Own two DS scopes and want to update my red dot finder with a viewfinder.

[tkish]

I bought the Sams and Costco DS series scope last Christmas. I love both my DS-2114 and DS-2090. One thing that I found to be a tad annoying was the red dot view finder, especially during autostar alignment. Hard to see any star through it to be of use. I searched all over for a upgrade and wanted to be sure before I purchase anything, that it would indeed work on these scopes. I have my eye on the Meade #828 viewfinder 8x50 finder scope. I know these scopes have a dovetail connector and I have seen that this finderscope will fit dovetail connectors, but I feel a bit dense here when I say I am not sure this finder will fit my scopes or if something else would be better. I know the #828 is made for LX200 and just says it will fit other scopes. Has anyone connected this to their DS scope, and if I spend the 70 bucks per scope will it work great on them, i.e. does not throw off the autostar tracking from weight or other insane things one could think of. A little assuring confirmation please?

[Don Trinko]

The red dot finder also has the time clock built in so if you remove it you will have to enter the time. It also has the LNT built in.
   I used double sided tape to put a different Red dot in but a right angle finder would be better. I am considering adding a Green Laser Pointer finder.  Some people do drill additional holes in the scope but I am reluctant to do that.    Don T.

[tkish]

Neither of my scopes have the reddot finder that has LNT. That would be nice during alignment but not that fancy of scopes I am afraid. I think both mine are the bare bones DS's. There are no wires that connect to anything in the autostar to relay information from the reddot. So I am thinking they are completely disposable. I took them off an just plastic under the dovetail holder.

I live in an urban area and light pollution makes it hard to see any star through the reddot as the front glass on the laser site appears to not be transparent, with or without the laser dot. In dark skies I am sure it works better and you can see stars through the coated glass. I do have a green laser pointer. It is a hand held I got in a bino kit. I never thought of getting a laser pointer finder. But I would say with my hand held, there are times that there is too much humidity to allow for it to effectively point 100% of the time and again the urban area come into effect there to. I do use binoculars a lot and know the skies well with those magnifications and having a 8x50 would be much like my old familiar friend, my 10x50 binos. Thanks Don, still very helpful. The LNT is a great tip for those. I too am not wanting to drill into my scopes and I would also resist duct taping something on the side. What double sided tape did you use. Maybe I should just take a chance and get the 8x50s and if it does not fit, try to nicely double tape them if the hold is really industrial.

 I have seen much with these scopes in the short time I have owned them. I am excited to make the alignment experience go smoother

[sxiniasgreece]

I hear you about the red dot finder in light polluted skies. I have a DS2090AT. I generally let the spiral search do the finding.

The DS2000 mount is a lot more rugged than people give it credit for.  I had a 10 pound (4.5 kg) 6 inch C6S mounted to mine for a while. The mount carried the load with no problem. I took it off after a few nights, not because of the mount but because but my home made L braket was a little flimsey and the lightweight tripod was clearly overloaded.  I now have my vintage Meade 2045Lx3 SCT mounted on it and that is a marriage made in heaven for the heavens.  The DS2000 mount and tripod have no diffiuclty with weight of the scope even when I attach a 35mm camera. Older scopes tend to be heavier than the newer ones. Back in the 80s when the 2045 was produced, Meade made every thing using solid metal tubes and parts; plastic was not used. 

You should have no difficulty with adding a finderscope to your scopes.  The trick is to keep eveything balanced. The dove tail bracket is very flexible.  All you really need is mount a dove tail shoe on each of your scopes then switch the finder scope between them. An 8x50 finder scope ought to be quite a finder.  My C6S has a 6x30 which works fairly well even in my light polluted skies.  My older Meade 2045LX3 has a 5x24 that is absolutely worthless.  Its amazing what the extra 6 mm buys.  I sort of suspect that a 8x50 finder would be too heavy for double sided tape; however, a good epoxy ought to do the trick to firmly and permanently secure the dove tail mounting shoe to your scopes.

Joe
Sxinias

Meade DS2090AT 90 mm REfractor
Meade 2045LX3 102 mm SCT
Celestron C6S 150 mm SCT
cheap 5x50 binoculars

[tkish]

I am nearly sold. Waiting for payday to hit and I think I am just going to go for it. Sxiniasgreece and Don you both were very helpful. I was out the other night and the goto search to circle out on the star alignment was so annoying and half the time you wonder if you saw the target star a few times, not always so given. I was also using a 32mm eyepiece with 44FOV too assist, my largest 1.25in. I look forward to a much bigger view and then it should be near effortless with a 8x50 I suspect. Just like having my binoculars. Gorilla glue would work if all esle fails. I would hate to have tape give way and watch my finder learn about the wonders of gravity. Anyway I will let you 4m know.

[tkish]

 Well I got my 8x50 viewfinders. The dovetail did not fit the Meade dovetail that ships with the non LNT DS2000 series.

I removed the factory dovetail on my DS2114 and added the 8x50 over the holes where it used to be. When removing the old dovetail you will need to be careful not to loose the nuts inside as they can mare the primary or secondary mirror. I secured the 8x50 dovetail with Sumo tape.

The DS2090, I fastened the 8x50 dovetail ahead of the factory dovetail with sumo tape and rebalanced the scope as the 8x50 is considerably heavier and the center of balance for the scope is farther back now.

All and all I am pleased. I rushed it a bit and may do some cleanup work, it had been cloudy for a week and the package arrived the first day it was clear. Well you know how it is. The 8x50’s give me binocular magnifications of the sky and I no longer have any problem aligning. It is a snap now and my enjoyment of these wonderful beginner scopes has improved 8x50 fold. Cheers to the 4M and thanks for all the input.