Best telescope finder scopes according to redditors
We found 63 Reddit comments discussing the best telescope finder scopes. We ranked the 21 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 63 Reddit comments discussing the best telescope finder scopes. We ranked the 21 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Things you'll want:
This book: http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundred-Telescope/dp/0521781906/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324830331&sr=1-3
Teflon pads as it is likely the pads on your dob suck and will make moving it suck as well.
A high field of view set of optics. I recommend any of the following (I have an 8" dob, you want a good wide-angle eye piece as it makes viewing a pleasure. Magnification is far from all important, esp. with a small telescope).
You need to collomate your telescope. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collimated_light. Basically, your telescope's mirror is likely very off center. A dobsonian like what you have is two mirrors, the main mirror (the big one), and the little post mirror that reflects light off the main mirror into your eye piece. You need a laser collomator that will shine a light from the eye piece into the telescope. If your telescope was properly collomated, the laser would bounce off of the post mirror, hit the dead center of the main mirror, reflect back onto the post mirror, and back into the collomator. Look online for more information.
Lastly, you probably want a Telrad. It makes pointing your telescope very, very simple, and almost eliminates the need to use a finder scope. http://www.amazon.com/Telrad-Finder-Sight/dp/B0000ALKAN (you don't need any accessories for this. Its wonderful).
Happy stargazing!
Edit: feel the need to qualify why I suggest Teflon pads. your telescope moves around on two axises, up and down, and left and right. Unlike a "conventional" refractor telescope (the ones that we think of as a good "my first telescope"), a lot of weight is placed on those bottom pads. If you replace the pads that came with your telescope's base with teflon pads, it will make it a lot easier to move it along that particular axis, asthere is less friction.
>So... my question is: where should I invest that money? Like, in photography, I was taught to spend my money on glass
Photographer here. It's the exact same in visual astronomy. Spend your money on either mirrors or lenses. Translating that to practical, it means don't buy an expensive mount.
You'll have to make a decision about whether you want to do primarily visual or astrophotography. For your budget, you can get top-of-the-line large aperture equipment for visual, or bottom-of-the-barrel equipment for astrophotography. Visual requires lots of glass, astrophotography requires expensive mounts and not so much on the glass.
If you are going with visual, you could get yourself a 12" dobsonian such as the Zhumell Z12 ($799) and and have enough left over to kit yourself out with a bunch of upgrades like a Telrad finder and a couple of very slick Televue eyepieces.
Someone else mentioned the Celestron 8SE, and that would be a good compromise - fairly big aperture but also capable of doing some astrophotography. But that is quite a bit more expensive than a 12" dob, and quite a bit smaller, so you're losing out on value if you really want to do visual.
Here's your scope
Here's your Telrad
Here's your book
$260, ten over your budget but you'll really want that book ;-)
Happy Gazing
I'd suggest using a Telrad finder. I took the finderscope off of my C8 pretty much right away and only use the telrad for rough-sighting in. I agree with you - the finderscope always blew my reference way out of whack.
If you have an Orion scope, this'll fit right in your dovetail.
Orion 52062 SkyLine Deluxe Laser Pointer-to-Telescope Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DGR5BM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UzjDAbCETWBP4
Just search Amazon for "telescope laser mount" or something similar.
Edit: derp, didn't see what laser you have. Might be a little big for what I linked, double check the measurements first.
I use this combo for autoguiding, and it works good so far. Check out r/AskAstrophotography for any questions about astro-imaging.
Congrats, and welcome to the club!
This time of year, definitely Orion nebula, Andromeda and Jupiter.
In Spring, Mars and Saturn should look nice through that 10" dob!
Also, if I may impart a tip. Invest in a Telrad finder. Seriously. They ROCK.
http://www.amazon.com/Telrad-Finder-Sight/dp/B0000ALKAN
If you plan to do a lot of Lunar observing, I'd suggest a Lunar filter. The moon is VERY bright through an eyepiece.
