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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 3503
Loc: New Mexico
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Surely some people must have some nifty solutions for placing some sort of finder scope on their ETX80 scopes. Just curious to see what anyone would suggest.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6695
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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The Rigel QuickFinder seems to work well. I don't use a finder on my little ETX-60, but it would be a big help in finding the alignment stars.
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-John
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Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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Backscatter
member
Reged: 02/20/09
Posts: 10
Loc: Puget Sound, USA
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Josh
I recently got the Astro-Tech #ATF Illuminated Multiple Recticle Finder, it is my first.
I looked at 3 different finders at a local store, including the Rigel. The Rigel was the least expensive, but to me it seemed too large for the EXT-80 and didn't "feel right" (= very subjective). May work great, or not, cant say.
The Astro-Tech is compact and a solidly built unit (heavy little...). It was quick and easy to align with a provided hex head and has directional arrow markings (in case you forget, hands up.... anyone) adjacent to the screws. You can get extra bases and it can easily switch between different scopes. It comes with a cover for the optics, has multiple reticle and brightness options.
I have typically used it during alignment, not that it was really needed, but it does make it so much quicker/ easier/simpler. I will remove it after alignment, but if needed it takes less than a minute to mount and turn on. After that, the high precision option eliminates the need for the finder most of the time for myself.
I removed the fabric liner from the bottom of the base(meant to prevent scratching the tube, after you just drilled holes in it?..) and applied double sided foam tape (3M), mounting it at about 11 o'clock. I attached the finder to the base at least 25 times since and have little or no drift and have not had to readjust the finder.
A downside to some might be that the A-T was powered by a watch battery.Other units are powered by AA or AAA batteries.
I can't say much about the 3rd model really, I was so unimpressed, I din't even look at it that much (garbage ergonomics, knobs were poorly attached, I looked at it once, and put it down).
So far I have enjoyed using it, and think it will be an nice upgrade from the OME on the "analog" scope.
Hope that helps
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Meade ETX-80AT-TC, Meade 4500 Newtonian
Meade 25mm & 9.7mm S Plossi, Swan 15mm EP
Celestron 2x Barlow Ultima SV
Zhumell EP & filter set w/Barlow
No room for my golf clubs
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KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
Posts: 9268
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
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I really don't see the point. I'm big on finderscopes and less so with reflex finders but these little scopes are basically finderscopes in themselves even when used in the manual mode. With a simple 25mm GSO plossl my ETX will show 3.5º of the sky at 13X. My 24mm Panoptic showed me 4.4º at a whack. If I get a real brain cramp,my escape mechanism and face saver is to simply hit GOTO.
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Kenny
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." - Albert Einstein
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yock1960
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/22/08
Posts: 949
Loc: SW Ohio, USA
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I second the Rigel. I use a Telrad on my setup, but that's a bit large for the ETX.
Steve
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LXD75 GEM
Orion Starblast 4.5" Imaging Reflector
William Optics Zenithstar 66 SD APO
Meade DSI II OSC
Meade DSI III OSC
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
Televue Powermate 2.5x
Discovery 6" Dobsonian
Nikon Action Extreme 10x50's
Gallery
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 3536
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Here is a picture of the Rigel Quickfinder mounted on my ETX 90---- works just fine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boatman1/2145341118/
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s-- www.texasastro.org
"Great minds discuss ideas;Average minds discuss events;Small minds discuss people." Unknown
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