Finder

[Saso]

I just want to now what are your experiences with finders - optical finders, anything like Telrad and with green lasers. What do you prefer?

I only have experience with my 6*30 straight true finder. It is a little hard when you search objects in zenith, but you approximately now where you point in the sky. It is not bad but I don't have anything for comparing.

Thanks for input .

Saso

[GazOC]

Saso,

I have a Rigel finder, its much easier to find objects than with an 'normal' finder. A lot of objects just arn't visible though a 6x30 or a 8x50...

Gaz

[Greg]

Saso,

I'm the same as Gaz - go for the red dot finder, much easier to use and about £15

Greg

[Jamie]

I have the red dot finder and i also use the straight through

6x30 and 10x50 (some objects need the straight through optical version)

But for general use the red dot finder is very useful.

[Saso]

Thank you all for your answers.

Saso

[The Warthog]

I like my red-dot finder, but there are some circumstances where an optical finder cuts through the haze to what you want to see. Green lasers are said to be good, but are banned at most star parties because they interfere with people's astrophotography, and there have been some irresponsible users of them.

I sometimes put in my 32mm ep, and use the scope as a 30x114 finder.

[FLO]

IMHO, you should have two:

A 1x laser-finder for quick finding of bright objects and a conventional straight magnifying finder such as an 8x50 for more accurate pointing.

A good tip for the latter is to use the both-eyes-open method where both the actual sky, seen thru one eye, can be seen together with the magnified finder scope image, seen thru the other eye... It takes practise and not everyone can do it.

One more thing: TAL finder scopes are fantastic! (The Russians put as much effort into their finder scopes as other manufacturers do in their telescopes).

Steve

[russ]

Like most I use two finders, a straight through 9x50 optical and a red dot finder. The zero power finders (red dot, Telrad) are good to a point but as pointed out, you need an optical finder for more precise object locating.

Agree with Steve regards Russian finderscopes. The 12x55 on the Intes was a work of art, fully multi coated air spaced doublet with a fully baffled tube and dew shield....nice!

Russ

[MartinB]

I was really struggling with finding objects with my newly acquired Tal1 on Saturday. Looking for M81/82 in Ursa Major I could visualise exactly where they should be and could just about make them out with bins but the finder scope revealed very little. It was dewing up but this was cured by a hair dryer. I think the main problem was probably the impossible angle I was working at. It seems so awkward to use a guide scope for anything at all high in the sky on the Tal. Presumably a red dot finder gets around this problem.

Martin

[russ]

The only trouble with a red dot, taking M81/82 as an example, you can only point in the rough direction. There's nothing bright nearby to nail them. But in the optical finder there's a distinct pattern of stars to hop from.

If i'm on a deep sky hunt, I only use the optical finder but for everything else the red dot is perfect.

btw Antares do a nice 8x50 right angled finder that makes the high bits easier. Scopes'n'skies do it for a reasonable sum.

Russ

[MartinB]

A right angled finder could be a god send. I'll explore that Russ thanks.

Martin

[CELESCOPE]

u got a 9x50 on the gps Martin

[MartinB]

Don't worry Rog I'm not going out spending more money just yet, it's just that I want to improve my "sky navigating" skills and have found using a guide scope quite awkward.

Martin

[Saso]

Once again thank you all for your answers.

Saso

[tom.yates]

I Have both on the scope

[Saso]

Thanks again for all your answers.

I decided to buy red dot finder in future, but I wait for review of Galileo electronic finder to decide which one I buy. It is not bad to orient with brightest stars because in optical finder is sometimes to many stars with similar magnitude and I'm not sure which one is right. I'm beginner so I think this finder would help me a lot.

Saso

[AstroTiger]

in all honest, i must agree, i am being won over to the red spot finder

My current is a 8*30, and never really focusses too wel.

You also lose the cross threads by night.

So i am going to invest in a red spot finder i think, has enough :-)

Al

[Saso]

Hello,

I just bought Telrad finder. But I have one problem, not with Telrad but with my eyes I think. When I look trough Telrad with lights on I see three sharp circles, but when I switch lights off in a few seconds this sharp circles become blur and I also see maybe 3 images for each original circles from Telrad. Of course when I switch lights off I also dim Telrad image but that is not helpful. Anyone have experience like this?

Saso

[FLO]

This is connected to your eyes depth of focus (which reduces in low light as your pupil size increases).

Are the circles blurred when you look at them or thru them to a distant object?

[Saso]

Hello,

I just try this indoor because of bad weather so when I look at them.

Saso

[Saso]

Thank you Steve,

you give me idea that I must try Telrad outside and not in full dark room. Now is everything alright. Live and learn.

Saso

[FLO]

Your welcome