Hello :-)
Which Astromaster? No finder currently, or what are you trying to upgrade from?
In the lower price-range, the red dot finders are the best. Cheap finderscopes usually are pretty flimsy, don't show a lot, lack of contrast. At least it's easy to point the red dot finders at something.
Red dot finders made for rifles usually have a tinted piece of plastic to reduce glare, which unfortunately is making the view dim at night.
The red dot finders from astronomy companies should be a bit better. But there are differences, too.
Here's your typical 5x24 plastic finder. Yes, they work, but it's more a searching scope than a finder scope ;-)
If you want something useful, this is not the right choice.
 
Here's a cheap 6x30 right-angle finder, but it's from Germany
It's not great either, but beats the 5x24 by a length.
 
8x50, 9x50 scopes cost quite a bit more. ($70 up or so AFAIK)
 
IF you are planning on upgrading your telescope, you could also shop around for a (used) Telrad or Rigel finder, which would still be useful once you've upgrade. New, it's $40 or so though.
 
Clear skies!
The big dobs are super easy for kids to handle, too. They sit on the ground and you just grab the end of the scope and swing it around. I've had a 12 year old out having fun with mine, not scared in the least that they could knock it over or damage it.
For ease of finding things for the kids, I would add a Telrad Finder, and stick that thing on the side right next to the normal finder. Kids are short and have an easy time leaning over and looking up through the finder and pointing the scope at different spots in the sky. Took a minute for them to get the hang of guiding the scope.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000XMVE0/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Nxxwub0F5RMEA
The telescope is definitely going to come with a collimating device of some sort. I've only ever used a laser collimator, so I'm not sure how hard other collimating devices are to use. It never takes me more than 5 minutes to collimate my dob though.
I would get a 2x barlow (this one is pretty nice and also cheap), and some gold-line eyepieces. They're recommneded often on here because they're not too expensive but still pretty good. I would maybe get maybe the 15 mm and 6 mm. Those combined with the scope eyepieces and the barlow should give you all the magnifications you could want.
Whether a solar filter is worth it is entirely up to you. However, just note that if you don't want to put in $100s of dollars, you're pretty much limited to something made with Solar Filter Film or a basic glass filter. The views you get from that are definitely nice, but it might not be what you're expecting. You'll see something like this with those filters.
If the scope doesn't come with a 0 magnification red-dot finder scope, you might want to get one. Telrads are considered one of the best one's on the market (and I love mine to death), but they can be a bit pricey. A cheaper red dot finder scope (like this one) should also serve you just fine.
Besides that, I would definitely recommend getting the book Turn Left at Orion. It's essentially the complete beginners guide to all things Amateur Astronomy. It's absolutely fantastic.
One small other thing I can think of is a red-light flashlight (like this). It's definitely not necessary, but it's nice to be able to look at things in the dark without losing your night vision too much.
For that budget your only option is really a startracker, something like this: https://www.skywatcherusa.com/products/star-adventurer-pro-pack or this: https://www.ioptron.com/product-p/3551.htm - There are several models in different price ranges, and a camera lens. You will also need a sturdy tripod.
If you want to go full telescope and mount i did a writeup that i have made a copy of here for what you will need to get going, excluding telescope and camera:
I am not trying to put you off this hobby, i love it myself and would like to encourage anyone to get into it. But you should know what you are getting yourself into and be willing to spend a good amount money up front. Be prepared to be frustrated at first and willing to learn. If you do and have the patience and dedication to learn about all this stuff it is extremely rewarding.
You can see my setup over here: https://old.reddit.com/r/telescopes/comments/ddp3ss/my_astrophotography_setup_20/?st=k1qba4ax&sh=85217a40 - something i would label as an advanced beginner/intermediate setup.
I love my AD8.
I've bought tons of eyepieces and accessories. Without a doubt the best accessory I've bought is this adjustable height chair. Having this chair is the difference between seeing something in space, and observing something in space. The best eyepiece in the world is worthless if you're too uncomfortable to spend much time looking through it.
