Telrad Telescope Reflex Finder with Mounting Base # 1001

5.0 Second Telrad I've owned. Best

Second Telrad I've owned. Best finder on the market.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 As described

As described

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5.0 Great Service

Shipped quickly and arrived on time.

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5.0 What an inprovment

I go to this first over my 60 x spotter scope

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5.0 A great simple product

I use it with my 8" SCT. It makes finding objects in the night sky very easy.

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5.0 Replacement for old Telrad

My old Telrad is slowly going south so time to get a new one. When the time is taken to properly sync this device with the eyepiece view, it becomes a wonderful aid for being sure an object is centered in the eyepiece. Low tech with high functionality

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4.0 Best for my useage

This review will be of no use to anyone interested in telescope use.

The telerad spotter seems to be the best item for my needs. I use it for both theater and concert spot light sighting in low to no light and after trying other products I (and many others) still come back to this. It would be nice if it were a bit shorter in length to make packing and transporting easier, that's why I gave it only 4stars.

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5.0 Works like a charm!

So much easier to locate deep sky objects than with a traditional finder's scope.

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5.0 Telrad Rules!

Have used one on my SCT, now have one for my refractor. A great simple to use product.

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5.0 Best and easiest finder out there

I don’t know why I didn’t get one when I first started in the hobby. I use this with both my SCT and refractor and once it’s setup it’s dead on. So easy to use. You won’t be disappointed.

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5.0 Can't beat 'em

Telrads are the Volkswagens of finder scopes: They're not real pretty but they get the job done just fine. Always happy to purchase from Agena. Their service is excellent, shipping is lightning fast, and products are good quality.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Easy & Accurate

This sight is applied to 4 of my most used scopes. Works particularly well on the 6" Mak Cass as your face is close to the axis of the scope anyway. On dobsons it is a bit more challenging to use as the scope tube is right next to your head.
I have 2 of these and a pair of extra mounting plates.
They make finding objects very easy.

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5.0 Telrad Reflex finder

Shipping was surprisingly fast to Canada. The product itself is great, makes finding my targets a lot easier.

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5.0 So weird reviewing such an iconic product as the Telrad Finder!!!

It is so weird giving my review to such an iconic product as the Telrad Finder. When I bought my first Dobsonian, I immediately bought a fairly high powered finder scope. It was so hard to find my calibration stars. I’d see the suggested star looking up at the night sky, but once I looked through my finder scope the magnified, inverted image was totally disorienting. Not to mention, with the magnification, there were so many more stars through the finder scope than looking with my naked eye. It wasn’t until I took a beginner astronomy class that I found out so many of the experienced “experts” used “Red Dot, Unity 1x” finders. The Telrad has been a favorite for decades with good reason – built tough, reliable, easy to use, perfect pattern for locating target stars.

Of course I like to accessorize so standard upgrades for all of my Telrads are:
• Bob's Knobs for Telrad Finder – nice having metal knobs instead of the supplied plastic ones. Easier to use when wearing gloves too!!
• Telrad Pulser Kit for Telrad Finder # 2010 – after you use the Telrad for a while, you realize it is nicer to use it on a dim setting and making the target sights pulse (instead of remaining on constantly). It is a great way to preserve your precious night vision
• Dew Shield for Telrad Reflex Finder # 2020 – this cool pivoting dew shield is a very convenient way to guard against dew. But it is also a great protector for the glass viewing screen. It’s always on and you just pivot it out of the way when you want to start targeting.

As always – all of these items can be found at this website – they have a great inventory of stuff you didn’t know you needed!!

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5.0 Excellent.

Excellent.

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4.0 Telerad

It is easy to find alignment stars with the telrad. This is the second one I have owned. It does dim the stars a bit, but it is still easy to see them. My older version could be set to blink which was handy and preferred

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5.0 great service.

great service.

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5.0 Telrad Telescope Reflex Finder with Mounting Base

This was recommended by a friend in our astronomy club. I had grown frustrated with my 9x50 straight through finder which I have now replaced with a right angle/correct image (RACI) version. The problem was that it was difficult to locate reference stars that I had located via the binoculars or Stellarium software in the finder. As a result, it was often hard to tell where the scope was actually pointed to, and I wasted lots of time because it was not aiming in the correct place. Our local light pollution just made it worse.
After mounting and aligning this, I could tell instantly where I was pointing to. Now, when coupled with the RACI finder, it often takes just seconds to find objects that used to take many minutes. In a few cases, I've been able to skip the finder scope altogether and quickly find an object with just the Telrad and low magnification eye piece.
I was concerned about weight issues/balance on my Dobsonian, but the Telrad is fairly light and did not negatively affect anything. The adjustment screws also make it easy to align. Remember to turn off the device when not using it as it has no automatic cutoff. I would also recommend a dew shield or heater as it can fog up quickly if not covered.

