Does this one come with a 1.25" visual-back, then, does that one come with a glass, or a plastic doublet; or, the three Fates forbid, a singlet?

To avoid all of those uncertainties, I purchased the most expensive one I could find...

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...the Barska 30070-225 "Starwatcher", and for US$50.

But there's a catch, quite a few actually; for one, you can't use it fresh out of the box.
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