Need advice on spotting scope and dew shield for my new scope

[AstroNurse]

My CGEM 800 is due to arrive tomorrow, and I've been looking at this Telrad. Would anyone recommend this?

http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-accessories/finderscopes/telradreflexsightwithmountingbase.cfm?aid=43737&source=pjn

I also like these aluminum dew shields. This one says it's for Celestron 8" SCT, so it should work, right?

http://www.astrozap.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=108

Any other suggestions are welcome!

[Langy]

I have the Rigel, but that was based on size. I started a thread comparing the two a few weeks ago and there has been a few more threads since. The Telrad and Rigel both work the same way but the Telrad is heavier and bigger, more ideal for the bigger scopes. I think you will find that people who have both are very pleased with them, I for sure find it far easier than the RDF that was on the scope.

As to the dew shield, I will leave that to someone who knows about them.

Good luck and have great fun with the new purchase!

[AstroNurse]

Thanks!!

Also, the equatorial mount I'm getting comes with a single counterweight. Will I need to get a second counterweight when I add the dew shield and Telrad/Rigel?

[Langy]

If you used the Rigel it weighs grams and is very very light. The link below is a review on both of them.

http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/finders.pdf

You may be best to see how the weight goes when you get the scope tomorrow. If it is right at the end of the bar to balance the scope then adding anything else to the scope (which weighs more than a few grams) may mean some extra weight somewhere. I wouldn't believe that they would sell a new scope where the counter weight is at it's maximum with a standard scope, so I suspect there must be some play there.

I would guess someone on here who knows the scope will be able to offer you an answer straight away.