GSO 8x50mm Right Angle Correct-Image Finder with Bracket - Silver Tube

5.0 Great inexpensive right angle finder

Not liking to bend over to view, I wanted a right angle finder scope. This fits the bill perfectly. Nothing fancy, but great optics, great price.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Seems great. The lens caps

Seems great. The lens caps fit too tight

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5.0 Great value finder.

OEM type finder. Great quality, great value. No sense wasting money on more expensive finders when this one does all you need to do.

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5.0 great optics

great optics

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5.0 GSO 8x50mm Right Angle Correct-Image Finder with Bracket

These are very well made with excellent optics

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 GSO RACI

Huge move up from the red dot finder I was using. Nice bright Widefield view. Very easy to locate targets or alignment stars

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4.0 Good for the price, standard dovetail

A good finderscope at this price, with (best of all!) a standard dovetail. My quibbles are minor. (i) The mount stalk is really too high for easy switching between scope and finder. (ii) The third pin is spring loaded in this mount (also available under many other names) and it needs a heavier spring to hold the barrel tight in place. (iii) The correct-image diagonal is good for the price, although the cross hairs are not separately focusable. But that's OK. (iv) The front O-ring locator is a bit of a kludge, but with a dab of grease it allows easy barrel rotation. All told, the optics are bright and very sharp, and the FOV is wide, which is basically all we need.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 A great upgrade for my

A great upgrade for my 6x30 finder scope! I was able to see a lot of objects through this one and the fov is really good and wide enough to navigate the sky easily

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5.0 Stand up straighter

I bought the right-angle finder because using the small finder on my Sky Watcher 150 was too difficult to properly use. When trying to view objects more directly overhead, it was almost impossible to use. The right-angle finder is much easier to use at the various angles without the constant bending over. A great buy.

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5.0 GSO Right Angle Finder Scope

Very good product at a very good price. As always with Agena.

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5.0 Nice

Used this to replace the straight through finder scope that comes with my XLT160 newt and saved my neck trying to find objects.

Wish I choose the black one as the silver tube doesn't match my scope well, but that is just cosmetic.

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5.0 GSO 8x50 Finder

Excellent finder, solid good quality and exceptional value for the price. Worth it to save from having to squat down or crane your neck to look through because of the right angle diagonal design.

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5.0 Great quality

Great service & fast FREE shipping!

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5.0 8x50 finder scope

Everything I was hoping for...

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5.0 50 mm viewfinder mount

A must have and it its a great piece. Give me a wider view to find a object and you don't have to contort yourself when the scope is pointing high.

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5.0 Correct image finder

Works grest

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5.0 Great finder scope!

great optics, easy to use.

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5.0 Great finderscope

this finder is easy to install, set focus and get set up for all you star finding sessions.

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5.0 Works as anticipated

Good, clear images; sharply-focused and thin crosshairs. Very good optical quality.

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5.0 Nice finder Scope

This is a nice scope that can be ordered with the your choice of base.

The product installed easily.

The scope shipped missing the adjustment screws, I contacted customer support and shipped the missing screws right away!
Great Communication

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5.0 a decent and honest finder

Excellent packing and quality. The finder works to its specs: adequate eye relief so it can be used with or without glasses. Excellent, clean and undestorted field of view, almost to the very edges. The stars seen from a dark sky match those marked in Deep Sky Hunter Atlas and Uranometria. Overall it is a decent finder well worth its price.

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4.0 Very nice finder

I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because the scope is somewhat loose in the bracket. Switched out the 'O' ring with another finder I had and that helped a lot. I think however the spring tensioner thing needs to be stronger.

To be fair though, I have 2 other 50mm finders with same style bracket and they both have same 'looseness' problem to some degree.

As far as the scope itself, it is great. It now sits on my 8" dob:)

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Nice Viewfinder

Overall a nice upgrade from a straight thru 6x30 finder. Though I wished it had the setting nut to fix the screws in place once I've got it aligned with my scope. Provides a nice view by itself.

