29 replies to this topic

[CHASLX200]

I wonder if any of the late 70's early 80's Celestron orange 6x30 RA finder are still around?  Seems to be a rare bird these days.

Edited by CHASLX200, 02 February 2018 - 06:43 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

IIRC, Bill Vorce (Telescope Warehouse) had one years ago -- the first I'd ever seen.

[CHASLX200]

IIRC, Bill Vorce (Telescope Warehouse) had one years ago -- the first I'd ever seen.

It will be a hard find.

[Kokatha man]

...I "think" I saw one of these in the CN classifieds awhile ago - of course I do conflate things sometimes!

 

But I'm fairly sure the ad was there tbh, I've only just put down a 6X30 straight-through finder to look at CN...I'm converting it to right-angled & was just noting down the lenses & spacers order in the ep end: I've made the rest of it, here's how it's going - & because after finding out the 0.965" Kellner 18mm ep I was hoping to use has such horrible distortion everywhere except dead centre fov in this particular arrangement, I thought "that RA finder would've been good to get!" (the K18mm seems fine in the f15 vintage scopes, but not this f4.7 objective)

 

[CHASLX200]

A 6x30 RA finder would be perfect for my C5.

[terraclarke]

The orange Vixen Celestron 8x50 RACI finder comes up in the classifieds from time to time. The hole pattern in the bracket is probably so close that it could easily be made to fit. 

Edited by terraclarke, 02 February 2018 - 08:19 PM.

[chipdavis]

     My C8 came with one only it is from University Optics and I love it. By the way a friend from my astronomy club had one for sale not to long ago here on Cloudy Nights and may still have it but I would have to check.

[CHASLX200]

The orange Vixen Celestron 8x50 RACI finder comes up in the classifieds from time to time. The hole pattern in the bracket is probably so close that it could easily be made to fit. 

The curve is not the same for the C5 . I don't think a 8x50 would work anyways.

[CHASLX200]

     My C8 came with one only it is from University Optics and I love it. By the way a friend from my astronomy club had one for sale not to long ago here on Cloudy Nights and may still have it but I would have to check.

I never see them pop up anymore.

[starman876]

This C5 has the straight finder

 

 

 

[starman876]

and sometines I use this finder

 

[terraclarke]

 

The orange Vixen Celestron 8x50 RACI finder comes up in the classifieds from time to time. The hole pattern in the bracket is probably so close that it could easily be made to fit. 

The curve is not the same for the C5 . I don't think a 8x50 would work anyways.

 

Just trying to help. There would be enought ‘meat’ on the foot of the 8x50 finder bracket that it could pretty easily be recurved. RACI finders are easier to use given the height of the C5; at least that has been my experience. I generally use my C5 seated. Mine came with the standard straight through my orange finder. I think its 5x25 but it might be 6x30, I would have to look? I don’t use mine much because I have to crawl around on the ground to do so. It’s mostly an artifact because it’s not very practical. You can also put a Vixen finder shoe on using the existing holes. That gives you a lot of options including reflex and laser finders, and it is easily,converted back to original condition.

[Kokatha man]

..."curves, smurves"  - PVC tubing is a panacea for getting just about all curve profiles to mate up.

 

I do it regularly with my DIY compulsion - it's very easy to re-profile one particular curve to another by having a selection of various diameter thicker & thinner plumbing odds & ends (building sites skips/dumpsters are good scavenging grounds) & if you need something thicker to work with even the numerous connectors are only a couple of bucks each at the hardware store!

 

All you need is some coarse grit emery paper (preferably cloth-backed as a piece will last almost your life-time ) & look around the house or yard for something to profile your adapter on...a gas bottle, large jar...downpipes...profiles of various things found in just about anyone's house or backyard...the side of a water tank...an old spare tyre...junk - the list is endless!

 

Cut a small piece off, split it in halves & there's your piece ready to be profiled!

 

I look on it as a pathetic emulation of mirror grinding where you can play around with the piece while you profile it on your former/s: it only takes about 15 minutes & you have a spacer plate that conforms to whatever instrument you're placing your finder on whilst the other side of the adapter conforms to the finder-holder's shoe's profile...

Edited by Kokatha man, 02 February 2018 - 10:12 PM.

[CHASLX200]

and sometines I use this finder

 

c5 find.jpg

Is that the 30mm or 24?

[CHASLX200]

 

 

The orange Vixen Celestron 8x50 RACI finder comes up in the classifieds from time to time. The hole pattern in the bracket is probably so close that it could easily be made to fit. 

The curve is not the same for the C5 . I don't think a 8x50 would work anyways.

 

Just trying to help. There would be enought ‘meat’ on the foot of the 8x50 finder bracket that it could pretty easily be recurved. RACI finders are easier to use given the height of the C5; at least that has been my experience. I generally use my C5 seated. Mine came with the standard straight through my orange finder. I think its 5x25 but it might be 6x30, I would have to look? I don’t use mine much because I have to crawl around on the ground to do so. It’s mostly an artifact because it’s not very practical. You can also put a Vixen finder shoe on using the existing holes. That gives you a lot of options including reflex and laser finders, and it is easily,converted back to original condition.

 

Not sure if a 50mm would clear the side of the fork when using the scope.  I used a Tuthill 50mm RA finder mounted to a later 70's C5.  But it was mounted with a hose clamp.

 A 50mm really don't scale right with a C5 and throw balance off. Perfect size would be a 35mm RA , but one was never made.

 

I wanna keep it all Celestron.

Edited by CHASLX200, 03 February 2018 - 06:25 AM.

[starman876]

 

and sometines I use this finder

 

c5 find.jpg

Is that the 30mm or 24?

 

[CHASLX200]

I want it.

[terraclarke]

[starman876]

I want it.

I know, but I am not selling it. Sorry

[terraclarke]

How about a Televue Starbeam and this?:

 

https://optcorp.com/...eam-sct-bracket

[CHASLX200]

How about a Televue Starbeam and this?:

 

https://optcorp.com/...eam-sct-bracket

I gotta keep it 100% stock.  I don't use a finder that much, just hate bending and cracking my neck to look thru a finder. Just picked up a set of Circle NJ's so i should be back in bizz.  This is gonna be for solar and planets most of the time.

[steve t]

How about a Televue Starbeam and this?:

 

https://optcorp.com/...eam-sct-bracket

I have a Starbeam on my scope and really like it. Being all metal  it goes with my preference to reduce the amount of plastic on my scope 

Steve T 

[Don W]

I have seen them on the Classifieds a few times.

 

As to 'recurving' the base, it's not a good idea. Those early mounts were made of cast aluminum. It doesn't bend, it breaks.

[starman876]

I have seen them on the Classifieds a few times.

 

As to 'recurving' the base, it's not a good idea. Those early mounts were made of cast aluminum. It doesn't bend, it breaks.

I think they were talking about using sandpaper to recurve the base

Edited by starman876, 03 February 2018 - 12:23 PM.

[photiost]

I have never seen a RA 6x30 orange finder on a C5 .

 

My C5 also has the straight finder 

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Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by photiost, 03 February 2018 - 02:50 PM.