5 replies to this topic

[25585]

Either on top or beside? What binos and mounts do you use?

[MT4]

No can do.   

 

The reason being that doing so would rob me of valuable eye relief.

[aznuge]

Nope, but sometimes I will lay a small pair atop a large BT as a resting place.  That's as close as it gets.

[norvegicus]

I will, now that I've modified this L bracket by turning the dovetail 90° and installed the Y axis balancer on the other side for my FS-128.  

 

Best Mount Ever.  So versatile.

 

Edited by norvegicus, 18 September 2023 - 06:25 PM.

[sevenofnine]

All the time. With my Dob, I often use a mounted binocular. I've tried various ones in my collection but the Oberwerk 20x70EDU works best for me. First, I scan the area of my target with smaller binoculars that hang around my neck. When I'm pretty sure I'm in the right area then I switch to the 20x70. Depending on the target, I may not ever use the telescope but usually I do. This system makes the finding fun and very easy   

[petertinkerer]

Either on top or beside? What binos and mounts do you use?

25585,

 

There is no question in my mind that 7X50 or 10X50 binoculars make the best finders.  However mounting binoculars directly on the main telescope is often  awkward  and then using straight through binoculars becomes increasingly uncomfortable beyond 45 degrees elevation. With the arrival of small, 4 milli-watt direct drive lasers, which work down to at least 0 deg F, it is easy to fully separate the finding binoculars from the main telescope.  To make everything so much more comfortable it is relatively easy to convert straight through binoculars to 90 degree eyepieces using some 3D printed parts, see photo.   Once you have located the celestial object directly in the binoculars or the 6 degree star field surrounding the object you briefly turn on the laser which is easy to pick up in the main telescope using just a red dot finder.

 

Peter

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