How to Align any Viewfinder on a Telescope (STEP BY STEP) By Reflactor

Подписаться 10 тыс.

Просмотров 14 тыс.

50% 1

This video shows how to align any finderscope or viewfinder on any telescope. This video also covers some common troubleshooting issues with finderscopes. Lastly, I demonstrate the RACI, Telrad and Rigel finderscopes. This video shows you how to aim a telescope.
#telescope #viewfinder #finderscope
//AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS (I receive a small commission from these links)//:
RED DOT FINDER: amzn.to/3UOAaBB
TELRAD: amzn.to/3I2G2Rb
RIGEL SYSTEMS QUIKFINDER: amzn.to/3NVLvNm
Astromania RACI Viewfinder: amzn.to/3VVIjmF
Straight Through Viewfinder: amzn.to/42iFrTr
CHEAP 8 inch Dobsonian Telescope: amzn.to/49TH12l
NICE 8 inch Dobsonian Telescope: amzn.to/4bbxIuU
RED HOPE Adventure Scifi Novel Series:
Kindle Edition: amzn.to/49O9bud
Paperback: amzn.to/4aPRc7Y
Audiobook: amzn.to/3WhhXOw
//My Other Viewfinder Videos//
How To Repair Broken Crosshairs: • Broken Crosshairs Quic...
How to Fix A Blurry Viewfinder: • Blurry Viewfinder? Her...
RU-vid NOTES:
1) This video complies with the RU-vid Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
2) Soundtracks used with permission from my video editor, Camtasia.
3) All products shown were purchased by me with my own money.
4) This video does not contain any children, offensive material or language.
Questions answered in this video:
1) How can I align my finderscope or viewfinder?
2) What do I do if my viewfinder is blurry?
3) How do I aim a telescope?
4) how to align finderscope with telescope
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
0:19 Find Your Knobs
1:33 Find A Stationary Target
2:54 Use Low Magnification (at first!)
3:12 Point The Telescope At The Target
3:53 Adjust The Knobs On Your Finderscope
4:26 Double Check!
5:10 Troubleshooting (Optical Finderscopes)
6:39 Troubleshooting (Red Dot Finders)
8:31 Red Dot Finders: One last fix...
9:36 Real World "Impact"
9:55 Alternate Finderscopes?
13:28 The Most Important Step!
#reflector #reflactor ‪@reflactor‬

Развлечения

Опубликовано:

28 июл 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 72

@casper2yall Месяц назад

Thank you for doing this video. I have the red dot finder and it wasn’t working, didn’t know it took a battery lol..

@reflactor Месяц назад

Thank you for watching! I'm glad it helped. Enjoy your telescope!

@deepskymike767 Год назад

You mention 3 problems that can occur with red dot finders but there is a fourth, and I believe it’s the biggest one. Forgetting to turn the thing off! 😂 Another excellent intuitive video from this wonderful little channel. Keep them coming.

@reflactor Год назад

You're right! Man, I wish I would've included that one. I've killed a lot of batteries by leaving those on.

@johngiromini5745 Год назад

My 12" Zhumell introduced me to a number of the issues you covered very well. It dealt with the O-ring. I didn't realize until much later those rings could be acquired at an auto parts store. Fortunately, my hardware store of choice, Elliot's, had a plethora of them. One can buy almost anything there, 1 piece at a time. I find the TelRad is the easiest to align, red dot's are harder because of the on/off switch being a round thing. Great video, Reflactor Guy! C U Tuesday perhaps...

@reflactor Год назад

Hi John G, you and me both have a 12" Zhumell. Great telescope! I think I've had to replace the O-ring on almost every telescope I've ever fixed up. What's crazy is that the Gskyer not only didn't have an O-ring, but the instructions didn't show one during the assembly photos. I don't think they supplied one despite having a groove for it. $1 later and I corrected that. I have a newfound fondness for the Telrad, especially the highly effective dimmer control. One way or another, I should be there Tuesday.