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5.0 My Favorite

Easy to fine-tune while staying dead-on target.

None

Some think it goes out of collimation too easily. But in my experience, no finder stays in collimation as you shift the scope around and move it - unless permanently mounted. But this finder is loose enough to make fine-tuning it very easy without causing the main scope to shift or otherwise move off-target. What some say is a problem, I find to be a positive quality.

4.0 Nice Finder

This is a good finder. No it is not Takahashi quality, but for the price you pay it's very nice.

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5.0 finder scope gso

works great

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5.0 Great Finder

I am very happy with this finder. It attains focus by turning the front threaded objective cell and then when you have focus, tightening a retaining ring. It is easy using the thumb screws to align with the main scope. The images are nice and bright with a wide field. The price is right, I highly recommend.

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5.0 I love this finder scope

I have a 127mm mak -cass and a vixen alt - az porta mount. I use both a 32mm and a 12 1/2 mm eyepeice. my preferred, I thought I should get an even wider eyepeice, but this 8 x 50 has taken its place. I can see stars in this finder scope that I can't see with a smaller finder scope. I could see the moons of Jupiter with this scope.All I can say is try it!

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5.0 A nice view finder.

Wanted something with a wide field of view to go with my MAK 90. This turned out to be a nice combination given the limitations of the C 90. Well made with great customer service.

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5.0 GSO 8x50mm RACI finder scope

I have a Celestron 130EQ Astromaster that comes with a red dot finder. The red dot finder is often awkward to look through and it is also difficult to see objects under light polluted skies. The GSO 8x50 finder makes locating objects a lot easier because of its light-gathering power and its more convenient geometry. There are no mounting holes on the Astromaster for this finder. I didn't like the idea of drilling holes into the telescope tube to attach the mounting shoe. Instead, I have attached the shoe to a piece of aluminum C channel (3" long, 2" wide, 1" deep, 0.125" thick). The C channel is held on the the tube using two large-diameter (7") hose clamps that fit into slots I cut into both sides of the C-channel. Works great!

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5.0 Great finder, a must upgrade.

Easy to Use,Accurate,Great field of view,Great light collection

Heavy,Large

This was really easy to install. It collects a lot of light making it really easy to find what you are looking for. Reticle for easy alignment. Kit star finders stink, making astronomy frustrating. If I could only have one upgrade for my push to scopes, this would be it. It's not heavy by a longshot, but it's enough to throw off the balance of some scopes. It is significantly bigger than the dinky finder that came with it, but that is how it collects the light and I wouldn't change a thing. Agena customer service is top notch.

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4.0 Money well spent, gets much use.

Less Yoga,Strong Construction,Easy to Use,Quality Lenses

Mount Is A Bit Heavy,Weak Adjustment Screws

I put this on a Celestron C6-A-XLT on a motor modified CG-4 mount.
The GSO 8x50 RACI finder has a nice wide field of view and good light gathering, easily showing Jupiter's larger moons. The right angle view is a serious back and knee saver. The adjustments and oddly angled reticle seemed wrong until I discovered they lined up nicely with RA and DEC, which worked well by making centering a two step process. It's big, but not huge, fitting in well on my C6.
On the downside, one of the plastic adjustment screws broke the first night out and the rear section comes unscrewed when I rotate the eyepiece for easier access. It's supposed to be glued but I'm glad it wasn't. A bit of tape fixes this in an easy to undo way that leaves it loose for later projects.
The mount could be lighter, but has stayed aligned through multiple wrestling matches. The leg seems too long at first but gives plenty of head room while using it.
Overall it's a huge improvement over the stock Celestron 6x30 that came on my scope, without the galactic costs usually associated with correct image finders.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 No pain in the neck

