iPeace Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 * TS INED ED 70: I'm certainly happy with it - which is good, as it's my first scope * 1.25" TS diagonal: stated 99% reflectivity, certainly gets the job done for me - time and experience with other gear will tell * TV eyepieces: certainly happy with them... * Rigel Quik Finder: all the hype is true, fantastic bit of kit, once you learn how to use it. Must write this one up someday soon. A DIY fudge to mount on this small scope (with tie wraps on dew shield) but very much worth the money and the faff. * Orion 9x50 illuminated RACI: had to get one to see what the fuss was about; very nice, may prove indispensable * Manfrotto 405 geared head: obviously not designed for astronomy, but very portable and very nice for slo-mo tracking * Photo tripod: very sturdy and adjustable ...and then there was a TV85 on its way to the bay, which had to be stopped... But that's another story. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laudropb Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Very nice looking portable set up. The Rigel looks enormous on your scope compared to on my Dob, but totally agree, it's a great piece of kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iPeace Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 4 hours ago, laudropb said: Very nice looking portable set up. The Rigel looks enormous on your scope compared to on my Dob, but totally agree, it's a great piece of kit. Yes it's definitely a case of a pair of finders apparently making off with the scope... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fiery Jack Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 (edited) Started in a really minimal way, built up quite a collection of eyepieces and scopes. The longer I am in this game the less I have come to realise I actually need. I try to keep things to the absolute minimum these days and always buy secondhand. Better for the environment, better on the wallet, easier to use in the field. Edited February 20, 2016 by Mr Fiery Jack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyWB Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 To be honest, I don't bother with a find on my little refractor; with a low power eyepiece it has such a wide field of view I don't think that it need a finder scope, not when I'm using the Rigel Quickfinder too. It's a nice looking setup. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iPeace Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 23 hours ago, AndyWB said: To be honest, I don't bother with a find on my little refractor; with a low power eyepiece it has such a wide field of view I don't think that it need a finder scope, not when I'm using the Rigel Quickfinder too. It's a nice looking setup. Thanks - I agree, the Rigel may prove the RACI redundant, but we'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeDnight Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I hope you don't mind me voicing a different opinion here. Although I love your beautiful little refractor, for me the Rigel and the right angle finder would have to go. I'd have fit the scope with a Televue red dot finder. They are handsome, Slimline and have a wonderful flip mirror in which you can view the stars with great ease. There would be no struggling with a right angle finder and it would liberate your beautiful scope from having to carry that ugly Rigel contraption designed by a criminal maniac. With the Televue finder your scope would be far easier to pack into a back pack or case, and there'd be no chance of catching the finder with your head. It would also look super cool! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bomberbaz Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 47 minutes ago, mikeDnight said: I hope you don't mind me voicing a different opinion here. Although I love your beautiful little refractor, for me the Rigel and the right angle finder would have to go. I'd have fit the scope with a Televue red dot finder. They are handsome, Slimline and have a wonderful flip mirror in which you can view the stars with great ease. There would be no struggling with a right angle finder and it would liberate your beautiful scope from having to carry that ugly Rigel contraption designed by a criminal maniac. With the Televue finder your scope would be far easier to pack into a back pack or case, and there'd be no chance of catching the finder with your head. It would also look super cool! Mike Don't hold back Mike, say what you think won't you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeDnight Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 1 hour ago, bomberbaz said: Don't hold back Mike, say what you think won't you I get all emotional when refractors are involved. Sorry, I can't help it! It's an illness! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Drew Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 And the TV finder would cost almost as much as the scope! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iPeace Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 11 hours ago, mikeDnight said: I hope you don't mind me voicing a different opinion here. Although I love your beautiful little refractor, for me the Rigel and the right angle finder would have to go. I'd have fit the scope with a Televue red dot finder. They are handsome, Slimline and have a wonderful flip mirror in which you can view the stars with great ease. There would be no struggling with a right angle finder and it would liberate your beautiful scope from having to carry that ugly Rigel contraption designed by a criminal maniac. With the Televue finder your scope would be far easier to pack into a back pack or case, and there'd be no chance of catching the finder with your head. It would also look super cool! Mike Thanks, I truly appreciate this. It's clear I've gone for "function over form" here, and aesthetically speaking this begs to be ridiculed. But it does work, for me. By a strange coincidence, I've just managed to secure a TeleVue Starbeam from a fellow SGL member. He gave me a really good deal on it - even included a matching TV85 which he kindly attached to the finder, very decent of him, I must say. So I live in hope - bordering on confidence - that one day soon, justice will be done and you will no longer suffer the image of a Rigel atop a refractor in my care. Perhaps you'd be interested in the details, as soon as my new, pre-loved Starbeam with matching refractor arrives? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeDnight Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 6 hours ago, iPeace said: Thanks, I truly appreciate this. It's clear I've gone for "function over form" here, and aesthetically speaking this begs to be ridiculed. But it does work, for me. By a strange coincidence, I've just managed to secure a TeleVue Starbeam from a fellow SGL member. He gave me a really good deal on it - even included a matching TV85 which he kindly attached to the finder, very decent of him, I must say. So I live in hope - bordering on confidence - that one day soon, justice will be done and you will no longer suffer the image of a Rigel atop a refractor in my care. Perhaps you'd be interested in the details, as soon as my new, pre-loved Starbeam with matching refractor arrives? It would be nice to see your starbeam sitting on your little frac. I hope you like the thing now I've mentioned it. Personally I think they're great! What a nice chap your SGL friend is for attaching the TV85 to the starbeam.. It would be nice to see that too. Mike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iPeace Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 5 hours ago, mikeDnight said: It would be nice to see your starbeam sitting on your little frac. I hope you like the thing now I've mentioned it. Personally I think they're great! What a nice chap your SGL friend is for attaching the TV85 to the starbeam.. It would be nice to see that too. Mike. Who knows? I may just leave the Starbeam on the TV85... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iPeace Posted March 3, 2016 Author Share Posted March 3, 2016 On 2/22/2016 at 21:18, mikeDnight said: I'd have fit the scope with a Televue red dot finder. They are handsome, Slimline and have a wonderful flip mirror in which you can view the stars with great ease. There would be no struggling with a right angle finder and it would liberate your beautiful scope from having to carry that ugly Rigel contraption designed by a criminal maniac. Ah, well...the Starbeam has indeed proven to be all you said. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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