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5.0 telrad finder

I should have bought this years ago. Great product quick shipping.

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5.0 Telrad

Good product; assists with locating celestial objects as advertised.

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5.0 Classic Finder, Still The Best

The Telrad has been around for decades. I purchased my first Telrad back in 1993 --worked great then, and works great now. This unpretentious, boxy looking, elegantly simple unit is very easy to use, adjust and maintain. Spare parts and accessories, such as dew shields and replacement reticles, are readily available and inexpensive. Last time I checked, it was still made in the USA. Its the only finder I imagine I'll ever need --I just love it

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Telra finder scope

The best non-magnifying finder scope.

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5.0 Base tool that works great

Base tool that works great

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5.0 Telrad finder

The Telrad finder is one of my favorite accessories. I've had one on my various telescopes over the years and will never go back to a finderscope. It appears to project a red "bullseye" on the sky, with the innermost circle replacing the crosshairs of a traditional finderscope. Highly recommended!

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5.0 The Best

The Telrad finder is the best, non magnifying finedr tool for visually aiming any telescope on any mount. If you can see the object you can aim the telescope at it. There are a number of star chart references that use the Telrad bullseye image on the chart to help an astronomer find fainter objects. I have one of these on each of my scopes.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 telrad finder

I like the Telrad because you're seeing at an unmagnified view, so
you know where you are in the sky.
The mounting base for the Telrad can be attached to practically any
kind of scope even if it doesn't have the usual dovetail base.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Easiest to use finder made.

It may seem odd to put a $40 finder on a $15,000 telescope, but nothing works better for me. Candidly, it would be nice if they made a metal version and in fact I’ve been tempted to make one myself. I haven’t so far, because there’s nothing else that could be improved on the Telrad except the material and my time is better spent observing than making a metal body.. Every scope I have owned over the last 20 years has had a Telrad and unless someone comes up with a better device, I’ll continue using them.

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5.0 Still the best!

Easy to Use

Heavy For Small Scopes

I've had one for over 20 years. You can buy extra bases if you have more than one scope and move it from one to the other. You do have to re sight it in if you do this, but it is fairly easy to do. I bought a second one because I live in a dark sky area and can use both my scopes at the same time. The big "target" is easy to see against the night sky and you can adjust the brightness. The big plus is that you can buy replacement parts and accessories, like taller mounts, replacement reticles and a switch to make the target sight blink at various speeds. Best for scopes like Dobsonian and Newtonian reflectors.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Don't observe without one!!

Accurate,Easy to Use,Strong Construction

What an excellent finder! Coupled with the Telrad charts that you can download from the internet, this makes finding objects easy. Like other reviewers have stated, it is larger then expected. However, I'm sure the larger size is in part due to the fact that this finder holds 2 AA batteries. The AA batteries are longer and larger then the "coin size" lithium batteries that come with several finders (and the AA batteries are easier to replace - a nice feature on this finder). The mounting tape holds the finder securely to the scope (however, due to the finders size - I don't think it should be mounted on anything smaller then a 90mm refractor). I use it with the Telrad 4in riser. It makes it much easier on my old back and neck! An excellent finder, and a great addition to my observing aids.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Perfect for Backyard Observing

Compact,Easy to Use,Accurate,Strong Construction

The Telrad finder has helped me find several Messier objects that I could not find using my scope's GoTo feature.....the Telrad allows me to look at the sky with both eyes without any telescope induced inversion of the view. Couple this with the easy to down load Telrad charts and you are in business. Since I've gotten the Telrad, I've found M81, M82 and the Owl Nebula as a start. I have a Meade 10" SCT, and I don't even use the 50x finder scope anymore.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 My favorite finder