Easy to Use,Accurate,Strong Construction

My experience with GSO equipment is that they deliver excellent value for your investment. The 90-degree, correct-view finder scope didn't disappoint me.
Finished in a smooth, white, powder coating the finder looks great. Construction and fit of the finder components is also excellent. It focuses easily and the field of view is excellent. Images are also clean and crisp. I am located in a relatively dark site so the non-illuminated finder cross hairs work fine for me.
I also like the two-point, spring-loaded mounting bracket. It makes aligning the finder with the main OTA a breeze.
I have back problems, so the 90-degree viewing angle makes it easier for me to use, though I am sure the same comments apply to straight-through GSO models as well.
Unless you want to spend as much on your finder as some people do on a beginners' scope, this little gem will do the trick.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Great Finder

Easy to Use,Quality Lenses,Strong Construction,Accurate

Heavy

Great RACI finder and price.

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5.0 GSO 8x50 RACI Finder Scope

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

These are excellent finder Scopes I've been using one that came with my 10" Zummell for over a year and just purchased another for my 12" LightBridge!

Fix Finder_scope that dosen't Hold alignment.

There is nothing wrong with the GSO 8x50 RACI Finder Scopes However...

If incorrectly assembled the O'ring could be pushed off of the Pivot groove on the OTA towards the Diagnal/Eyepiece end, leaving play at the pivoting point near the primary Lens end of the OTA Mount.

The O'Ring must be positioned into a groove milled around the OTA tube.

What this means is if the Finder_scope dosen't Hold alignment you must reinsert the OTA tube end with the Diag0nal/Eyepiece removed from the OTA, into the the narrower tapered end of the Mount that is positioned nearest the primary Lens, the Pivot point.

This will prevent the O'ring from being pushed off of the OTA's Pivot point, keeping the O'ring with in the Pivot groove point, flush under the narrower tapered end of the OTA Tube Mount and having a snug fit with normal movment at the Pivot point Keeping the Finder in alignment.

Note:
Since the Diagnal is plastic and the OTA is metal, be very carefull when threading these parts togeather not to cross thread stripping the plastic threads.
Do not over tighten!!!
Do not use force to unscrew, some mayhave been glued.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Works good after a liitle adjustment.

Easy to Use,Strong Construction

Unstable

RACI on my Celestron 8SE SCT. Was a little loose and had a problem staying aligned with scope. Upon checking rubber ring that holds scope in mount I found it to be a little undersized. I warpped a large rubber band around the rubber ring and it works just fine now.
Even with the minor problem this is a good buy, as it comes with base for mounting to SCT included, other companies charged extra for the base.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Very good finder with one flaw

Lightweight,Accurate,Strong Construction,Easy to Use

Great finder. It almost can be used a a standalone scope. 8 power and 5.4 degree field of view make this a monocular that beats my 7x50 binocs.

Downside is the scope doesn't hold alignment all that well. I have to assemble and take down my scope on every use so that May have something to do with it. I also try to make sure the scope is secure in its bracket. I'll live with the flaw since I can realign it quickly enough

Finder is mounted on a Stellarvue SV102.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Good upgrade

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

I bought this as a upgrade to a straight through 8x30 finder, no more strained neck or crouching in the dirt, well made at a great price.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 GSO 8X50 RACI Goodness

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

Collimation

I like the GSO 8X50 RACI finder. It is lightweight, the crosshairs are easily visible and the Correct Image is a help. One little problem is that the collimation to my C11 is somewhat misaligned each time I set the finder on the OTA. The nylon set screwws are a little loose and therefore come undone when I put it away in my accessories case. When I go to put the finder on the OTA for my next observing session, the finder is not always lined up with the OTA and needs a little tweak to align it with the CG11.

The optics are clean, clear and the images are bright. I liked the price point and compared to some other brands elite RACI finders, this is a good price. The choice of tube color is a caveat too. I would recommend this finder to anyone who wants a low cost, visually appealing and useful right angle, correct image finder.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Works Great. Very Good Value!

