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Ben Ritchie
Lost in Space
Reged: 01/31/05
Posts: 4389
Loc: Bosham, UK
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Hi folks
I have recently acquired an ETX-105AT as my first telescope, and have been very impressed with it. However, there's one real annoyance - the finderscope. It's the right-angle one on the left side of the eyepiece holder, and it's fine with the 26mm and larger eyepieces. However, shorter focal length eyepieces sit below the level of the finderscope, forcing me to use my left eye to look through the eyepiece. Unless I'm being really foolish (quite possible) I can't see any way to move it (it would be fine if it was on the right-hand side). Maybe it's something I'll get used to, but I find it really annoying - I find my right eye the natural one to use with a telescope.
The ETX-PE seems to have a much better setup for the finder. Can you retrofit this to the -AT, or is there a third-party solution ... or am I the only one to find it annoying?
Ben.
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Observatory:- Astro-Physics 130EDT StarFire, Baader SkySurfer V, EQ6/pro
Outside:- TeleVue 76is/Vixen Porta II
Eyepieces:- 2-4mm Nagler zoom, 5mm & 6mm Radians, 9mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 24mm & 34mm Meade SWAs
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tacode
member
Reged: 12/07/04
Posts: 71
Loc: Blandon, PA
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You could remove it and get a red dot finder like the Orion EZ-finder. I've seen them mounted with double-sided tape to the OTA. As far as a PE retrofit, I've not seen anything yet.
I have the Meade finder on my ETX70 and have issues as well. I prefer my left eye to observe. As a result, when it's cold out, I invariable breathe on my EP as I observe through the finderscope, freezing it up. An EP dew heater would help, but as a work around, I turn the finder almost all the way left. It's pretty easy to realign, so I don't worry about it too much - besides, I only use the finder for the initial alignment anyway.
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Tom C.
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Tom C.
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Michael Morris
Member
Reged: 01/05/05
Posts: 1518
Loc: Worcestershire, UK
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I find that a red dot finder is extremely useful and would highly recommned fitting one. However, I wouldn't get rid of the finderscope. The red dot finder is great, but no good for trying to centre faint objects in the eyepiece. You need a finderscope to do this. Remember that the ETX 105 is a small scope and as a result an awful lot of targets are faint in the eyepiece. As the previous post said, rotate the findercsope through about 30 degrees will help.
As far as red dot finders go, IMHO the Giant Mars Eye Finder (red or green lights) or the almost identical Stellarvue finder (red only) are the best compromise between quality, size and price (see the finderscope reviews at http://www.weasner.com and the reflex finder shoot out at this website for further info). I mounted my Stellarvue finder on the right hand side of the OTA by aralditing the mounting block onto black plastic next to the eyepiece holder.
If you still have a problem with short-eyepieces, get an eyepiece extension barrel from Scopetronix. I use them on all my short barrel eyepieces, which completely cures the problem on my ETX 90.
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Michael Morris
8" LX200 classic with piggy-backed Orion 80ED and Revelation 66mm Apo
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro (portable mount for Orion 80ED and Revelation 66mm Apo)
Observatory Almira Observatory Website
Co-author of NightCal Astronomical Observing Calendar Software http://www.nightcal.co.uk
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tacode
member
Reged: 12/07/04
Posts: 71
Loc: Blandon, PA
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That's a good point, Michael. I forget about the FOV difference between the 70 and 90, 105, and 125. With a much narrower FOV on the Maks, a finderscope would still be essential. The 70 is so wide, it practically is a finder scope!
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Tom C.
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Ben Ritchie
Lost in Space
Reged: 01/31/05
Posts: 4389
Loc: Bosham, UK
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Quote:
As the previous post said, rotate the findercsope through about 30 degrees will help.
 knew there would be an obvious thing to try!
I'll give that a go before more major surgery on the ETX. If I ever get a clear night, that it ... six days of overcast and counting 
Ben.
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Observatory:- Astro-Physics 130EDT StarFire, Baader SkySurfer V, EQ6/pro
Outside:- TeleVue 76is/Vixen Porta II
Eyepieces:- 2-4mm Nagler zoom, 5mm & 6mm Radians, 9mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 24mm & 34mm Meade SWAs
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I have an ETX-90 and I changed the finder with the one Meade sell with a prism. It is not a solution, but it helps.
The finder is definitely in the wrong place for my nose.
Mike
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