Views on Telrad

[programmer]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by programmer

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.

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.

[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

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

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 (Steve H)]

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

Don't worry I won't be modifying it

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

[rmcpb (Rob)]

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 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 (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by programmer

Looking through it, I definitely felt I had to get my neck into some uncomfortable positions. I'm surprised nobody mentioned this. ...

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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 with one guy's ideas of Telrad placement and even a custom dew shield (with pictures ).

[taminga16 (Greg)]

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 (Greg)]

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.