Finder scope for a DOB?

[swiftfalcon]

Hello all. I am getting started finally after many years of excuses and I am putting a scope and some accessories together. I have a 10 inch Lightbridge with the red dot finder and am looking at adding a right angle power scope. 1. How important is having lighted cross hairs? Is it more of a nice added feature that is probably not necessary? Right now I am looking at it as something that will / can possibly break down the road. 2. Having the feature of changing eyepieces seems like a useful tool? 3. What about the aperture? There are some 80mm units out there that resemble a decent small telescope. Looks like an 8x50 or something close would do it? 4. What about the weight and how much can you add before it starts affecting the balance of the 10 inch scope? Am I missing any major issues? Thanks, Jason

[GriffinBF]

Hi Swiftfalcon, I can't comment on the RACI at all, but I removed the red dot finder on my 12" LB and replaced it with a telrad. With the weight of the telrad (11oz I think?) and my Hyperion EP's, I had to add 3lbs of counterweight to maintain balance.

[swiftfalcon]

Those Hyperion's must be heavy? I dont care for the finder on my scope but I need to give a good go before and if I remove it. Works ok but the bending and squinting though the viewer is what I dont care for. Thanks

[BobDob]

Hey Jason!

Good to hear you are putting that "Bad Boy" back into service.

I've finally settled in on what works best with my 12" DSO. A 5mw green laser puts me in the area. My Telrad (much better than a red dot, & do get the riser for the base) refines the position. Its great particularly when used with the T-rad charts. Then, my 9 X 50 RACI puts me smack on. Lighted crosshairs? Yes, it does help if you're "goin' deep".

Balance is NBD. A strip of Velcro at the lower end of the OTA and a home made bean bag (I use the end of an old sock) filled with whatever you have around for weight, and you're set. You can also use the battery pack for your fan in the same fashion as part or all of the counterweight.

You're talking about changing ep's on your finderscope, as with buying a small refractor for a finder? That would be useful for small DSO's. I'm putting my 127 Mak on my OTA at the balance point for planets, but not as a finder.

Let us know what you do, and how its working for you...



Bob

[BobDob]

Jason, dunno if you'd be interested but there is a finder on CN like the one I have for a decent price, not illuminated tho':

Cloudy Nights Classifieds (CNC) - Orion 9x50 Right Angle Correct Image Finder Scope - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds



Bob

[swiftfalcon]

I am sitting in the flight path of DFW airport. I would have the laser police all over me in short order using one of those. Ha! I guess I will take another look at a tetrad. The pictures make it look a little bulky was my concern. What appears to be the higher end power scopes, they all have removable eyepieces. Don’t know if it’s a common practice to swap these out on occasion? With focus and this feature it looks like a small telescope. The Orion was my original choice until I started looking into them probably more than I needed to. Another bad habit of mine is overanalyzing things before making a decision.

[swiftfalcon]

Jason, dunno if you'd be interested but there is a finder on CN like the one I have for a decent price, not illuminated tho':

Cloudy Nights Classifieds (CNC) - Orion 9x50 Right Angle Correct Image Finder Scope - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds



Bob

That one is already sold. I tried to register on that site a couple of times and I was never able to get a responce from the site confirming my registration.

[BobDob]

Jason, I encourage you to pursue the CN issue. It's a really good forum with lots of depth of information available. They have mod's you can contact. Give'r another go...

[Lenbo]

Hi Jason. I have both a both an Orion 9x50 RACI finder and a Telrad on my 120mm refractor. I recently acquired a used 8" reflector to use interchangeably on my EQ mount. Initially I moved the 9x50 over and not the Telrad just to try it out. Boy was I lost without the Telrad. I could probably live without the 9x50 but not the Telrad. Len

[matthewota]

Illuminated cross hairs are useful when in a very dark sky location. Otherwise there is enough contrast to see non-illuminated cross hairs.

A Telrad is probably the best choice.