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

Upgrade Classic C8 with this Finder. Easy to add to existing holes. A major improvement now having right angle viewing. GSO seems to be a great value supplier.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Best price/performance finder

Accurate,Quality Lenses,Strong Construction,Easy to Use

Difficult To Focus

I replaced the red-dot finder on 8" dob. It works like charm. Easy to align. Mostly keeps alignment well. FOV is nice, ~5 degrees not to be sure. Helical focusing is hard and noisy but you only do it once, so it isn't much problem. FYI, internal "crosshair" reticle can't be aligned.

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5.0 Great

Accurate,Easy to Use,Quality Lenses,Strong Construction

Replaced the small 6x30 finder that was on my old scope with this. WONDERFUL.

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5.0 Huge improvement over stock finder scope

Excellent quality,Quality Lenses,Strong Construction,Easy to Use

None

This was a much needed improvement over the stock, straight-through finder scope that came with my Celestron C8. The magnification and field of view with this finder scope is perfect and now I no longer have to squat under the scope or contort my head and neck to find overhead objects. This is a must have accessory.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

3.0 Does the job

Easy to Use,Lightweight

A Bit Loose,Unstable

It can go out of alignment since it's not tightly secured with the mounting bracket.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 GSO 8 X 50 Finder

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

I mounted this finder to my 10" dob and have been very pleased with the results. The toughest part of the installation was drilling the holes in the OTA. Aligning it with the main scope is easy. The field of view is exactly what I was looking for. Definitely recommend.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Excellent price/performance point

Compact,Easy to Use

Replaced stock RDF on my NexStar 6SE; much easier to use. Very fast delivery, great price. All round good deal.

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5.0 Great views

Accurate,Easy to Use,Quality Lenses

I observe from a moderately light polluted sky. The larger objective really gathers a lot of light, and the 8x keeps the field of view from getting to big to find my way. It is perfect for me as my binos are 8x also. When I first saw it, in the wonderful packaging (foam-lined box from Aegena), I knew I'd love it, and its first use confirmed that for me.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Great for star hopping

Easy to Use,Lightweight

This correct image finder lends itself to wayfinding from star to star. I use it in my variable star program to pick up familiar star patterns in adjacent fields of view.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 GSO Delivers Again!

Easy to Use,Accurate,Strong Construction,easy to focus,Quality Lenses

I recently purchased a new 102mm Acromatic Short Tube telescope that came with a straight through 8X50 finder scope. Using a GEM mount, this original finder is useless if the telescope is pointed anywhere near the zenith. I own another GSO 8X50 RA Finder Scope which came mounted on my 8" DOB and I have been so pleased with its performance that I knew I couldn't go wrong with another one. The GSO RA Finder Scope is mounted via a Synta type mount bracket (included -unlike some other brands). It is easy to align with the telescope main objective using the dual adjustment screws, and is focusable using the front mounted lens. Once it is properly setup it gives a crisp and bright image through a wide FOV (5 to 6 deg). The image is bright enough to clearly see the finder's cross hairs in each view. Many of my favorite viewing objectives are DSOs, especially open clusters, and this finder scope is excellent for not only locating my targets, but also for viewing some of them through the finder itself. For the money, this unit cannot be beat. It is worth more than the current retail market price. Agena Astro's free shipping on this item is an additional plus. I highly recommend this RA finder for anyone who is looking for the best combination of quality and price. "We're Star Stuff, a way for the cosmos to know itself." (Carl Sagan)

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 GSO 8X50 RACI Finder

A great neck saving item!

None that I've encountered.

I echo the words of previous reviewers. This item was purchased to upgrade the straight-through finder that was stock with my ST120. I do not like straight-through finders at all, as they often require observers to contort themselves in order to look through them. It does what I need it to do, and I don't have to stand on my head to use it. Totally happy with this purchase.

4.0 Great Finder and excellent value

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

This finder had exactly what was needed in order to mount it on my 8 inch Meade Starfinder Dob.
Installation was easy and alignment was simple with the device working precisely as advertised.
This finder was so much better than what came with the telescope that I showed them side by side to children to illustrate the difference between quality materials and workmanship and the shoddy commercial junk that some companies include with their products. The GSO finder is top notch!