@ostwind1388 7 месяцев назад

Got a telescope like this second hand for cheap (on a complete whim), tried it fist night, didn't even know I could adjust the focus, could barely see the moon, thought it was a piece of junk. This video helps heaps.

@reflactor 7 месяцев назад

I'm glad it helps. I just published a new video that's a Crash Course for new telescope owners. It covers quite a bit. Here's the link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dvyzmbj5l4w.html

@lutherpolaris8230 7 месяцев назад

This and many other video presentations from this source has been helpful for me in providing long distance tutorials for my adult son. He's a photographer whose just getting into telescopes especially astrophotography. Thank you for making these presentations because they are very practical which really helps.

@reflactor 7 месяцев назад

Thank you for your comment! I'm glad the videos have proven helpful. Clear skies to you and your son!

@strat1960s Год назад

Another excellent video. I will be adding a red/green dot sight to my Dob in the near future. I was thinking of using a laser pointer but decided against it due to our property being in the flight path of many aircraft heading to the DFW area. Sure would hate to have the military cops knocking at my door because I unknowingly/accidently "flashed" one of their jets.

@reflactor Год назад

Thanks for watching! I'm in the same boat. We live under the approach to Meacham Airport, so using a laser would be SUPER risky.

@curronhill2744 Год назад

It blinks to allow you to use dim stars when you are Star hopping that the red rings would normally wash out.

@reflactor Год назад

Thanks! That makes a lot of sense.

@RUSTYMULLENIX-xm5sn Год назад

Always looking forward to your vids. Another good one.

@reflactor Год назад

Thanks for watching! Clear skies.

@TheStevecas9860 9 месяцев назад

Some really great tips John!

@reflactor 9 месяцев назад

Thanks! I hope people find it useful.

@PanyingPilot Год назад

My hack is to find the seam at the rear of a red dot finder where the halves are joined. Next use White Out type correction fluid and paint a thin line over this vertical seam. In use, your eye will always be inline with the red dot and not off axis when you look through the finder.

@reflactor Год назад

That's a very clever way to use it!

@ilhankncoglu9254 4 месяца назад

great video, thanks

@reflactor 4 месяца назад

Hope it was helpful. Have fun with your telescope!

@Trequilly Месяц назад

You're a GOAT. Godbless

@reflactor Месяц назад

Thank YOU for watching. Clear skies!

@MountainFisher 5 месяцев назад

I use the ball on top of a flag pole just about 1/2 mile or more. I use one with that spring in it and it's a bit screwy, but I get it done. I hate red dot sights and the 6x30 straight through is cheap and my most used scopes get a RACI. I use a right angle correct image even on my 6" Newtonian even though it's upside down, but I hate trying to find stuff upside down. It is like using my left hand to put in a screw underneath a table where I can't see it. Sure I get it done, but tend to go the wrong way first.

@reflactor 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for the comment. I like the combination of a red-dot finder and a RACI viewfinder. The red dot gets me close and the RACI gets dialed in perfectly.

@martinlagrange8821 Год назад

The one thing that was annoying with the reflex finder supplied on my new 10" ES Hybrid Truss Dob was that the lens had a silver coating - useful in daylight, hopeless at night ! It was possible to gently disassemble the finder to remove the lens, and then using Autosolv it was possible to polish the coating off with some elbow-grease, and allow the finder to function at night. re-seating the cleared lens was critical, as recommended in this great video guide - once done, the red laser dot appears to be off 'at infinity', making the small reflex finder quite usable. Re the Rigel scope, the blinking setting (on low intensity) is to permit star hopping onto faint object in dark skies, in order to allow dark adaptation to remain in place throughout the evening, and not lose sight of that elusive galaxy....

@reflactor Год назад

Wow, I've never experienced a finderscope with a silver coating. I wonder if it was designed primary for spotting scopes (used in birdwatching and hunting)? Thanks for the note about the blinking Rigel!

