What finder scope are you using?

[Baskevo]

Hello everyone! I was wondering what kind of finder scope you guys are using? This is a question for everyone, but I am particularly interested in those with the Explore Scientific 80mm ED Triplet APO refractor.

I purchased the 80x50 straight through illuminated Viewfinder along with my ES 80mm APO triplet. It was very expensive and there's a giant finger print on the glass inside of the finder, so inside the crosshairs is extremely blurry. Also, it is kind of a pain because I am left-eye dominant (although not a huge deal) and the adjustments for it are a pain.

I also purchased a Meade/Explore Scientific to Vixen finder adapter, and the Celestron StarPointer red dot finder, which I really enjoyed on my previous Nexstar 130 SLT. The adapter worked well, but the finder scope did not. With the adjustments as far as they can go on the finder, I was still a half an inch from the target through the finder.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good finder scope for the ES 80mm triplet refractor?

Thanks all! Clear skies.

Here's the link for the vixen finder adapter if anyone is interested: https://optcorp.com/products/idea-engin ... gJzOfD_BwE

[Ozman]

I only use a finder on my scopes with a long focal length. With my shorter refractors (like your ES80 ED) I just use a wide low power 2" EP which is wide enough for me. In fact, I use my ST80 piggybacked on my LX200 as it's finder. My AD12 came with an 8x50 finder. I use a simple red dot on the little Mak which I put on a small goto mount, so I only need to center alignment stars, I'm not star hopping.

I had your scope before I switched it out for the ES102CF, I never did use a finder for it. But if I were using it on the SLT mount, I would likely just use a red dot. If I were star hopping, I would likely make do with my ES 24mm 82 in the scope it self.

[dritter]

My story is much the same as Ozman.

For the shorter focal length instruments I prefer a red dot finder. And even then it's hardly ever used except during initial setup and alignment. Most of the time I usually just pop in a low power 2" eyepiece, a 35mm Panoptic in my case.

For the longer focal length instruments, an 8x50 right-angle finder is usually best.

[Juno16]

Hi Baskevo,

I used an inexpensive ($58.95 on Agena Astro) GSO RACI 8x50 finder on my ES ED102 briefly. I really enjoyed it. Didn’t need illumination with Bortle 6 skies because there was plenty of background sky glow to easily see the reticle. RACI is really easy on the back too.
I still have the GSO, but since I got bitten by the AP bug, I use my guidescope or late solving to align the scope.

Thanks,
Jim

[JayTee]

I get all my red dots from this guy: http://www.ebaystores.com/Telescope-Warehouse. He is US based (California).

Most of them cost around $9. Because they only cost $9, if the attaching foot doesn't fit the shoe on the scope -- I use duct tape!

Cheers,
JT

[Baskevo]

Awesome thanks for sharing guys! I have just been using my finder scope to get the target in the sights of the camera, and then I just use the camera to zoom in 10x for 2-star alignment and all-star polar align. That's okay, right? It won't mess up my alignment or anything?
So I was thinking I would return the scope and then just pick up something cheap, like from that eBay store.

Thanks for sharing that store, JT! That place is awesome. Have you tried out those LP filters from him?

[dritter]

Using the camera should work just fine for alignment. It's basically what lots of do when we plate-solve. And once it's aligned, if your slews are on-target, and the drift rate is minimal to non-existent, then that's all the proof needed to know that everything works properly.

If possible, you might want to get a red-dot or other finder first before returning what you have. Never hurts to do a side-by-side gear comparison if you can. A good friend who is an advanced visual observer can't stand red-dot finders. But he's fine with any kind of finder scope, even a tiny 6x30 works for him.

[Arctic]

Both my finder scopes are 9x50 RACI. The cheaper one, with a fixed eyepiece is branded Highpoint Scientific. The more expensive one, with a rotatable and removable eyepiece (critical for the SCT) is a Stellarvue.

I would never use a straight-through finder, unless it had a correct image. Also, anything with less than a 50mm objective lens is undesirable. The 50mm lens allows you to star-hop with stars down to about mag 10 in a dark sky.

[Lady Fraktor]

I use either Antares RACI or Stellarvue RACI optical finders, a MRF (multi reticle finder) or a Telrad.

https://www.astronomics.com/7-5-x-50mm- ... inder.html
https://www.stellarvue.com/stellarvue-9 ... ck-f050m2/
https://www.stellarvue.com/deep-sky-mrf ... nder-f002/
http://telradfinder.com/

[pakarinen]

Generic red dot on my ST80, 9x50 University optics RA on my ST120 although I sometimes use a Celestron Starpointer Pro red dot.

I bought a CI diagonal for the 9x50, but I tried it on my main scopes and won't take it off now - I love the "correct" view.

[KathyNS]

My 8" Newt came with a standard 162mm (FL) Synta finder. I think that's about a 9x50 or thereabouts. I don't use it, since that scope is for AP only, and I use plate-solving to find my targets.

That finder now sits on my 8" SCT, which I take on field trips, such as the annual star party. Beside it is the red dot finder that came with the SCT. It is pretty easy to find a target in the red dot, then the finder, then a wide eyepiece.

My 11" SCT came with an 8x50 right-angle finder. Not a RACI, I don't think. The illumination system for the reticle was toast (hard to find batteries, and the microscopic incandescent bulb was burned out), so I converted it to a wired 12v LED, with an external dimmer that plugs into my regular 12v power supply.

[kt4hx]

I found with my ES ED80 that a Rigel Quikfinder was all I needed. Small footprint, light and it works well to aim the scope at a naked eye star. Then any star hopping (I don't use go-to, push-to systems) the ED80 can be its own optical finder using a longer focal length wide-field eyepiece.

https://agenaastro.com/rigel-systems-quikfinder.html

[helicon]

On the 18" just a telrad, on the 10" a rigel quickfinder and 8x50 RACI, on the 6" an 8x50 RACI (seldom used), red dot on the 5.1".

[seer]

I put an ORION 6x30 right-angle finder scope on my 114mm reflector and I love it. Much better than an RDF.

[Richard]

When I had mine 80mm WO I had a RDF on it but rarely used it with a short focal length a long EP like a 32mm was easy to find stuff , I used that scope for nice wide field views but as I decided that AP is not for me sold it , miss it a bit as it was made so well

[Chich]

Tossed my RDFs and replaced with Telrads. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

[Jay6821]

With my scope I upgraded from the stock red dot finder to a Celestron RACI Illuminated 9x50 Finderscope.

[Star Dad]

I use a green laser and mount from http://scopestuff.com. I hate red dots. I've never been able to successfully use them. The laser serves a dual purpose - besides getting me close to a visual target, I can show attendees where the scope is pointing. BTW - green lasers are illegal in Canada.

[515bonner]

I Telrad everything. I've tried the red dots and other stuff, and they just don't work for me.
Telrad is the easiest.

[Rainmaker]

I use the Baader SkySurferV on all my scopes. It is a beautifully made all-metal finder, very good range of RD brightnesses.
The X-Y adjustment screws have O-rings and caps to make it waterproof.
Comes with a spring loaded front cap that has a pinhole and a rear cap with target reticle to be used for solar alignments.