Strong Construction,Lightweight,Quality Lenses,Accurate,Easy to Use

This is my favorite finder... I've owned many telescopes and many expensive finder scopes and I prefer this Telrad... it is very easy to use, base plates are easy to attach to mounting rings so it's easy to use on various telescopes... it's interchangeable ... I bought this with four base plates ... two of which I attached to my C6 and C8 ... I just peeled back about 1 inch of the sticky tape on each end of the base plate and then simply press it against the edge of the mirror cell... very easy to align... or if I use it with a mounting ring or rings it's a simple matter to drill a hole or two in the plastic base plate and attach it to the mounting ring rather than the telescope... in this way I can use one finder with all my telescopes... it's also by far the easiest to adjust and has the clearest very nice red circles... not just a red dot , but several circles so you can position your target easily and the brightness varies better then on other finders I have used furthermore the on off switch is very clear and easy to use it's surprising that on many illuminated finders this isn't the case ... on the other more expensive finders it's easy to leave the light turned on and drain the battery so thatTelrad is the best design also it uses nice larger size batteries, it's extremely easy to adjust the axis if I'm changing telescopes I can readjust it in about three seconds well maybe five seconds but really it's that easy... no tiny difficult to adjust finderscope screws... and I can just point at a place in the sky and that's what I see... this works great in the city when it's difficult to see stars and difficult to use finder scopes... if I know where something is I can just point at that location and voila

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Really easy to use

Lightweight,Compact,Easy to Use,Accurate

None

Much better than any other view finder

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Telrad the perfect star hopper.....

Lightweight,Accurate,Strong Construction,Easy to Use

Somewhat Large

Yes... this is the perfect guy for star hopping. But you need a good star atlas with Telrad acetate overlays.When you familierize with the target you can yourselves get the target by memory.
The best thing is this doesn't cause parallax effect. So the rings are not changing with eye positioning and you can adjust the brightness well. Mounting up the telrad also is a very eacy tusk. With the help of telrad I was able to locate many objects without using my DSCs.
I absolutely recommend this instrument for anyone who is willing to get the full satisfaction of star hopping....

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Excellent!

Accurate,Lightweight,Easy to Use

I use this product as a finder scope on my telescopes. They are easy to use and accurate.
Definitely worth getting!

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Easy to use

Quality Lenses,Easy to Use,Accurate

Easy to use and setup was a breeze...better than previous red dot finder that came with scope.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 A must-have accessory for star hoppers

Accurate,Easy to Use,Strong Construction

Heavy

Outside of telescopes and eyepieces, this is the best investment I've made in astronomy. Because the right-angle finder that came with my scope has more light-gathering power than my eye, star hopping was difficult to impossible, especially when hunting for objects close to the zenith. The Telrad finder is easy to set up, intuitive to use, and the projected reticle follows your eye, so that you can align with a target even if you're not perfectly centered with the finder. I also find the brightness adjustment to be very helpful, especially when trying to center the sight on dimmer stars. The adhesive strips hold it very securely in place. I considered getting the 2" riser for the Telrad, but I'm able to see through the finder without pressing my face against the telescope.

The only "negative" is the size -- the housing is large and required me to install it behind my focuser and finder scope, which means I have to crouch down a bit further to find objects overhead. There is a dew shield with built-in right-angle mirror available for the Telrad if this is too much of a problem. I also had to re-balance my Dob after installation.

All-in-all, if you have a human-powered mount and use star hopping to hunt for DSOs, the Telrad finder is an absolute must-have.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Telrad is Best

Accurate,Easy to Use,Strong Construction,Compact,Lightweight

None

I have own 3 Telrad, plan buy 2 more. Best 10 stars rated, I recommend buy Agena Astro, fast shipping.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Telrad Reflex Finder

Accurate,Compact,Lightweight,Strong Construction,Easy to Use

This Telrad finder works great. Constructed out of plastic but I don't really see a need for it to be made out of any other material. Cheap enough to where if it broke you could just buy another. It makes finding deep sky objects very easy, I wish it would have come with the pulser kit standard though. I will mention that its probably mandatory to buy the 4 inch riser accessory, that is unless you want your face squished up against the telescope tube the entire night. Recommended. I would give it 4.5 stars.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Very good

Strong Construction,Easy to Use,Lightweight

Very good for ones who want to use Telrad on the other telescope.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Valuable accessory for Orion XT8i

Accurate,Easy to Use

I have been considering buying the Telrad for a while since I found it difficult to find specific stars using the 9X50 finder scope supplied with my telescope. There is nothing wrong with finder scope, but the magnified view did not match what I was looking at with my eyes, so I was never sure that I was actually pointed at the correct star. The Telrad does not have any magnification and completely removes that doubt. It was easy to install on the telescope tube with the included mount. This product greatly reduced the amount of time I spent star hopping since I can find my starting star immediately now. The only drawback with this product is that it is easy to leave it on when I put the telescope away and this drains the AA battery. However, this is not a big problem since it is easy to replace the battery whenever I forget and leave the unit on.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Nice Telrad

Accurate

Like new condition

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5.0 Best way to navigate night sky.

