Telrad Poll

Greets,

For those of you who have telrads on your scopes (Rigel and Apogee competitors ok as well), I'm curious.

How many use the telrad exclusively and no longer use a finder.

What are the skies like in your typical observing session?

I'm curious because I just ordered a Telrad (goody!) and wonder if I can just replace it entirely. I'm in a suburban, light polluted area, so I'm thinking I'd benefit more from having both available. But would like to hear from others.

Matt

Most my scopes have GO-TO or DSC's, so a Telard is all i need. Now if had just a scope without GO-TO or DSC's, i would use a 80mm finder. My skies are mag 4.3 at best, most nites it's mag 3!

A 80mm finder is great for finding objects!

Chas P.

I like a Telrad plus a 50mm finder. My skies are 4.0-4.5 and I like to view DSOs even under a full moon. The Telrad helps hitting those guide stars, good companions.

Telrads are OK alone if the skies are dark, but it sounds like you are in a situation similar to mine and an 8x50 finder is a big help because there are not that many naked eye guide stars.

jon

Matt,

Here in the Southeast our skies range from 3.5 to 6.5 at the darker locations. The telerad is great for star hopping into a field you want to get to, and as long as it's collimated to the telescope you can just pop in a 40mm or wider EP on your scope and probably find most targets and/or close reference stars.

A 50-80mm finder is useful if you're looking at several objects in a larger field and want to pinpoint them before looking through the main scope. If you have a setup that allows the heavier weight of an 80mm consider getting an Nebular filter/LP/and even a solar filter for it, then you've got a multipurpose unit. An 80 is impractical and weighty on newtonian/dobs less than 16", so opt insted for a 50 or 60mm. If you have a 9.25 or larger SCT then an 80mm is doable, but a balance system would be helpful.

And don't settle for Meade or Celestron 50mm's, get a finder that has really good optics, otherwise looking through it is more of a pain than it's worth.

Telrad only

1.3 deg TFOV maximum field with my 6" f/8 and 1.25" focuser

Sky at home is 4 to 4.5 magnitude, 6 - 7 at dark sky star parties.

Most of the time Telrad only is fine. But at times I struggle and wished I had a good finder or a wider FOV eyepiece for finding.

I'd keep the finder for a while.

Mike

I use a Telrad on both my DOBs. I do use the 16x80mm Finder as well though on the 15". I use the Telrad to get in the area and the finder to get to the exact location, if it does not show in the EP. But at 16x you can see a lot of the DSOs and 4.13° FOV helps a lot as my 31mm Nagler only gives 1.5° FOV. I also use other EPs int eh finder at times to give a wider FOV or more magnification.
You could get by with just a Telrad for sure.
Floyd

I use a Telrad & an ST-80 mounted on my GOTO SCT. No need for Finderscope...

Telrad Rules!



Ivan

I use both my Rigel and regular finder, but more and more, I seem to be ditching the "regular" finder altogether.

-Jake