Vestil CPRO-800LP Ergonomic Worker Seat/Chair, 13-1/2" Width, 10" Depth, 300 lb. Capacity, 18" - 33" Height Range https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052PJFCW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NCyoDb02ZGBPR
My next favorite accessory is the Telrad view finder. It's a game changer. After getting it, I just took off the viewfinder that came with the scope and I don't miss it at all.
Telrad Finder Sight https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000ALKAN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xGyoDbJDEY6Q7
For eyepieces, I love the big 2" that comes with the scope. It's my favorite. Otherwise I use this 8-24mm zoom eyepiece.
Celestron 93230 8 to 24mm 1.25 Zoom Eyepiece https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNV8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_QIyoDb0P2HZCA
I've bought tons of other stuff but most of it doesn't get used much. This three things I use all the time.
Clear skies!
I don't think this review went far enough so here is my additions:
Pro's: A Dobsonian Telescope is a big-ass light bucket. It will get more light than any other starter scope you will be looking at.
Con's: Like boogiemantm said, There is limited functionality. You will not be able to do astrophotography and you will have to learn the night sky yourself. This is a tough task and COULD limit your enjoyment. It's really preference on a part of the buyer. Also, you might not be able to fit it into a small car. Make sure to check the size of your car vs the size of the telescope.
Note: There are push-to dobsonians, or "Intelliscope's" as Orion calls them. These will cost extra money.
If you do plan on going with a dobsonian (that is not push-to) you will need a couple more items. Such as: Star Map Book, a better finder scope such as The Telrad, Eyepieces (You will need for any telescope you buy), and most likely a laser pointer.
Here is my suggestion: Shop around and learn about the telescopes before actually buying one. You should be able to speak with your salesman fluently in their vocabulary (otherwise your paying for something your not fully understanding).
If you need some links, just let me know and I'll promptly spam you with a bunch of informational links.
Looking for advice on a guidescope:
Trying to choose between the ZWO Mini Guidescope and this SVBONY 50mm Guidescope that goes for around $50-60 on ebay.
My rig is a Canon 80D or T2i on SkyWatcher Star Adventurer. Currently shooting with a 200mm lens, but I'd like to upgrade to an Evostar 72ED.
Just got an ASI120MC-S for my guide cam. My biggest considering with the SWSA is weight but price is also pretty tight. I know I'm already pushing the limits with the rig I want to set up. Any advice between the two scope? Would the mini be enough reach to keep using down the road? Is the SVBONY too much for this setup?
I'd strongly advise against getting a goto dob. They dont work that well and for the most part make it less likely you will use your scope.
Instead teach yourself how to star hop using:
https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundreds-Telescope/dp/0521153972
Then mount a telrad quick finder on your scope:
https://www.amazon.com/Telrad-Finder-Sight/dp/B0000ALKAN/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502122336&sr=8-2&keywords=rigel+quickfinder
Dobs are all about setting the scope on the ground and getting to viewing quickly and easily, a cheap goto mount will just fight you in doing that.
Listen to EorEquis and get Turn Left at Orion. Such a great book and will be of huge help while you're starting out.
Also, I'm not sure Gil_V is 100% correct that there are no shortcuts.
I started out with a 70mm refractor as well and was frustrated at the beginning, but then I got a reflex finder like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UNR796 and it made all the difference. Get something like that, and then use Turn Left at Orion to teach you how to starhop which is the step by step process of tracking down deep space objects. Watch this series (especially episode two) for detailed explanation on star hopping.
Also worth noting, M31 (and even M32 which is right next to it) will be easy to find in your scope even with light pollution. M33 is actually a pretty damn difficult one to spot because it's huge and pretty diffuse. It will likely be easier to find in binoculars at a dark sky location than through your scope.
Finally, (and this is a big one) know what you should be looking for. Galaxies are very fuzzy looking gray/white smudges of light. It takes years of practice and very very dark skies (and a much larger scope) before you will start seeing any detail. When you first find M31 (and that is a great target to start with), you will likely be underwhelmed with the visual. Over time though you'll learn how to see more detail and appreciate some of the subtlety.