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 My neck says "Thanx!"

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

None

Finding something in the sky just become easy and comfortable.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Glad I made the switch to a RA finder

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

I recently purchased the GSO 8x50mm Right Angle Correct-Image Finder to replace the straight-thru Meade finder on my AR-6 refractor. Best decision I ever made. It's quick & easy to align and no more neck wrenching to center objects in the FOV! Quality workmanship and great optics. I'd recommend it to anyone.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 One GREAT Correct-Image finder scope

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

The image quality of this finder scope is amazing for the price. I use it for astronomy. It magnifies the stars AND deep-sky objects just enough to be able to find and center the object in the eyepiece of the telescope.
The field of view is 5deg, so a good star field shows up to make 'star-hopping' a breeze.
The cross-hairs are obvious even in a dark location. The alignment screws are nicely placed and easy to use to align the scope at my target.
It works so well, that I bought 2 of them, one for each of my telescopes.
To top it off, the image you see is 'right-side-up', and no 'mirror image'.
I highly recommend this finder scope.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 See the world the right way up

Good price value,Quality Lenses,Accurate

None

Good Image Finder, well made and optically very good.
Used for Astronomy and daytime viewing.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Great finderscope

Strong Construction,Compact,Quality Lenses,Accurate

I had used straight-through finders, and with the small FOV and craning my neck to see through it, I preferred to use just the telrad. I heard good things about RACIs and this one from Agena in particular. I was not disappointed. This makes it much, much easier to starhop to my target, and on several occasions, I found my Messier objects in the finder itself. That is probably the only disappointment, in that I enjoy starhopping, and this scope has taken some of those opportunities away from me. That is not a bad problem to have, though.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Makes Messiers much easier

This works really well. I somewhat wish that I got it much sooner, because it makes finding Messier objects much, much easier. Then again, I banged out a few Messiers the other night so quickly that I sort of missed the starhopping and the "yea, I found it" moment.

Focusing is a bit difficult, but seems to stay put once you set it correctly. Also, the stars appear to show coma, but maybe I am not 100% in focus.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Great finder

Sharp across the field,Good price value,Quality Lenses

Difficult To Focus

Nice finder with enough aperture to star-hop in urban areas. Stars are sharp across the entire field of view. Holds alignment to the main scope well, but yet it's easy to tweak whenever needed. Only drawback is that the focus is not convenient to adjust--but then you really only need to do it once and lock it.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Quality at an affordable price!

Very clear optics,Easy to align,Quality Lenses

Eyepiece can be loose

I purchased the Finderscope hoping to attach to my 4.5" Newtonian to the stock attachment screws this was not possible without removal and new holes and screws. I have fabricated my own mount from a small camera tripod head and attached to the tube rings. It works great although requires additional counterweight. yes it would have been easier to drill new holes but I did not want to go this route. Much better than the stock 5x24! Although now my prime scope is the CPC1100.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Excellent product, extremely useful!

Accurate,Quality Lenses

Excellent product! After I bought it, many people from my Astronomy club decided to order an identical item.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Rock solid performance

Strong Construction,Compact

Strong Construction,Compact

This GSO finder was purchased for my Orion ST120. It is a perfect complement to my scope, and it has served me well while star hopping. Combined with the GSO base and dual-speed Crayford focuser I purchased at the same time, it provides a rock solid complement of accessories for my scope.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Good finder scope

Quality Lenses,Compact,Strong Construction,Accurate

Our Meade 6 inch Dobsonion came with a "red dot finder" that was nearly worthless. We replaced it with this finder scope which I would highly recommend to anyone whose telescope has one of these "dot finders."

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 GSO RACI

Compact,Strong Construction,Quality Lenses,Accurate

This replaced a red dot finder scope on Celestron 8SE. Tried it our today - works great - improvement from the red dot. Very satisfied with the product.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Great neck saver!! Nice optics!

Quality Lenses,Compact,Accurate,Strong Construction

Mounted on a telescope for finding objects

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Great finder!

