Alternative scopefinder

[fredman]

Hey all

I have a Astromaster 130 EQ and i think that the red dot scopefinder is pretty useless.

Does anyone have ideas for a substitute?

I found some, but i can't quite grasp the specs (magnification?), and wich one to choose.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I personally would go for a RACI (Right Angle Correct Image) finder. This makes life a lot easier, especially near zenith. A 9x50 (or thereabouts) should be fine. If you ever decide to upgrade your scope you can mount that on the new one as well.

[kerrylewis]

The Telrad Finder is very popular. I use one with my scopes and would thoroughly recommend it.

[ronl]

I use one of these http://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/rigel-quikfinder-compact-reflex-sight.html the Rigel Quikfinder is

smaller and lighter than a Telrad, they both work the same way, you don't need the extra

battery pack, because the coin batteries last for a very long time, as long as you remember

to switch it off after finding your target, but you still may need a finder scope to accompany

the Rigel or Telrad it depends how good you are at star hopping, I have to say, the Rigel

has made it so easy for me finding targets, I couldn't be without it now, also it is very easy

to fix to your scope, no screws are needed, the pads that come with it are very good.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Telrads and quickfinders have a very good reputation. They do rely on naked-eye stars, however. This is where a finder scope is better: you can see far more stars, making star hopping much easier. A combination many people use is a Telard or Quickfinder to get into the right general area, and the finder scope to zoom in on the object. With a 9x50 you will often be able to see brighter DSOs directly in the finder itself (certainly many of the Messiers or Caldwells).

[fredman]

Went searching for pictures of scopes with both attached, it gets a bit crowded lol, but i get the point of having both. That will be one of my next purchase for sure. Until then i'll decide wich one. Maybe both but not at the same time as the money doesn't stretch that far.

Anyway i'll try to search for used ones here, althought i doubt it.

[fredman]

Thank you all for your input [emoji3]

[Redbird48oo]

Had a Telard and a 9x 50 right angle mounted on my 130, worked out great.

[Geordie mc]

Having both a red dot and 9 by 50 works well for me. My Explore Scientific finder has an illuminated crosshairs too which is also useful at times.

[Alfian]

The standard RDF on the Celstron 130EQ is a pain and  the pain is made worse by the fact that the OTA  does not have the standard type finder shoe fitted , unlike the Skywatcher 130 that does.  A shoe can be fitted  but to do a proper job it means stripping the scope down to drill the tube. Not a hard job, but time consuming and of course its a re-collimation job from scratch. I know, I've done it. You could stick a shoe on the tube using double sided sticky pads, but with something as heavy an 8 or 9 x50 finder on, it may be pushing it a little. 

The Rigel Quickfinder though does go very well on the 130EQ. Its light and though a bit plasticky is quite sturdy and clips in solidly enough to its own base which in turn is secured by very sticky pads. The finders position on the scope  can, within reason, be put  where it suits you most (not where the original finder is, which can be quickly removed and left to gather dust somewhere) Compared to the Celestron item it works like a dream transforming the "finding" aspect of the scope. Yes, its a zero magnification illuminated reticule finder, but by star hopping its pretty easy to get sufficiently close to your chosen target to be able to pick it up in your scope using a 25mm EP.

[StarSeeker]

Gotta agree as regards the the dire finder supplied with the 130, swapped that for a rigel quickfinder and have never looked back, although if i had kept the original finder on i might have had a better chance at finding stars if i was looking backwards!

[ronin]

You will find that a finder is personel item. What others like and you like can be utterly different.

I "once used" a Telrad on a scope.

I say "once used" as I could not see a thing through it no matter how I tried, honestly 2 pins in a bit of foam would have been more use to me :grin: . However others rate them highly, as you can read.

Some like a finder that collect light as there are more stars to see, others will find that more stars simply confuse them.   So will more stars help or confuse you ??

Take care picking one, if possible try a different finder on someones scope and see how you get along. One thing I learnt is not to get myself a telrad, we just incompatible and do not get along. :rolleyes:

[fredman]

Thank you for the coments.

It will be dificult to try one before purchase.

Here we dont have the amateur community like you've got. I think there is one but pretty small, i'll try there.

[fredman]

Hey guys, making a 'up' on this post.

I have finally purchase a new finder (used) and got it today.

It's a quickfinder, altought i dont think that it as a brand, and i think i need another piece so i can attach it to the scope.

This is what it looks like (the original finder already taken out).

Does anyone has an ideia how i can attach it?

I tought about puting some double face sticky tape, as i read here sonewhere, but the part where the finder touches the scope is just too deep.

I am thinking about geting e small piece of wood to fill that bottom space and then put the sticky tape.

What you guys think?

I am open for sugestions.

Thanks

[Alfian]

Hi, you are right, its not the  Rigel Quickfinder which looks quite different to this type of Red Dot Finder. Finders can come in various type of fitting, some have a kind of "shoe" that it slides into. I am assuming that this has no other part that it fits into. Does it have any holes in the base?

Failing all else, you may indeed need to carefully craft a kind of adaptor that could be snugly fitted to the scope using the very sticky double sided pads. With care, there is no reason it should not work.

[fredman]

Hi, you are right, its not the Rigel Quickfinder which looks quite different to this type of Red Dot Finder. Finders can come in various type of fitting, some have a kind of "shoe" that it slides into. I am assuming that this has no other part that it fits into. Does it have any holes in the base?

Failing all else, you may indeed need to carefully craft a kind of adaptor that could be snugly fitted to the scope using the very sticky double sided pads. With care, there is no reason it should not work.

It does have holes in base, yes.

I was thinking of getting a piece of balsa wood as it is more lightweight.

And probably is better to work with, when i try to get the scopes curvature right. That'll be the hardest parte i think

[Alfian]

Some scopes (usually smaller cheaper ones) instead of having a finder shoe into which the finder slots into, have two small threaded pins attached to the OTA. The finder is then placed over them and two nuts secure it. I suspect your finder may be one of these.

Balsa wood, though light and easily shaped, may be too soft to provide a solid base. It may be possible to fill the space in the base of the finder, with epoxy resin/hardener similar to that used for some hobbies and car body repair work and when dry  gently shaped to suit. A bit messy though so a lot of care needed.

Just checked on this site:

http://www.astroboot.co.uk/AstroBoot/telescope-and-astronomy-stuff.html?needle=finder

There are a couple of items towards the bottom of the page that would do the trick, I think, but I guess cost of postage would not make it worth the hassle.  It may give you an idea for a fix though.