Telrad Finder

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Equipment Reviews:Misc Accessories:Telrad Finder

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Brand and Model:Telrad Finder
Price ($USD):44.00
Type:Finder
Description:The Telrad is a reflex finder, by far the most popular of this type.
Telrad Base is additional $8 USD
Vote Highlights Vote
Telrad Finder
A Telrad finder came standard on my Discovery 17.5" truss scope. It is a totally satisfactory device.
Plusses
1) very easy to line up the view through the Telrad with the view through the EP, using the three knobs at the back of the unit.
2) if you forget to turn it off don't worry - the battery is probably good for months.
3) i use it to calibrate my DSC's, without climbing the ladder, simply by placing the line-up stars inside the inner circle of the bullseye..
4) i can find stuff while standing on the ground, without needing to climb the ladder.
5) it is so easy to use that i do not bother with my DSC's. I use the Telrad to find the nearest convenient object, then star-hop - quicker than messing with the DSC's.
Minusses (not many :)
1) i would not bother buying the little fold-down "dew shield" that some suppliers sell... it dews up anyway.
2) Only way i have found to keep it dew-free is with a Kendrick heater - they make one for the Telrad, and it keeps it dew-free all night. Problem is that this requires some form of electrical reticulation.

I have been so satisfied with the Telrad on my Discovery that i installed one on my Starfinder 10EQ - and deep-sixed the crappy 6X30 finder that came with it.

Bob Bennett, Maple Vly, W

Overall Rating: 10
Performance:10 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By: rjb
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=151061

Telrad Finder
Picked up one of these at Laurel Highlands Star Party for a reasonable price. Put the joy back in star hopping for me, and I haven't turned on the go to of my LX200 8" since. Highly recommend to all.

Overall Rating: 10
Performance:10 Value:10
Weight: 6 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By: Astrowoody
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=114233

Telrad Finder
Bullseye makes finding objects off charts a snap. Also, casual observers were able to find things easier with a telrad than with a rigel (which i also like).

Overall Rating: 10
Performance:10 Value:10
Weight: 6 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.156.80)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=104165

Telrad Finder
The only time I used a 10 to rate something! Every backyard astronomer should have one of these (or similar). Gets ride of a lot of the frustration associated with regular finders. :-)

A thrill to find any object, especially when you also have a star chart with Telrad circles in it.

Overall Rating: 10
Performance:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By: ashbay
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=593960

Telrad Finder
I have 2 - LX-200 10" GPS scopes in my tour business. The first thing to come off the scope is the findscope... no time or patience for that!

The first thing to GO ON the scope is a Telrad base and Telrad finder. Even on a GOTO scope, you still need to do a star alignment before you get going. When it's hovering between twilight and dusk, the Telrad makes it possible to know where you should be looking for that elusive first guide star. The Telrad makes it easy. I wouldn't run a scope without one of these great tools on board.

NOTE: I had to wait 3 weeks, one summer, for my local supplier to get them in. Lining up the star with the centre screw on the OTA in half darkness was for the birds! I REALLY missed my Telrad then.

Worth the $40 or so that they sell for!

Replaceable reticles available, for when you burn one out, exposing it to the harsh rays of the Sun, during solar observing.. hey, I forgot to take it off.

Overall Rating: 9
Performance:9 Value:9
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By: gtennant
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=575719

Telrad Finder
I have both the Telrad and Rigel. The Rigel is lighter and more resistant to dew, but that's all it's got going for it (I have no use for the blinking mode). It's very hard to position your head to find the bullseye. With the Telrad, it comes naturally. Then again, I've been using it far longer than the Rigel, so it's probably a matter of getting used to it. The biggest advantage with the Telrad (and it's not credited to Telrad) is that Wil Tirion's starcharts use it to star-hop. If you want to use the Rigel, you have to halve the bullseye (4 degrees vs. 2).

Overall Rating: 8
Performance:9 Value:9
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By: Tony
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=247031

Telrad Finder
One of the best and cheapest investments I have made for my scope. It was between the telrad and the rigel and I just did not like the way the rigel stuck way out from the scope.

Overall Rating: 10
Performance:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By: astro_nut
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=168726

Telrad Finder
I absolutly love the Telrad on my 10" dob, I dont use the 9x50 finder at all anymore. Get a dewshield for it and your set.

Overall Rating: 10
Performance:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.212.138)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=498515

Telrad Finder
Get a quikfinder instead...cheaper lighter 2 bases blinking included dews less easily...telrad was nice once upon a time today its the dinosaur of 1x finders!

Overall Rating: 5
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.133.123)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=370042

Telrad Finder
Very simple, very effective. Buy one today, even if you have a GOTO mount.

As a newcomer to largish scopes I had a hell of a time pointing my 10" Nwt using the finderscope that came with it. This was partially due to the 9x50 finder being a right angle model, I just could not get my head around where the scope was pointing, and obviously it is no good trying to star hop if you can't even find your first target!

The Telrad changed all that in just minutes. Roughly aligned it on the moon and then pointed it at Polaris and tweaked the alignment till all was centered. Now, with bright objects such as a planet I can use the telrad to centre the target and it will be in the field of a 6mm eyepiece at x200.

Not bad considering that without it I could only find the moon, just...

Overall Rating: 10
Performance:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.175.35)
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=346523

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