Strong Construction,Compact,Accurate,Quality Lenses

Heavy

This finder came with my new 10" Dobsonian and it is by far the best finder I have ever owned. Sharp, pinpoint stars (after focusing by turning the front lens and fastening the ring behind it), very easy to align with the scope and accurate. Really a breeze to work with, actually so good that I am buying another one for my little GoTo refractor! This will enable me to use the GoTo system for locating an object, and then comparing the view in the identical finders to get my Dob aimed at the same spot. Saves a lot of starhopping time!!

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Very nice finder scope

Accurate,Strong Construction,Quality Lenses,Compact

Difficult To Focus

Very good color correction. Slight red tinge on the limb ( edge )of the moon.
No to very slight false color noticed on any astronomicalobject that I needed a finder scope to locate. Easy to align with main optical tube.
( Telescope ). Focus adjustment takes a little patience but you should not need to focus very often.
I just ordered another one for a local telescope re build project.
-- Wayne

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Good quality for a great price.

Quality Lenses,Strong Construction

Heavy

This is a great finder for the price. I find it very easy to focus and it gives a very sharp and wide fov. The objective lens coating is very nicely coated with no flaws and the coating is a nice green/blue colour. The bracket mounts straight onto the dovetail bracket of most of the Celestron/Meade (Gso/Synta) type Dobs and Newts. With the bracket included the finder is quite heavy (520grams with the dovetail bracket),so balance issues may be something that needs to be considered for users.

4 stars because of the weight, everything else is great.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 The best product at this price !!

Accurate,Strong Construction

I've used it with my dobson. It's perfect.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Excellent Finder At An Excellent Price

Strong Construction,Quality Lenses

I recently received probably my fifth or sixth GSO finder that I have purchased over the past three years. Why do I keep coming back? Because these finders do as well as finders costing much more money and the bottom line is to find objects. The views are quite clear and bright, the instrument is easy to focus and the fit and finish is very nice as well. The collimation screws make it very easy to align to the main tube and with the one tension post, the adjustment almost always never changes. Well worth the money, six times over!

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Very good finder

Compact,Accurate,Quality Lenses,Strong Construction

It's easy to identify the stars from the star charts. I also found useful to keep the target in the center of the field, while someone else is looking through the EP.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Low Price - Great results

Strong Construction

Very nice piece of equipement. Installed it on my 9.25 SCT and Lo! Neck aches are gone. Good quality lenses, loved it very much

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Nice Finder

Strong Construction,Quality Lenses,Accurate

I purchased this GSO 8x50 finder to mount on my Celestron NexStar 8 SE Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. I had thought about getting the Orion 9x50 finder that came with my Orion dobsonian, but couldn't justify the price compared to this one, especially considering the GSO objective is multi-coated whereas the Orion objective has a single coating.

The mounting screws that are included with this finder aren't compatible with the NexStar so I had to go to the hardware store to get 8x32 3/8" flat stainless screws. Once you've got the right hardware, installation is a snap.

I was surprised to see that the finder comes from the vendor (and I'm assuming from the factory) out of focus. Once focused the image is sharp and looks pretty good across the FOV. The image is also pretty bright.

This item is absolutely essential for star hopping, and every telescope like the NexStar 8 SE should ship with one. The red dot finder alone is just not enough to be able to find anything with a sky atlas.

Although I've only had a chance to use it for one observing session since I just got it yesterday, I'd recommend it. So far, so good!

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Worthwhile Finder

Ease of use,Strong Construction

Heavy,Difficult To Focus

I use this finder for astronomy although it could be used for birding, hunting, or other terrestrial viewing.

I am pleased with its ease of use like all other Synta or GSO finders where you just slip it into the shoe and tighten the thumbscrew.

The only downsides I found about this are its weight, but that depends on specific scopes. Most scopes should be able to overcome this with balance modifications. I used it on my 6" Dob with very little problems (although a smaller finder did work better due to balance issues). The larger the Dob the better if you are using it on one since balance will be less of an issue with a heavier scope.