Accurate,Strong Construction,Quality Lenses,Easy to Use

Heavy

Before buying Telrad I was struggling to find and aim at sky objects, with different finderscopes. Now I just need few seconds to aim at anything. You need to align sight at first time, it took 3 mins for me. After that it's always aligned and precise. In the sunny daytime it's more difficult to aim, but in nighttime it is best.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 No need to change because it works!

Easy to Use,Accurate,Strong Construction

There's a reason the Telrad has remained unchanged for many years - it works, and it works well. Simply turn it on, adjust the brightness, and aim. No fuss, no muss. The aiming circles are always at the right spot no matter how you move your head, and their size corresponds directly to degrees of sky making it easy to measure angular distances. Depending on your skies you can use the Telrad by itself or combine it with a magnifying finder.

There are a few cons. Although it's pretty light compared to a magnifying finder, it is larger than it looks on a website picture, so it's not very well suited to small scopes. The reflecting glass window does tend to dew up (there are several solutions to this problem, both free and commercial.) And being straight-through, you might find yourself contorted and pressing your cheek against a cold metal OTA when using it (again, there are solutions to this, from reflecting mirrors to risers.)

In my opinion, on a medium sized or larger scope the advantages much outweigh the disadvantages. I wouldn't observe without one on my 10" dob.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Perfect for an amateur astronomer

Easy to Use

Very basic, Very smart, Very useful

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Sweet addition to my scope!

Easy to Use,Lightweight,Accurate

Prone to dew formation

Fantastic tool for finding objects in the night sky. It would be worth the extra cost (within reason) if it had an integral dew elimination feature.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Outstanding finder!

Great design,Accurate

I like this finder so much, I permanently mounted its base on my Dob. I use it in conjunction with the S & T Pocket Sky Atlas which has a Telrad template. Very intuitive to use.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Accurate astronomical tool

Compact,Accurate

None

The Telrad is an accurate and excellent tool to learn the night sky

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Excellent!

Accurate,Strong Construction,Quality Lenses

Heavy

I've used both the traditional and the "reflex" types of finderscopes. For me, there is no substitute for the original Telrad finder. I LOVE my Telrad and can't imagine being without it. The bullseye pattern is very conducive to locating and then centering the star, planet, or other object in the field of view.

The only potentially negative thing about it that I can think of is its size and weight. Used on a telescope of less than about 6" (150mm) in diameter, the Telrad may prove to be too heavy or bulky, throwing the telescope off balance, and thereby actually hindering the operation of the scope, rather than helping it.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Very good product!

Accurate

Product information manual can be better

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 The best finder

Accurate

None

I have used other finders, but this is the best for ease of use, convenience and accuracy. I recommend anyone looking for a finder and has not yet been decided.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Replaced my Red Dot finder

Reasonable cost, ease of use

A little on the large size

Got this just recently to replace my Orion EZ Finder. I find it much easier to use the degree rings of the Telrad to jump across the sky than placing the dot and guessing at the distance to move my scope next. It is a little large on my 8" Orion DSE dob but I have added weight holders to the lower end to compensate. I found it very easy to install and alignment was a very straight forward process.

5.0 Makes your star pointing easy

Accurate

Unstable

I have enjoyed this pointing device so much, for it is accurate lightweight and easy adjustable to alignment with the scope.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Amazing product

Accurate

I had an option between a Telrad finder and a Red Dot finder. Chose the former and I am happy for my decision as observing has become far easier.

Allignment of the Telrad finder with the telescope is very easy and accurate. Moreover since it is powered by AA batteries, it can last for an entire night's observation.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Telrad Reflex Sight

Easy to use,No flipping of image,Sturdy construction

Tricky 3-point alignment,May be too long,Dew-prone

What can I say about the Telrad Reflex Sight that hasn't been said before? Designed after a fighter jet's "Head-Up Display," the Telrad essentially revolutionized Amateur Astronomy when it was introduced in the 1980s.