Another important trick while you're hunting for DSOs is to move your eye around so you're not looking directly down (in other words, look to the edge of your field of view). This helps because the most light sensitive parts of your eyes are located around the edges and will help pick up those really faint bits of light.
Also, keep in mind that unless your laptop has some sort of red-screen viewing mode, any time you look at it you are destroying any night vision you've gained. Each time you do so, it will take ~30 minutes to regain full night vision. I would recommend sticking with the charts, and using a red flashlight to help learn the major constellations while starting out.
Good luck on your next clear night and hope this helps! Let me know if you have any specific questions.
I have my guider and finder mounted on one of these. It works fine.
The Orion MMAG is ideal for your scope. They have a "Pro" version with a better camera, but I have NEVER had a problem finding a guide star with the basic MMAG.
The "shoe" on the scope is flimsy. The 90mm rings you mention, attached to a Losmandy VUP11 dovetail bar would be good. I recommend the longer dovetail bar, because I had to slide the scope REALLY far forward in the mount's dovetail clamp because the weight of the camera, finder, guider, flattener etc are all at one end of the OTA. When I added my 4 pound MoonLite focuser, I was really out of balance for a while.
I think I had those 90mm rings when I bought my ED80T-CF (the Orion version). But when I upgraded my mount I upgraded the rings to something like this.
​
EDIT: here is a pic of my ED80TCF. You can see the finder and guider, can't really see the double mount for them. You can see the heavy duty 90mm ring set, sitting on a Losmandy D dovetail. (You need a V dovetail for your mount.) I have a flattener, and the red ASI071MC Pro camera.
What's your current setup? What parts comprise a "S4 on a stick?"
Because there are special followspot yokes for Source Fours. City Theatrical makes one that I think is garbage, as you NEED to thread it onto a pipe and cheseborough that to another pipe, and generally add another pipe to stabilize everything. I have also seen another kind that has no markings and they've been there longer than the house ME, so he doesn't know what brand they are. But they kind of look like this, with a clamp on top to make it easier to use them in a catwalk.
You should also have an Iris in there already.
And then some handles.
And then a telrad, which are pretty cheap because City Theatrical doesn't make them.. And I can speak from experience, having a telrad makes a huge difference for your spot ops. I have high school actors who have never done tech before run spot, and they were a hot mess before we got the telrads. But now, you would never know that opening is their third time running spot.
If you say that a 26º already works pretty well, why the need to change it?
Using source fours as spotlights is done all the time in professional places. Just because it doesn't come with a stand and say "FOLLOWSPOT" on the side of it doesn't mean it's a bad choice.
I'd recommend a Dobsonian mount over an equatorial (which the Orion is on). The troubles with an EQ are a) they're tricky to use - which means you might not see anything you want to the first few times out. Frustrating. And b) they're usually shaky. Vibration-prone. And sold with scopes that are too large and/or heavy for their design. And c) they're a pain to transport and set up, even after much practice - bulky, many pieces, assembly, etc.
I use a SkyWatcher Heritage 130p most of the time. It's really portable (a major reason I use it - I can set up and stargaze in minutes), has a 5" mirror (quite effective), and 'pushing' it to follow the moon or a planet, or a star cluster is easier than using an EQ mount. I've made a small table to set it on and use a piano stool when I don't just plonk it on a picnic table or the ground.
Bad parts? The finder scope (a 'red dot' type) is useless. I bought a cheap finder scope of this sort, taped it on the tube, and will probably invest in a better, properly-mounted one - it works great :-)
Hope this helps.
Equipment;
This is just 10 frames taken at 120 seconds.
This was captured with Astrophotography Tool and stacked in Deep Sky Stacker. I edited this with Photoshop and used the Astronomy Tools bundle and GradientXTerminator. After that, I uploaded the image to google photos and used their slider labeled ‘pop’ to bring out the edges a bit more.
