So as a follow up to this thread, I did get my 50mm finder up and running for last Friday's observing run. It worked great, and my scope was able to loose at least 10 pounds of counter-weight on the mirror box as a result. I also made a much improved alignment set up by using two pieces of angle aluminum to fashion a simple alt/az adjustment. This is way superior to the twin ring apparatus I used on the 70mm finder. Very happy with this "new" finder. Cost was $0.00! Mat -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2012 8:33 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] What finderscope do you use? On Sun, Feb 12, 2012 at 6:25 PM, Hutchings, Mat (H USA) < mat.hutchings@siemens.com> wrote:
The Rigel Quickfinder is on all my scopes. I also use a 70mm f4 refractor I made from a lens out of a copy machine on my 16" dob. However, that finder is very heavy and I, just yesterday, finished a 50mm finder I made from a cruddy pair of 10X50 binos. That will replace my 70mm as soon as next week (weather permitting).
Mat, you've discovered that "copy lens" scopes, while working perfectly, tend to be heavy. Blame the triplet design, and massive hounsings.
I have some 70mm bino objectives available, if you would like one. Nice, lightweight doublets. No heavy housing. Typically plastic. I have a 70mm home-made finder of 320mm focal lenghth. It's a weird doublet lens, unknown provenance, not a bino objective. I got it from Apogee (not the camera/mount company) some ten or fifteen years ago. But the imagery is excellent for such a short lens. I use it with a 32mm 2" illuminated x-hair eyepiece, yielding about 10X, with a 2" diagonal. _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. To unsubscribe go to: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This message and any included attachments are from Siemens Healthcare and are intended only for the addressee(s). The information contained herein may include trade secrets or privileged or otherwise confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this message in error, or have reason to believe you are not authorized to receive it, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender by e-mail with a copy to Central.SecurityOffice.Healthcare@siemens.com Thank you