The Telrad finder works by superimposing a 3-ringed circular reticle on the actual sky without any magnification. When the sight is aligned properly, aiming the reticle at any portion of the sky easily aims the telescope in the same direction. The reticle housed inside the Telrad unit is focused on infinity by an acrylic lens and is reflected to the user's eye by a 45-degree piece of glass. Three hex-head alignment screws at the back of the unit are used to properly center the reticle on the exact point where the telescope is mounted on is pointing. A knob on the side turns the unit on and adjusts the reticle's light from a faint glow to a bright one for daytime use.

The Telrad is made of sturdy plastic and is of a very solid design and construction that has remained unchanged since it was first introduced. It mounts onto a base from which it's easily locked down and removed using two small thumbscrews. Extra bases are available to allow the same Telrad unit to be used on more than one telescope. The forward portion of the body slides away for replacement of the two AA batteries used to power the reticle's red LED. The inside of the Telrad appears to have a lot of wasted empty space but this is necessary for the proper projection of the reticle at infinity.

The 4-degree reticle design is intended to make Star-Hopping easy by providing a good measuring reference. There are also guides available that are designed to simulate a Telrad reticle over star atlas charts. For computers, a few Astronomy Mapping and Charting programs are even able to project a Telrad reticle over a star map.

Probably the biggest issue users have with the Telrad is its propensity for the 45-degree glass window to accumulate dew. Various aftermarket dew covers and shields are available to prevent this. Another issue is the Telrad unit's length. At 8-

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Telrad Reflex Finder

Works great,Lots of options available

Kind of long

Using my Orion 6" f/8, the OEM 6x30 finder is just too high up to view through on the Skyview Pro mount. So I bought one of these and mounted it just above the 1/2 way mark on my long OTA! Now I can see everything clearly! The brightness/dimmer switch is great also because I like it just where I can barely see the circles so I'm not blinded when I look through the eyepiece! Telrad also has some nice options for this from the dew shield and the dew plus to make it a right angle finder! Very nice finder for the price and the box makes for a nice storage case!!

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 One of best inventions for astronomers

Low cost,Easily find any object,Lightweight

Can dew up,Switch off when not inuse

What can I say? The Telrad when it came out was considered the best thing that happen for observers with telescopes since the Dobsonian telescope. It is a must for star hopping and is used on many of the worlds largest telescopes. Not because they need one but only to show respect for what it has done for all astronomers around the world.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Telrad, the best finder, period.

Simple and perfect

This is the perfect finder, you just need a chart, point that portion of sky with your finger, turn the telescope into tha area centering the Telrad and look at the eyepiece, the objet is allready there.
You will learn your way on the night sky and you will never want to use digital circles, you will be the first one pointing and observing, this is way faster than ANY "go to".
I have tried, many finders, green lasers, dot finders, I have all, but only one is the best:
The TELRAD, this invention is worth a Nobel price!

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 What ease to use

Ease of use

None

I love this finder. Use it with your magnified finder. It works great.

I will look up what we want to view, find the area in the star chart, set the Telrad, look down scope tube and Telrad, find the star or ref. point, lock in the RA and Dec. Then go to my 8x50 finder scope, fine tune and there it is in the eye piece.

I will need to get an active dew system for the lens on the Telrad as it collects dew very quickly. This has been great to set the scope to any area.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 A great Device!

Well made; Easy to use

Prone to dewing if you are in a damp climate

I have used the Telrad on a number of different scopes of various sizes. It is probably the single best reflex type sight on the market. On a 'dob' it makes quick pointing and star hopping a breeze, but also works well as a replacement for a traditional "low power" finder on scopes of all sizes. It is very intuitive to use and the quality is quite good. If you need to change the reticle, it is quite easy to do. There are a number of accessories available.

This is a great addition to any scope!

5.0 A wonderful tool

Ease of use

Size

I have used many different view finders and finderscopes but my absolute favorite is the Telrad. It was very simple and quick to mount it to my 12.5" Discovery dob. The Telrad basically appears to place a target in the sky via a reflection on a piece of glass. You can get charts designed for the Telrad online which make star-hopping quite easy. All of the parts in the Telrad are easily replaceable such as the reticle. Mine was damaged by the sun (my mistake) but I ordered the part and then installed it with ease. If you are a beginner I would consider this a must have item for any telescope

5.0 Just get it!

1x view, easy to use.

Long

I had my Orion 8" XTi for a week before mounting a Telrad. Now the Intelliscope is VERY EASY to align.

The finder scope on the Orion 8" XTi is a 9x50, a great scope on its own but not very good for quick finding. I would spend 5 minutes or more confirming Polaris as the finder would show a large number of stars in the general area. Quite often the Warp factors would be greater than 1.0, not good enough.