I also had a hard time at times focusing on the stars with my eyes. Just experiment a bit to get it just right.

I found it very capable as a small scope on its own. Most DSOs I saw in my light-polluted (Mag. 4.5) area were also seen first in the finder. I enjoyed that very much. It is also a good aperture for blinking a nebula filter in front of the eyepiece of the finder to tell where planetary nebula are first before ever looking through the scope's EP.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Best Value

Inexpensive,Accurate

I use this on my Starmaster 18" dob. You just can't beat the price. It does the job extremely well. The eyepiece isn't as nice to look through as some very expensive finders, but that's not worth over $100 to me.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

3.0 Bird scope ok, scope finder not so

Strong Construction,Compact

Poor Lens Quality

I bought this item intending to put it on my Meade 10" Lightbridge as a magnifying finder scope, however optical quality could be better, finally doesn't help much more than a traditional finder.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 Great Finder

Accurate

Heavy

This finder gives a good wide view with plenty of light through put. Easy to adjust and easy to install. I put this finder on my Meade Light Bridge 16" telescope, but it would be just as at home on my 8" SCT. Great buy. I prefer the wider view of a 8X50 over a 9X or more view finder.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 GSO 8x50mm Right Angle Correct-Image Finder

Accurate,Perfect Fit,Compact,Quality Lenses,Strong Construction

It fit right on and worked perfectly!

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Good Inexpensive Finder Replacement

Right angle eyepiece,Inexpensive,Well built

Doesn't fit JMI bracket

I replaced the stock 9 x 50 straight through finder that came with my Celestron Nexstar 8 GPS with this one, and I'm very pleased with the results. It's much easier to use than the straight through one, and the field of view is a bit wider, making it easier to find objects, which is the whole point. It seems to be well constructed, and the slight loss in magnification hasn't made any noticeable difference to me.

I haven't been able to get it to fix as securely as my original finder in my JMI Quick release bracket though, so I'd strongly recommend getting whatever dovetail base you need with it for the minor additional cost. It stays put while I'm using it, but when I take the bracket off for storage, it loses it's alignment with the main scope.

Very nice upgrade if you are looking for right angle finder.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 My Neck is So Happy

Solid Construction, Comfortable View, Clear Image

None

What else can I say? I replaced my straight through with this GSO right angle and no more straining my neck to find things. The view is sharp and clear and it is easy to focus. The spring loaded mount is nice to get it just where it's most comfortable. Well worth the money.

4.0 Great product

Strong Construction,Accurate

Poor Lens Quality

I use this finder in my 10" lightbridge. It is very easy to mount on it. Comes with a bracket and a universal type dovetail base that you can put on any reflector. Nice product for the money. Now my LB has two finders, the red dot to locate the area in the sky and the 8x50 to find and center the object I am looking for.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Great Inexpensive Replacement Finder

No neck strain,Great Value,EASY TO USE ALIGNMENT,Erect image

Crosshairs not rotatable

Like most production-run telescopes, mine came with a 6x30 straight-through finder that was useless for anything but daylight use. Images were not very bright, they were upside-down and flipped right-to-left and not having a diagonal, my neck would hurt when trying to use it. I found a good, inexpensive replacement in GSO's 8x50 Right Angle Erect Image Finder Scope, sold by Agena Astroproducts.

Probably the biggest difference in the upgrade is the 50mm aperture. With more light-gathering power, more stars are visible in the eyepiece field making it easier to locate or star-hop to objects. Brighter DSOs are visible also, something I wouldn't even expect with a 30mm finder. The diagonal prism also takes a lot of strain off of the user's neck. This is especially important for deep-space observing where much time may be needed looking through the finderscope.

Probably the biggest improvement in the upgrade is the erect image provided by the amici "roof" prism diagonal. Seeing the image in a correct right-to-left orientation makes moving the scope much more intuitive than without it. One minor issue with this scope is that the eyepiece is not designed to be rotated, holding the crosshairs in a fixed position which may or may not coincide with the mount axes of the telescope the finder is mounted on. (While the eyepiece can be unscrewed from the diagonal, this would not be an acceptable way to rotate the crosshairs.)

