Mike
Diagonal on finder scope
- Historyman
- Earth Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 8:01 am
- 4
- Location: Thetford, UK
- Status:
Offline
Diagonal on finder scope
The diagonal on the ep on my Skywatcher Skytravel 102 means that my poor old bones do not have to bend in awful places. But they do have bend in that way when looking through the straight through finder scope. Can a diagonal be fitted to a finder scope, and if so, what is a good/the best one and how does it fit?
Mike
Mike
Nikon Aculon 7x50 binos
Celestron 15x70 binos
Skywatcher Startravel 102 (AZ) SynScan GOTO refractor
Skywatcher Skyliner 200P Dobsonian
Celestron 15x70 binos
Skywatcher Startravel 102 (AZ) SynScan GOTO refractor
Skywatcher Skyliner 200P Dobsonian
- madMARTINmarsh
- Earth Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2019 10:40 am
- 4
- Location: Ashford, kent
- Status:
Offline
Re: Diagonal on finder scope
I asked the same question, apparently it is not possible to attach a right angle adaptor but you can but finder scopes with right angle eye holes.
- bladekeeper
- Inter-Galactic Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 3603
- Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2019 2:39 am
- 4
- Location: Lowell, Arkansas, US
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Diagonal on finder scope
The main issue with connecting a diagonal to a straight-through finder scope is the focal length of the straight-through finder. You've got too much length present to bring the eyepiece end to focus.
You can get around this by sawing off a portion of the tube to account for the length of the light path in the diagonal, but then you have to re-thread the tube or determine other means to attach the diagonal.
It can be done by the intrepid amongst us, or by those with the proper tools and skillset. Most of us find it an easier undertaking to simply purchase a Right Angle Correct Image (RACI ) finder scope.
This one ought to do nicely: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finder ... scope.html
You can get around this by sawing off a portion of the tube to account for the length of the light path in the diagonal, but then you have to re-thread the tube or determine other means to attach the diagonal.
It can be done by the intrepid amongst us, or by those with the proper tools and skillset. Most of us find it an easier undertaking to simply purchase a Right Angle Correct Image (
This one ought to do nicely: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finder ... scope.html
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100
- Ozypic
- Orion Spur Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 849
- Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 10:26 pm
- 4
- Location: NSW Australia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Diagonal on finder scope
Yes I feel your pain. Wet knees or rolling around on the ground is no fun thats for sure. I also tried to avoid the cost of one. I bought the one with the illuminated cross hairs and it is quiet good, but the feild of view isn't as good as the red dot finder. You might just have to put it out there ..... it's dads day soon or a birthday perhaps ... even xmas isn't that far off . Good luck . Phill
Phill. Dreaming of Clear Skys ....
SCOPE : Skywatcher 120X600 ST Achromatic Refractor.
EP's : 25mm & 10mm Plossl , Celestron 8/24mm Zoom EP,
Filters : Solar filter, Badder Fringe Killer & Moon/Skyglow.
MOUNT : Skywatcher Star Discovery goto Mount.
CAMERAS : ZWO 120 asi MC. / Sony HX400V 50X Zoom.
Binoculars : Saxon 10x50
SCOPE : Skywatcher 120X600 ST Achromatic Refractor.
EP's : 25mm & 10mm Plossl , Celestron 8/24mm Zoom EP,
Filters : Solar filter, Badder Fringe Killer & Moon/Skyglow.
MOUNT : Skywatcher Star Discovery goto Mount.
CAMERAS : ZWO 120 asi MC. / Sony HX400V 50X Zoom.
Binoculars : Saxon 10x50
- pakarinen
- Inter-Galactic Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4029
- Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
- 4
- Location: NE Illinois
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Diagonal on finder scope
I'd suggest a RACI . Then not only do you not have to perform any physical contortions, you don't have to do any mental ones either. (Well unless you're using flippy-floppy finder charts...)
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
- BamaDon
- Earth Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2019 4:53 pm
- 4
- Location: Alabama, USA
- Status:
Offline
Re: Diagonal on finder scope
I've added a green laser pointer onto my scope.
It is intended as a rifle scope. I purchased a rail at a sporting goods store, fitted it to the scope, then put the laser on that.
Usually you can use either a switch on the back of the laser, or a switch at the end of a coiled wire, allowing you to put the switch anywhere you like.
Then when you turn the laser on, you can quickly center a bright star in your finder. Then use yourRACI to star hop.
NO BENDING OVER!!! At least for my 12.5"dob .
