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Post by Mike on Jan 9, 2012 22:43:51 GMT -5
Hey Guys, I need your input here. What is your preferred finder scope and what bracket do you use? We are contemplating drilling extra holes in the tube for finder bracket attachment. I need to know what everybody is using. I use a Stellarvue finder. Help me out here.
Mike
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Post by Watcher3 on Jan 10, 2012 1:57:33 GMT -5
Stellarvue 50 or 60mm RACI with the R50F bracket.
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Post by borispider on Jan 10, 2012 14:21:46 GMT -5
c4r by jendave3, on Flickr Same but I don't have the 'ring' holder. Not sure where I got this holder. modified:posting pic prob.'s
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Post by Mike on Jan 10, 2012 22:46:21 GMT -5
So that's it? Over 100 members in this club forum and only 2 responses? Man, if I posted this at CN there would be 200 responses by now. Not going to be much of a survey...
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Post by Watcher3 on Jan 10, 2012 22:59:47 GMT -5
At least it's unanimous!
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Post by borispider on Jan 11, 2012 10:52:56 GMT -5
We even got a pic in there
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Post by plyscope on Jan 12, 2012 23:44:29 GMT -5
I use the GSO 8x50 straight through. I've got two of them. They are only $50 including the bracket and get the job done. Fairly light weight too. They use a Vixen style finder shoe.
Andy
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gord
Full Member
Posts: 82
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Post by gord on Jan 14, 2012 21:40:58 GMT -5
Mike,
I assume you are more asking about the mount dovetail/bracket...
I have two that I use. The Vixen style (and one all the Synta clones) is used on many of my scopes. Many come with it built-in, and most others use the same two bolt pattern for the shoe. I have this on likely 7(?) of my scopes. Very popular so this would be a good pattern to pre-drill/tap in the tubes. At least as an option. It's pretty universal.
The other (and it's on my 150F10 achro) is the Astro-Physics. It's something of their own design (I think...), although I'm wondering if it could be the same as the StellarVue.
At any rate, it is higher quality than the other. All machined dovetails/etc. It though also only uses two holes (for the shoe). It would be very easy to drill for this one also. You could even support both for example with just 3 holes. I think the A-P one has a wider spacing than the Japanese/Chinese one.
Clear skies,
-Gord
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Post by vmetoile on Jan 15, 2012 8:56:26 GMT -5
hello Mike,
i use a antares 7X 50 90° illuminated and i am very happy with it. i also use red dot finder wich i like too. both are mounted on the usual standard bracket.( no picture since i am not home).
as i can see on stellarvue web page is that the rings can be adapted to diferent type of bracket, if it was me i thing i choose the one with two thumb screws. then your finder can be adapted to other bracket if needed ''just'' get another adaptor.
more pictures of that scope please Mike
bye
Vince
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Post by istarmullet on Jan 16, 2012 12:23:34 GMT -5
I went with the moonlite focuser and attached my finder to it rather that the scope. This obviously adds some weight to the far back of the scope but it works just fine. What I think you guys should consider is a sliding counterweight rail that comes standard with the scopes, especially the f12 and longer, so the balance can be adjusted by sliding the weight on the rail. This is my one and only "issue" about having such a long scope.
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Post by borispider on Jan 16, 2012 14:12:20 GMT -5
I love the look of those sliding counterweight rails and would install one just for looks.
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Post by istarmullet on Jan 16, 2012 14:24:53 GMT -5
Me too. It's the next thing I need to purchase to make the scope more useable. I like to use many eyepieces during the night, switching from my large, heavy ones to my orthos and plossls is difficult given the weight difference and the imbalances that ensue.
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Post by Mike on Jan 18, 2012 0:38:55 GMT -5
Gord, can I get a picture and some measurements?
I really need to move on this. I can't keep sending scopes out without some kind of provision for finders. I drilled two scope tubes for customers last week before shipping. I sent an OTA out to "Chuck" and he emailed me about a finder. I asked him if he knew someone that could help drill precision holes and fortunately he did.
A universal set of tapped holes that would accommodate several styles of finder is the ticket.
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Jan 18, 2012 3:48:01 GMT -5
To everyone: We are going to drill the holes into the tubes as soon as I find out from Mike and all of you out there. We CNC drill an average of 25 holes in each scope so it wont cost more to drill few more. We are still shipping scopes without these finder scope bracket holes (too bad since we are nearly done with next batch of 12 scopes due to be shipped to USA next week) but all new models will have this issue taken care of. So your quick help, drawings sent to Mike Harden will help. Mike, make sure to contact manufacturers of these specific bracket types just to make sure we have the ring measurements, also get a sample of each and we must try in production. I will pick up these brackets from you during my US trip in February. Thank you all, cheers, Ales
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gord
Full Member
Posts: 82
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Post by gord on Jan 18, 2012 22:12:26 GMT -5
Mike,
I sent you an email with some details I could gather up quickly. I need to measure my A-P bracket to give you an exact number on that one.
Clear skies, -Gord
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