I put the Telrad on my scope in addition to the 9x50 finder. What a difference! I can align the Intelliscope in less than a minute. The 1x view with the rings makes locating anything so much quicker. I can now view many objects in a very short time even without the Intelliscope computer.

The three point alignment screws are different but simple enough. I live in the desert so dew is not a problem I will have to deal with.

It has very good battery life. I have forgotten to turn it off for several days and am still on the original batteries.

4.0 Telrad Reflex Sight

Easy to use, sturdy construction, no flipping or rotating of image.

Dew-prone, 3-point alignment may be tricky, may be too long for some scopes.

What can I say about the Telrad Reflex Sight that hasn’t been said before? Designed after a fighter jet’s “Head-Up Display,” the Telrad essentially revolutionized Amateur Astronomy when it was introduced in the 1980s.

The Telrad finder works by superimposing a 3-ringed circular reticle on the actual sky without any magnification. When the sight is aligned properly, aiming the reticle at any portion of the sky easily aims the telescope in the same direction. The reticle housed inside the Telrad unit is focused on infinity by an acrylic lens and is reflected to the user’s eye by a 45-degree piece of glass. Three hex-head alignment screws at the back of the unit are used to properly center the reticle on the exact point where the telescope it’s mounted on is pointing. A knob on the side turns the unit on and adjusts the reticle’s light from a faint glow to a bright one for daytime use.

The Telrad is made of sturdy plastic and is of a very solid design and construction that has remained unchanged since it was first introduced. It mounts onto a base from which it’s easily locked down and removed using two small thumbscrews. Extra bases are available to allow the same Telrad unit to be used on more than one telescope. The forward portion of the body slides away for replacement of the two AA batteries used to power the reticle’s red LED. The inside of the Telrad appears to have a lot of wasted empty space but this is necessary for the proper projection of the reticle at infinity.

The 4-degree reticle design is intended to make Star-Hopping easy by providing a good measuring reference. There are also guides available that are designed to simulate a Telrad reticle over star atlas charts. For computers, a few Astronomy Mapping and Charting programs are even able to project a Telrad reticle over a star map.

Probably the biggest issue users have with the Telrad is its propensity for the 45-degree glass window to accumulate dew. Various aftermarket dew covers and shields are available to prevent this. Another issue is the Telrad unit’s length. At 8¼” long, it may be too long to be mounted on some smaller short-focus telescopes. Also, the 3-point alignment system can be a little disorienting. A 2-axis, up-down and side-to-side alignment would be much easier and intuitive.

Despite it’s drawbacks, the Telrad Reflex Sight is an excellent compliment to a magnifying finderscope. Though other reflex and “Red-Dot” finders are available, some with more features and more streamlined looks, the Telrad is still considered the industry standard for 1x reflex finders.

5.0 Telrad Reflex Finder

Lots of options available and works great as a no amplification finder!

Kind of long but man, it's great. This is not a bad review though!!

Using my Orion 6" f/8, the OEM 6x30 finder is just too high up to view through on the Skyview Pro mount. So I bought one of these and mounted it just above the 1/2 way mark on my long OTA! Now I can see everything clearly! The brightness/dimmer switch is great also because I like it just where I can barely see the circles so I'm not blinded when I look through the eyepiece! Telrad also has some nice options for this from the dew shield and the dew plus to make it a right angle finder!

Very nice finder for under $40.00 and the box makes for a nice storage case!!

5.0 One of the best inventions for astronomers who use telescopes

Makes finding any object in the sky easier. Low cost. Lightweight

Can dew up, should be switched off when not in use

What can I say the Telrad when it came out was considered the best thing that happen for observers with telescopes since the Dobsonian telescope. It is a must for star hopping and is used on many of the worlds largest telescopes. Not because they need one but only to show respect for what it has done for all astronomers around the world.

5.0 What ease to use

Ease of finding and setting scope to what we want to see

DEW

I love this finder. Use it with your magnified finder. Works great.

I will look up what we want to view, find the area in the star chart, set the Telrad, look down scope tube and Telrad, find the star or ref. point, lock in the ra and dec. Then go to my 8x50 finder scope, fine tune and there it is in the eye piece.

I will need to get an active dew sys. for the lens on the Telrad it collects dew very quickly.

This has been great to set the scope to any area. The Telrad sky chart would be very helpful.