Finderscope recommendations?

[Cuto100200]

Any right-angle finder scope recommendations for dob?

[johninderby]

Simple. The skywatcher errect image finder. Works well and is the standard upgrade for dobs.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/skywatcher-9x50-right-angled-erecting-finderscope.html

Or of you prefer a black bracket.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/astro-essentials-9x50-right-angled-erecting-finderscope.html

Ideal coupled with a red dot finder like a Rigel Quickfinder or  Telrad if you have the room

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/rigel/

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by johninderby

[John]

I use the 9x50 right angle corrected image (RACI) finders with my larger scopes including on my 12 inch dob. I have 6x30 RACI finders on my smaller aperture refractors.

Mine are either Skywatcher or Orion (USA) branded but made by the same manufacturer. Like this:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/astro-essentials-9x50-right-angled-erecting-finderscope.html

Some people like larger aperture finders (eg: 60mm, 70mm etc) but I find 50mm does the job well for me and the star fields shown match those in my favourite star atlas - the Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas.

With my dob I use the optical finder alongside a Rigel Quikfinder zero magnification illuminated reticule finder. I find having both very useful. This is the top end of my 12 inch dob:

 

 

[Pixies]

How do you find the Rigel? I see some comments that it doesn't 'stick' as well as a Telrad. It looks a lot neater.

[johninderby]

I simply bolted mine on. Never going anywhere. Think the two sided foam tape that comes with it isn’t as sticky as it used to be. Bit of silicone sealer will work really well.

I find the Telrad is a bit easier to use but is a bit on the big side although not too heavy. It’s mostly an empty plastic box.

Edited April 30, 2020 by johninderby

[John]

6 minutes ago, Pixies said:

How do you find the Rigel? I see some comments that it doesn't 'stick' as well as a Telrad. It looks a lot neater.

The Rigel works very well. It has 2 circles rather than the 3 that the Telrad has which define 2 degrees and .5 of a degree of sky respectively. Mine is around a decade old so I have replaced the sticky pads on the base a couple of times over the years (easy and very cheap to do). My scope is kept indoors which might help. There is a screw hole in the base if you want to use that. For me, I needed to save as much weight and space as possible at the top end of the scope so I went for the Rigel. I have owned Telrads in the past with other scopes and they do the job excellently as well.

 

[Barry-W-Fenner]

Morning all,

I am also a fan of the compact Rigel and wouldn't be without it now. I also found the sticky pads to be not much use. So much so that I went to get the scope out to cool one evening and found the Rigel on the floor, In one piece fortunately.

I have now attached with a couple of small blobs of silicone sealant. Its not going anywhere now!

 

Baz

[John]

The Telrad base has a larger contact area with the scope of course so the sticky pads can be larger.