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Has anyone come up with a way to dim the finderscope on the AT102EDF? Even at the lowest brightness setting, it is too bright. The way it is constructed, adding anything to the circuitry to dim the LED looks daunting.
Suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks, Jack Huerkamp

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HI Jack,

I also have an At102ED (it's my only scope) and have really enjoyed it's quality. Also, I too had to do some re-work on the FT focuser, as there was a flaw in the inside of the casting that the focuser was rubbing against. A little work with a Dremel tool and I polished it out, reassembled and adjusted and now it is smooth as silk.

As for the AT reticule sight, yep, it's a bright sucker even at lowest power setting. My suggestion is to go to a garage sale (or the local 7-11) and get a pair of cheap, lightly-tinted sunglasses that have plastic lenses. Then, remove one of the plastic lenses and trim it to fit the backside of the sight window.

Now, that said I have to tell you that I have only tried this to test the theory but have not gone as far as customizing a sunglass lens to cover the area. It actually works pretty good though when I just hold the sunglass lens up to the back of the sight window and then view through it.

I also made a mount that allowed me to mount the reticule sight up on the front scope ring, so that way I wouldn't risk a trip to the chiropractor when trying to sight in on a target.

To be honest I have adapted a mount so that I could mount my Orion 9x50 RACI, which is my finderscope of choice. I do think that will dim the light enough to make it usable, however, and not cost an arm and a leg in re-engineering the whole thing.

Awesome scope in this rookies opinion, and all I'll ever need in a 102mm refractor.

Hope this is of some help.

Mike

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Astro-Tech AT102ED
Orion Sirius EQ-G
Edge-On and Stratus EP's

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge

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