@Coleyking69 Год назад

Hey I just found your channel from your old videos. Love that you just posted a video! Have you ever tried stacking your phone photos? Can you stack photos without a tracker? Also what kind of tracker do you suggest. I actually have a discord server dedicated to astrophotography with a mobile device. Love to see you there. Thanks again!

@reflactor Год назад

With my smartphone photos, I usually record video and then use PIPP and AutoStakkart. Sometimes I use Registax to do the wavelets feature. Thank you for watching.

@salahsana3481 Год назад

Good job

@reflactor Год назад

Thank you for the kind words. Clear skies!

@joedgard14 6 месяцев назад

🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷 obrigado pelas aulas 🤝🏻

@reflactor 6 месяцев назад

Thank you for watching!

@yardsaleuw3075 2 месяца назад

I wish they would just make a weaver style base so we can use a rifle red dot. The red dot on my shotgun is 30mm and when I'm not turkey hunting I could use it on my telescope.

@reflactor 2 месяца назад

Could there be a universal mount that serves both styles?

@scottt6407 7 месяцев назад

I've lost count of the number of times I've turned the left/right knob on my RDF, instead of the power/dimmer. It always takes more turning to fix, than the amount I turned by mistake.

@reflactor 7 месяцев назад

Agreed. It's super easy to grab the wrong knob. I wish they would've used a difference shape for the power/dimmer knob.

@ricardohdz1987 Год назад

Hey im looking at a 12 inch Meade lightbride for less than $200 with no base, well actually broken, is it hard to get a replacement base for it? I was thinking about adding another one to my collection, but im afraid it might be difficult to get it. Great video as always

@reflactor Год назад

That would be a pretty good price for a 12" telescope. I would recommend checking your local Facebook Marketplace or on the classifieds section on CloudyNights.com

@pequodexpress 6 месяцев назад

Can the non-illuminated eyepiece of the RACI finder be replaced with an eyepiece with illuminated crosshairs?

@reflactor 6 месяцев назад

Good question. Only if the RACI viewfinder has a removable eyepiece portion. Most of them are fixed.

@honoluluhappenings5561 2 месяца назад

at 4:08, you skipped the most important step. You show adjusting the screws willynilly, but I can't get the object centered in the finder because the screws are off center & don't go up & down. Please explain in more detail how to center the target using the 3 screws. Please.

@reflactor 2 месяца назад

Unfortunately, RU-vid doesn't allow me to add more video to an existing video, so this would require a new video. However, I'm afraid this falls under the "Keep trying until you get it right" category. Not sure if I could show in detail since the screws can be at a variety of orientations. I'll have to think of the best way to do this.

@honoluluhappenings5561 2 месяца назад

@@reflactor Thank you for your prompt response! My red dot finder lets me adjust up/down, left/right, and it's a snap to align. But my 'tube' style viewfinder (which I need for sun viewing) has 3 screws at 60-degree angles, and I have never been able to get the finder to align.

@reflactor 2 месяца назад

One trick I've learned is to pick any two screws and adjust them together to get it close. Then move on to the next set of screws.

@honoluluhappenings5561 2 месяца назад

@@reflactor Many thanks. I'll give it a shot.

@pequodexpress 6 месяцев назад

My 8 x 50 RACI finder has crosshairs. While the intersecting point is in the center of view, the actual crossing "hairs" are not in line with the finder. Is this normal and of little significance, or is there a way to rotate the crosshairs?

@reflactor 6 месяцев назад

This is very common. The eyepiece portion (that holds the crosshairs) is screwed in, but you can back it out slightly (unthreading it) until the cross hairs are lined up.

@woodswalker88 5 месяцев назад

Dumb question. I had my scope in my study & waved my hand in front of the aperture. Shouldnt that have been visible in the finder?

@reflactor 5 месяцев назад

Keep in mind that the telescope tube itself is offset from the finder by a few inches. So if you cover up the front of the telescope itself, you won't see it in the viewfinder.

