11 replies to this topic

[Craven]

This scope is already a compact scope.   Do people typically use finderscopes with refractors this small?  Id like a RA scope for ease of use, but they all seem to be as big as the AT72EDii, itself. 

[havasman]

Yeah, a finder's kinda redundant. I like a red dot finder on a widefield refractor. The Astro-Tech is good. 

[Don Taylor]

I use a finder on my AT80 with my alt-az mounts. Useful if i'm using high mag and i lose the object. Easy to recapture in the finder.

Low power sweeps - no finder needed.

Edited by Don Taylor, 19 February 2021 - 05:34 PM.

[drd715]

This scope is already a compact scope. Do people typically use finderscopes with refractors this small? Id like a RA scope for ease of use, but they all seem to be as big as the AT72EDii, itself.

The 72 is a finder scope. But yes you can add a finder in particular if you are using the 72 as an imager and can't look through it. A RACI 90* illuminated reticle finder is helpful or just a red dot.

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[Jethro7]

This scope is already a compact scope.   Do people typically use finderscopes with refractors this small?  Id like a RA scope for ease of use, but they all seem to be as big as the AT72EDii, itself. 

Hello craven

I use a small retasked gun sight on my AT60ED. 

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro.

 

[gwlee]

I use a small SV red dot site on my AT72ED2. I believe it’s the same one Astronomics sells. I don’t much like red dot sites, but it’s small, light, and works OK for this scope.

 

My low power EP is a 27mm Panoptic that gives 4.0* FOV at 16x, so I don’t always mount/use the finder. I normally use a high quality, 90* AMICI prism with this scope, so chart, naked eye, binocular, finder, and scope views all match. 

 

For planetary observation, which is exclusively high power observation, swapping my low power EP in and out to use it as a finder is a PITA, so I am more likely to use the RD finder for planets.  For other observing situations, relying on my LP EP as a finder is more convenient.

Edited by gwlee, 19 February 2021 - 11:05 PM.

[BFaucett]

I use the Orion 6x30 RACI finder on my small scopes.
 
 

Astro-Tech AT72EDII

 

Astro-Tech AT60ED

 
Cheers! Bob F. 

[Redbetter]

A simple RDF is all that is needed (for visual anyway.)

[alphatripleplus]

+1. I have a red dot on mine, but I rarely have need of it on my goto mount.

[sportsmed]

I will echo what everyone else is saying, red dot finder, use one on my ST80 and it does the job. Works well for higher mag viewing and when viewing low mag, its not needed.

[Zubenelgenubi17]

Like others are saying, a red dot finder is going to be the way to go. I've been using a Rigel Systems Quickfinder on all my scopes for 7 years now, and it may be the best $40 I've spent on astro gear.

[Don Taylor]

Well - you could always use a finder the same size as the main scope - here's a 61mm finder on a 60mm refractor. And with the eyepieces chosen the main scope has lower magnification than the finder......