This is the first real deep sky object I’ve taken. I’ve practiced on the Orion Nebula to get used to the equipment, and stacking software. I live in a HEAVLY light polluted area, at about a bortle 8. This photo was taken at a beautiful camp site near Tampa, FL called Peace River Campground in Arcadia. This area is a bortle 3.5 area, and truly took my breath away as I looked up into the sky. Coming back to my home, at an 8, made me realize just how bad it is.
Now, sadly, because this was the first trip I took with all my equipment, I wasn’t very experienced with breakdown and setup. It took me quite a few hours to find a good spot, get everything built up and get aligned. By the time I was ready, it was about 50^f out, and the ground all around me was covered in a layer of thick fog. Tip: don’t browse r/nosleep when everything is pitch black outside, and you’re alone in an unfamiliar area.
I still need to purchase dew heaters. Because of that, I only got 20 minutes of exposure before everything got unmanageable. Still, one of the most breathtaking nights I’ve had so far. It really hit me, got me excited, after the first frame and I could clearly make out the galaxy.
Hi, cool idea, but:
I would strongly consider not looking for a new telescope with that budget. It's possible you can pick up a used one, but if you don't know your way around them, that way is fraught with issues.
A lot of people also end up disappointed with lower-end scopes because they expect to be able to see much more (you most likely won't be able to see the rings of Saturn or the moons of Jupiter, that sort of thing).
Some ideas:
Oops! Here you go:
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-5691-LaserMate-Telescope-Collimator/dp/B008XEGXMO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510608062&sr=8-3&keywords=orion+laser+collimator
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-07212-Right-Angle-Correct-Image-Finder/dp/B0000XMVE0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1510608102&sr=1-1&keywords=orion+9x50+right-angle+correct-image+finder+scope
Something like this. The other thing would be a tripod to mount the binoculars on
[sorry for causing confusion --- we're still describing the same thing]
here's a better explanation -- a display behind an infinity corrected lens is basically a Reflex Sight -- see the animation on the wiki page there -- no parallax, see? Then they stick a lens array in front of that.
So:
Go buy a reflex sight like this one (for aiming telescopes) and replace the LED reticle with your LCD screen, then put a lens array in front of that, see if that works for you.
Hello,
I am using a Celestron Nexstar 4SE and a Celestron Neximage 5 camera for astrophotography. At the moment, I am using the Neximage in the eyepiece holder on the top of the scope. The obvious limitation of this setup is that I have to remove the eyepiece to use the camera. I'd like to use the rear port of the Nexstar 4SE for the camera, and purchased the Celestron Visual Back to do so, since that is how it was pictured in the manual. I realized afterwards that the visual back is compatible with the larger scopes in that series, but not the 4SE. After doing some forum searches, I found the Baader SCT to T2 adaptor would allow me to thread the visual back to the scope. Here's a link to the product:
https://www.amazon.com/Baader-Planetarium-SCT-T-Adapter-Ultrashort/dp/B004SP050S/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466377915&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Baader+SCT%2FT2+Universal+Adapter
My question is: is this the only product that can be used in my situation? I was unable to find any Celestron-branded adaptor, which I found odd since Celestron used this thread size on the 4SE. It was not clear if the scope isn't intended to be used in this way. Thank you for any advice on the subject.
If I were to order from the site the scope came from I dont see the "gold line" ones people are recommending and that is in your sources.
They have the Orion eyepieces. The Expenase and the bit more expensive "Edge On".
I don't mind splurging a bit more for the 6mm since I imagine that will be a lot of my initial viewing.
Then they have the Q70 for the wider field. Says "pre order" but I'll see if they have it.
They don't seem to sell the Telrad but amazon.ca has it. I assume I would also need to buy some kind of base?
Thanks for all your help!
EDIT: For the 6mm would it also be better to pay a bit more and go 2" on that as well? I dont mind the bit of extra money but sometimes more isn't always better I imagine. Thanks!