@dougsbir 4 месяца назад

does it matter if the finderescope and eyepiece are oriented at different angles if the subject is in both?

@reflactor 4 месяца назад

I'm not quite sure how that would happen, but if the target is in both images, then I guess it's lined up. Clear skies!

@dougsbir 4 месяца назад

if you put a camera in place of the optical finderscope for instance?

@lottythekidd-2 Год назад

Hey, I own a 5" Newton telescope, but unfortunately my starpointer is broken. Can I use a digital camera mounted on the top of my telescope screwed in (I mean the threaded hole in the camera and the threaded sticking out thing from the telescope, I know, my terminology is the best) as a finderscope and if yes how can I align it?

@reflactor Год назад

Well, you can use smartphone adapter to mount your smartphone to the eyepiece and take photos. As for guiding your telescope, you can use something like Astrohopper, but it really helps to have a finderscope/viewfinder. The red dot finders are only $15 on Amazon.

@abdullahzubair2033 10 месяцев назад

What is the name of the finderscope mount at 9:58

@reflactor 10 месяцев назад

Those are 5x24 straight-through finderscopes. The front lens has a diameter of 24mm and it magnifies 5x. I've had two telescopes that came with these and I replaced them with red dot finders. You can find them here: amzn.to/3ptWCmD

@EvenTheDogAgrees Год назад

Man, you have the weirdest issues. The finderscope is misaligned? I found that in my case, the finderscope usually pointed exactly where it needed to, but it was the actual telescope that was misaligned. Fortunately, you can compensate for this by misaligning the finderscope in the exact same way the main telescope is, so you don't even notice. Procedure is pretty similar to yours too! 😂

@reflactor Год назад

Nearly every used telescope that I buy is missing the finderscope, so I tend to buy a lot of them, especially the red-dot finders. So, that is the reason why I seem to find all the defective ones, lol.

@garryfreemyer7187 5 месяцев назад

Can’t get the crosshairs to move. 🥵

@reflactor 5 месяцев назад

What type of viewfinder do you have? Did you try adjusting all three screws? Did you wrap it in electrical tape so it would take up the gap and create a fulcrum?

@garryfreemyer7187 5 месяцев назад

@@reflactorthe type with a spring loaded screw and two adjustable knobs

@garryfreemyer7187 5 месяцев назад

Thanks refractor, I got it working the screws were too tight.

@robertsonsid Год назад

If you don't have a 2032 battery you can substitute a 2025 battery with a dime in a red dot finder.

@reflactor Год назад

Thank you! That is a hint that I have not heard of before.

@EvenTheDogAgrees Год назад

@@reflactor Another hint: the name (or number) of the battery straight-up tells you its dimensions. A 2025 is 20mm in diameter, and 2.5mm tall. A 2032 is also 20mm in diameter, but 3.2mm tall. So if you've ever heard of the ubiquitous 18650 Li-Ion cells that make up most battery packs around the world, you now know exactly what dimensions that cell has.

@reflactor Год назад

@@EvenTheDogAgrees I honestly never knew that the numerical name implied actual information (size in this case). Thank you for sharing this information!

@SmoKeSome357 6 месяцев назад

The only way to fix a finder scope work without the upside down left to right,,,right to left nonsense...just strap on some bunaculars on the scope it will work a 1,000 times better That's it...Finder scopes are designed to not work and to make it hard for you to focus on something for some reason..What that reason is..Well it's pretty obvious,they want you to buy and buy more and more things and accessories..It's just business...Dont buy telescopes unless you have hard earned money to just throw away....That's just my advise...

@reflactor 6 месяцев назад

I'm sorry you've had such an unpleasant experience. Red dot finders are cheap, work great, and don't have any of that funny right/left upside down swapping. I put them on all of my telescopes. I hope your next experience is more pleasant.

@dougsbir 4 месяца назад

and don't point it at your neighbours bedroom

@reflactor 4 месяца назад

Yes, telescopes are meant for viewing astronomical targets. Clear skies!