How to fit guidescope to 130PDS

[BrendanC]

I'm going to get this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/KKmoon-Finderscope-Astronomical-Telescope-Guidescope/dp/B07PZK2W3Z

How do I fit it to this: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-130p-ds-ota.html

By which I (probably) mean: what bracket would I need to buy? Some sort of dovetail?

Thanks, Brendan

Edited June 13, 2020 by BrendanC

[carastro]

Should hopefully fit in the finder shoe.  Asking them what size the doevtail is. 

I put my skywatcher finderguider in my finderscope shoe when I had this scope.

Might be easier to buy the finder from a proper Astro dealer who can answer your question. 

This will fit and it's cheaper:

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

Carole  

Edited June 13, 2020 by carastro

[BrendanC]

Thanks. I had considered that model but I'd like to go a bit longer on the focal length. 

[BrendanC]

So, if I did decide to go with that model, how would I have both a finder and a guidescope? And how would I fit a camera to that model, because it just looks like a finder scope to me, not a guide scope? So many questions...!

[carastro]

First of all just to say I have been using a SW finderguider for donkeys years with no problem, including with the SW130PDS.

You don't have to have a separate finderscope, as you can look at the laptop to see what the finderscope is seeing, but if you really want to have both, then you can buy one of these.  

A dual finderscope bracket:

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p8314_TS-Optics-Dual-Finder-Scope-Mounting-Bracket---Findershoe-for-2-Finderscopes.html

Carole 

 

Edited June 13, 2020 by carastro

[BrendanC]

Interesting. I'm tempted, but I still don't see how a camera would fit to that finderguider? I have the smaller 6x30 model and there's no way I can see that I could attach a camera to it. Thanks for your help here btw.

[carastro]

Quote

how would I fit a camera to that model, because it just looks like a finder scope to me, not a guide scope? 

Sorry, missed that question.  You unscrew the eye piece and put in an adapter made for the Finderscope and the Guidecamera you have chosen.   I have attached a photo of my finderguider (this is the gold version of the Skywatcher scopes).  QHY5 camera in the back. 

Carole 

 

Edited June 13, 2020 by carastro

[carastro]

I previously owned a a 200PDS, this is a photo of it mounted on the 200PDS

[carastro]

Quote

6x30 model 

You are right, the 6 x 30 finderscope is too small, you would have to buy a 9 x 50 SW finderscope (which I linked to above) to fit a camera, but it will fit in the same bracket on the scope as the provided finderscope.  You could then use your supplied finderscope in the dual bracket.  

Carole  

[BrendanC]

Fab, thank you so much for your help, really appreciate it.

[Adam J]

14 hours ago, BrendanC said:

I'm going to get this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/KKmoon-Finderscope-Astronomical-Telescope-Guidescope/dp/B07PZK2W3Z

How do I fit it to this: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-130p-ds-ota.html

By which I (probably) mean: what bracket would I need to buy? Some sort of dovetail?

Thanks, Brendan

 

14 hours ago, carastro said:

Should hopefully fit in the finder shoe.  Asking them what size the doevtail is. 

I put my skywatcher finderguider in my finderscope shoe when I had this scope.

Might be easier to buy the finder from a proper Astro dealer who can answer your question. 

This will fit and it's cheaper:

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

Carole  

Carole the issue with that on the 130PDS is it shifts the blance too far forward as the mirror is so much lighter than the 200p or even the 150pds.

Depending on how heavy the rest of your imaging kit is you can counter this by buying a couple of long 30cm dovetails to move the rings apart and the CoG backwards.

Adam

[carastro]

I would have just shifted the scope in the tube rings until it balanced and it worked just fine.  Plenty of images taken with this set up to show it works OK I just didn't have a photo of the guidescope on the 130PDS as an example. 

Carole 

Edited June 14, 2020 by carastro

[BrendanC]

Would it be possible please to link to the adapter that you use to attach the camera to the scope?

[PeterCPC]

22 minutes ago, BrendanC said:

Would it be possible please to link to the adapter that you use to attach the camera to the scope?

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-sky-watcher-9x50-finder-to-c-adapter.html

Peter

[BrendanC]

Ah yes, so that's the one I found, and could not quite believe they're charging £29 for it! So, I could get a 9x50 finder scope for £39, which is great, but then shell out another £29 just to connect the camera. Hmmmm...

There absolutely must be a way to connect the first finder scope I listed in the title of this thread. It's not just that one, loads of finder scopes seem to have those fittings.

[PeterCPC]

Welcome to the world of astrophotography 😁 or money pit.

Peter

[BrendanC]

Indeedy! 

I don't mind paying for example for the first guidescope I mentioned because it's all included. Even if the eventual cost of the 9x50 solution is the same, I will forever resent having to pay 29 quid for an adapter. I just don't want to do it on principle!

Edited June 14, 2020 by BrendanC

[BrendanC]

OK, so two findings:

Would this enable the larger guider scope to be fitted: https://uk.telescope.com/Orion-Guide-Scope-Ring-Mounting-Bar/p/109859.uts

Is this essentially the same as the 9x50 guider scope but complete with adapter: https://uk.telescope.com/Orion-Mini-50mm-Guide-Scope/p/109903.uts

[PeterCPC]

You could fit a vixen bar to the top of the scope on the tube rings if you so wished. If you look at the costs involved, the cheapest solution is the 9x50 SW finder plus the adapter. Your choice. 9X50 finders come up for sale quite often or you could place a wanted ad.

Peter

[BrendanC]

Thanks Peter. So you're saying that the mounting ring would work? And is the other finder essentially the same as the 9x50? As per my last post?

[PeterCPC]

The KKmoon scope looks to be ok as a guidescope and should slot into the findershoe as Carole was saying or could be mounted on vixen dovetail fixed to tube rings. I use a vixen dovetail above my scopes to mount a guider as I wanted the load to be less eccentric. The Orion guidescope mounting bar is just a Vixen dovetail bar really.

Peter

 

[BrendanC]

Hi again Peter, 

Good to know it's good as a guidescope, even better if it would fit into the findershoe.

I still need to know though, would this mounting ring work with it? https://uk.telescope.com/Orion-Guide-Scope-Ring-Mounting-Bar/p/109859.uts

And is the other finder essentially the same as the 9x50? As per my previous post? https://uk.telescope.com/Orion-Mini-50mm-Guide-Scope/p/109903.uts

Just yes/no/don't know would really help me out! I'm just building a list of potentials, and I just need to know these last two details before I commit.

Thanks, Brendan

Edited June 15, 2020 by BrendanC

[PeterCPC]

I can't say for certain that the Orion vixen bar would work because I don't know where the holes are and you would also need a means of connecting the findershoe to the bar. The Orion mini guidescope is a 9x50 guidescope so yes it is essentally the same as the SW 9x50. It would fit the standard findershoe on the telescope.

Peter

[BrendanC]

Thank you!