Mixed reviews for this one. No review for this. As for reuse on a future mount. Can't really make that call without knowing the OTA. Scope manufactures like to keep the finder mounts proprietary.
Here is a very specific idea:
A new edition of "The Astrophotography Manual: A Practical and Scientific Approach to Deep Sky Imaging" by Chris Wodehouse is coming out December 16th. I have heard from friends I trust that the 1st edition was very good. So I am waiting till the 16th to get the second edition myself. Thought it might make a cool gift as your match is unlikely to have it. Just not sure if the 16th is too late. $60
Other ideas:
8SE owner for over eight years, let me see if I can tackle some of these questions.
Enjoy and clear skies, there's no need to be nervous about your new telescope!
Agreed completely. I have an Astromaster EQ 130, and couldn't even find the moon with the stock finder. I got one of the Telrad finder scopes for it, and it blew my freaking mind!
I guess it's not really a pinhole camera, but I followed that design and just replaced the pinhole with a 5x24
finderscope ).
I got interested in pinhole cameras with the eclipse, and am experimenting with them now.
The image in the box is actually extremely sharp and crisp, my phone camera just sucks =/
I'm ordering one of these 16x52 monoculars to use instead of my finder, it should be a much better image at over 2x the aperature and 3x the magnification.
I'll let you guys know what that looks like, too. I'm also curious how decent the view of the moon, saturn, and jupiter will be with that monocular. I hope the moon will be awesome, and that jupiter and saturn will be discernable as planets.. so I can carry this guy around with me everywhere and get people interested in astronomy =D
Okay, great to know about the Autoglider, that's all great information. For the guide or finder scope, do you know much about this product or anything like it?
Or would something as simple as this work fine?
As a recent XT8 owner, here's what I've purchased so far:
Rigel or Telrad finderscope. I bought the Rigel as I think it will be a little easier to use than the Telrad and take up less horizonal space.
Right Angle Correct Image finderscope like the Orion 9x50 is also helpful.
Wide angle 2" eyepieces, between 26mm and 38mm is what people talk about. It will probably become your primary eyepiece too. I picked up a set of used Orion Q70 that I'm waiting to be delivered and try out. Explore Scientific is also a brand that gets good reviews.
As for mods, I've installed an Ebonystar ring laminate kit on the azimuth base to provide smoother rotation. And replaced the teflon pads with higher quality pads on the altitude base. Though I think I probably should have only replaced 2 of the 4 pads. I have too little friction now so the scope (being top heavy) tends to slip downwards on its own.
The scope was used and it came with the Celestron accessory kit listed below. I only use the 32mm Plossl, the Barlow, and maybe one other eyepiece. The rest of the eyepieces (the ones with small aperatures) are almost impossible for me to use since I wear eyeglasses. I've used the Moon filter a couple of times. The rest of that kit is useless IMO. I wouldn't purchase the kit, and would recommend simply picking up the eyepieces separately, preferably used on one of the many astronomy forums.
I'd avoid Orion branded items, even though I own a lot of them. Not that they are bad, just over priced. This is a good one: https://www.amazon.com/Astromania-Compact-Guidescope-Helical-Focuser/dp/B0156ICXMI/
A budget CCD/CMOS camera, is it worth it?
Hey all, this is my first post on Reddit, hope everything goes well...
I desperately want to get into astrophotography, but as you know being on a budget makes everything harder. I have a couple entry level scopes: Celestron Powerseeker 80eq and Orion Starblast 6/6i. I'm using a phone mount to align my smartphone with an eyepiece and take photos.
Now i'm thinking about getting a budget CCD camera, something like: Astromania SGCMOS, ZWO ASI120MC, Celestron NexImage 10, or something in this price range. is it worth it or will i be incredibly disappointed with the results? I mean budget scope + budget camera... i'm not expecting incredible results i just hope it will be better than using my smartphone.
Should I go for it? can you recommend something else in this price range? (200$ +-) Thanks for any feedback.
Cheers!