It is intended as a rifle scope. I purchased a rail at a sporting goods store, fitted it to the scope, then put the laser on that.
Usually you can use either a switch on the back of the laser, or a switch at the end of a coiled wire, allowing you to put the switch anywhere you like.
Then when you turn the laser on, you can quickly center a bright star in your finder. Then use your
NO BENDING OVER!!! At least for my 12.5"
Don
Scopes: Criterion RV-6; 8" f/8 homebuilt; 10" Cave OTA; 12.5" Dobsonian; Celestron C11 Mounts: Losmandy G11 Eyepieces: ES 82° 24, 18, 14, 11, 8.8, 6.7, 4.7; Meade RG: Erfle 20; Ortho 16.8, 10.5, 7 Binoculars: Orion Ultraview 10x50; Filters: DGM NPB, O-III; Orion SkyGlow; DSLR: Canon t6i
Scopes: Criterion RV-6; 8" f/8 homebuilt; 10" Cave OTA; 12.5" Dobsonian; Celestron C11 Mounts: Losmandy G11 Eyepieces: ES 82° 24, 18, 14, 11, 8.8, 6.7, 4.7; Meade RG: Erfle 20; Ortho 16.8, 10.5, 7 Binoculars: Orion Ultraview 10x50; Filters: DGM NPB, O-III; Orion SkyGlow; DSLR: Canon t6i
- Thefatkitty
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4233
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 4:20 pm
- 4
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Diagonal on finder scope
Hi Mike,
It can be done for sure, though most would just find another solution. Still, I had a few diagonals from .965" fittings, and a few straight-through finderscopes. With a bit of creativity, I now have 3RA finderscopes for less than the price of one.
Granted, they are all only 6X30, but for me they work just fine.
This is the basics of it. You will have to saw off part of the finderscope after first finding out the length it needs to be. I take it apart, put the objective on a ruler with the diagonal, use the front part of the finderscope (the piece with the crosshairs) and adjust the objective and diagonal until I get focus. I take the measurement between the two and cut to that. When cutting the finderscope, I recommend you adjust the objective at the front so that it is in the middle; ie the threaded part. This way you have forwards and back travel to make the final adjustments.
You might need some shims to make it all fit. Any plastic container will do; you just have to find one with the right thickness. I have yet to glue any of them together; they all have a tight fit, plus I can swivel the diagonal for comfort. In three years, not one of them has ever fallen apart
For cutting the focuser, I highly recommend using a metal hacksaw with a fine blade (aluminum) and a hose clamp to keep thing straight while cutting. That might have to be turned once or twice during cutting.
Pictures are worth a billion of my words
Hope this helps; though again, most people would find another solution. I'm just too much into home-made...
Best of luck and all the best,
It can be done for sure, though most would just find another solution. Still, I had a few diagonals from .965" fittings, and a few straight-through finderscopes. With a bit of creativity, I now have 3
Granted, they are all only 6X30, but for me they work just fine.
This is the basics of it. You will have to saw off part of the finderscope after first finding out the length it needs to be. I take it apart, put the objective on a ruler with the diagonal, use the front part of the finderscope (the piece with the crosshairs) and adjust the objective and diagonal until I get focus. I take the measurement between the two and cut to that. When cutting the finderscope, I recommend you adjust the objective at the front so that it is in the middle; ie the threaded part. This way you have forwards and back travel to make the final adjustments.
You might need some shims to make it all fit. Any plastic container will do; you just have to find one with the right thickness. I have yet to glue any of them together; they all have a tight fit, plus I can swivel the diagonal for comfort. In three years, not one of them has ever fallen apart
For cutting the focuser, I highly recommend using a metal hacksaw with a fine blade (aluminum) and a hose clamp to keep thing straight while cutting. That might have to be turned once or twice during cutting.
Pictures are worth a billion of my words
Hope this helps; though again, most people would find another solution. I'm just too much into home-made...
Best of luck and all the best,
Mark
"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4, AZ-EQ5 and SolarQuest mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.
Solar:
H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
Ca-K - W/O 61mm, Antares 1.6 barlow, Baader 3.8 OD and Ca-K filters with a ZWO ASI174mm.
W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.
Member of the RASC
"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4, AZ-EQ5 and SolarQuest mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.
Solar:
H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
Ca-K - W/O 61mm, Antares 1.6 barlow, Baader 3.8 OD and Ca-K filters with a ZWO ASI174mm.
W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.
Member of the RASC
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute