I just bought a new 9x50 finderscope to use with my scope. I used to guide it only with a one of those L.E.D finders . I get shocked how easier is to find yourself with the the real finder scope. I cant imagine how is possible for serious observation use only that dot finder. I want to know the preference of other members about finders.

For anything serious I also prefer a 50mm finderscope. Illuminated Reticle is a big plus. But for small telescopes the red dots seem to be perfect.

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Only finder I have mounted on my 14" LX200R is a Telrad. My 10" f/5 has both an 8x50 and Telrad. 99% of the time I prefer the Telrad. While a unity finder like the red dot finders it uses a reticle of known diameters. After using it for a bit I literally see that reticle when looking at the star chart and thus can easily position it among the stars to find even 14th magnitude galaxies I'd never be able to see in a finder. The finder's restricted FOV makes this type of "finding" impossible. I grew up on regular finders having started in this hobby back in 1953 when I started construction of my first scope. But when the Telrad came out I quickly became a convert. Now I only use the 8x50 when I forget the binoculars and want a binocular type view of something. I just don't use it as a finder.

I hate red dot finders however. I need that reticle, not just a dot.

Rick

My 16" Dob uses a 50mm finder and a Telrad. The vast majority of the time, I use only the Telrad. I only use the finder if the thing I'm looking for has no good, visible guide stars around it.

My star charts came with a little clear plastic thing that has the Telrad rings printed on it, to scale. The software I use can be set to any number of different finder configurations, one of the standards is a Telrad.

On my ETX (first generation) I removed the finder and replaced it with a Telrad-like finder. No dot, but a set pair of concentric circles. The finder on the first generation ETX was basically useless when mounted on the scope.

The only scope I don't use a Telrad for is a Goto LX90. I use the finder on that one to set it up and after that, I just use the keypad to tell it what I want to see.

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Great info! Really informative. It is helpful for me.
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When my Dob is pointed near azimuth, it makes we wish I had a right-angle finder; my straight-through finder is very hard on the neck looking up.

Nick

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That reminds me, I need to order a new bracket for my finder scope. It broke is is being held by a piece of small rope. Makes for a real pain when it comes to aligning it with the main scope.

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I haven't used a finder scope in years. I removed the finderscope when I first got my XT 10 in 2003 and installed a Telrad. I'm definitely a Telrad convert. I did try a 'red-dot' finder from Orion, but it was practically useless because you couldn't see anything through it except the red dot.

On my 10 inch Dob I have both a 60mm finder and a Telrad. Like others, I use the Telrad almost exclusively.

I find the Telrad gets me where I need to be, and I can then star hop using a wide field lens in the main scope easier than using the finder.

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It goes to show how out of it I am since I had to go look up what a Telrad is. Looks very useful. Anyway, when I actually get a chance to use my scope I'm still using a 50mm finderscope on my 4" Newtonian. I think it's a bit heavy for it, but it works well enough for me.

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I use a Stellarvue SV50 spotting scope, which is identical to their 50mm finder scope, as my finder. I'm going to add an illuminated reticule as well. It has very, very good optics, I highly recommend.

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