Review on 🔭 Telrad Finder Scope by Phillip Hoover

This Telrad is probably the most popular viewfinder on the market. In my version, you insert two AA batteries into the battery clip on the long, rectangular front of the scope, then flip the switch on the right about 210 degrees before you start seeing three rings generated by the red LED will. The rings act like the concentric rings on a bull's-eye pattern to place your celestial goal squarely in the center. And the brightness of the rings is regulated by the power knob on the right. You can go from very bright to incredibly dark so your night vision isn't ruined. Unfortunately, you have to turn the throttle about 210 degrees before you see the red rings. (so a star is knocked off) Telrad also has three adjustable screws on the back to align the rings with what you see in the eyepiece. It's pretty easy to understand and you can be up and running in less than five minutes if you're installing Telrad for the first time. Speaking of mounting, you also get a base that you can mount using the included adhesive strips or drill holes for nuts and bolts. The Telrad is then inserted into two slots and you tighten two thumbscrews to hold it in place. A decent system that works pretty well and if you're careful you can even save your alignment if you need to detach and reattach Telrad later. And you can purchase additional Telrad risers (not included) to raise your scope two or four inches above the telescope's optical tube so your cheek doesn't get cold when looking through the scope. Cons Telrad would say it's too big and too heavy for a 2014 device. As far as I know they have been making this machine with virtually no modifications since the late 1970s. But what he really needs is an upgrade to Telrad 2.0, a smaller, slimmer and lighter version. The rotary switch on the right also needs to be rotated about 210 degrees before the LED rings are visible. But perhaps the most annoying problem with Telrad is how the windows fog up. Because Telrad's lower body is usually warmer than the top glass, and the cool night air hitting the glass, it fogs up faster than it would on a London night when Sherlock Holmes is chasing a suspect. And that means installing a dew heater or trying one of several other wonky methods to prevent the effect. (which is why I'm giving it a star) Overall a nice sight but with some pesky design issues. I really think this device is ripe for a much better device that could be lighter, smaller and fog free. from Orion Telescopes for my Orion XT10G Dobsonian and it's much better than Telrad (and unfortunately more expensive). The great thing about the RACI scope is that it's MUCH more comfortable to look inside when your scope is pointed at the zenith than to lean over and look up through the telrad. The RACI scope is also much more resistant to dew and moisture than the Telrad. Because of that, Telrad is in the closet now, and I have a feeling he's not showing up anytime soon.