Focusing the finder, like most finders, is done by turning the objective housing, basically screwing or un-screwing it and holding it in place with a lock ring. While the mechanism is a little on the squeaky side, the typical user will probably need to focus the finderscope only once and then not need to focus again.

The mounting bracket that comes with the GSO 8x50 RACI Finder Scope is typical of most finder brackets found today. The front portion holds the scope in a fixed position with a rubber O-ring while the back end holds the finder tube with a spring-loaded plunger and two right-angle adjustment screws. This is much easier to use than traditional 2-ring, 6-screw finder mounts. The bracket is designed to fit on a standard Orion/Synta dovetail base.

All told, the GSO 8x50 Right Angle Erect Image Finder Scope is a great value and an excellent upgrade for scopes that come equipped with smaller, difficult to use finders.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 GSO 8x50mm Right Angle Correct Image Finder

Good build quality and image. Includes bracket and base. Inexpensive.

Bracket design allows finder to move even after alignment.

I recently purchased a gently used Vixen ED80Sf. The package included an 8x50 straight-through finder and other accessories. I’ve always preferred right-angle finders so I decided to upgrade, but I wanted a white finder to match the original.

An online search led me to Agena AstroProducts who offers a right-angle, correct-image (RACI) 8x50 finder from GSO. I found similar units from several sources, but only Agena offered white, black and silver versions. The price at the time I placed my order was [$xx] with free shipping.

I received the finder quickly and in excellent condition. The finder came installed in its bracket, packed in a foam-lined box that also contained a dovetail base (to attach to the telescope if needed), caps for the objective and eyepiece, and an instruction sheet. Agena offers three different dovetail bases – the ‘standard’ is included in the price. SCT and Crayford bases are also available for additional cost.

The instruction sheet warns that the rear cell and/or diagonal are not designed to be removed. It also explains how to focus the objective. As with similar finders, the eyepiece itself cannot be focused. This could present a problem to users whose eyesight is not “20/20” because the crosshairs are set for that correction, but it was OK for me.

The supplied bracket is the ‘2 screw, 1 spring, and an o-ring’ type that’s common today. I don’t really care for this setup because it is not possible to lock the finder in place once it’s aligned. However, the finder should remain aligned with the main scope as long as it’s not disturbed. Incidentally, the instruction sheet shows the finder installed in the bracket backwards!

The white finish matched the Vixen tube assembly nicely. I focused the objective, installed the finder, and aligned it with the main scope. Optically, the GSO 8x50 is just right for its intended purpose – a low-power, wide-field finder. It provides a crisp view, and a 5º + field. A 50mm is large enough to show the Galilean satellites and many deep-sky objects directly.

If you’re looking for a right-angle finder to replace your current ‘neck breaker’ or a smaller unit, you might want to give the GSO 8x50 a try.

Other than being a satisfied customer, I have no interest in any of the companies mentioned above.

5.0 A MUST have IMO

Comfortable Eyepiece,Accurate,Strong Construction,Quality Lenses

How did I manage with my 8" SCT for 10 years with simply a Telrad? I should have bought a RACI finder a long time ago! If you are like me and do not own a computer assisted telescope, this is THE accessory to purchase. Great quality, optically and mechanically. I love the easy 2 point adjustment. Dump the original finder of that scope and get this one. I have been impressed with the quality of the GSO accessories I have purchased here at agenaastro, this one is no exception.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Good value finder

Large aperture,Right angle design,Value for the money

So-so image quality,Focusing is difficult

We got this finder to replace the straight-through finder that came with our telescope. In terms of image quality, it does a serviceable job; not outstanding, but good enough to star hop. The images are bright, and we are able to make out some of the brighter deep-sky fuzzies when we go out to a darker site. Having a right-angle helps a lot with neck strain when hopping around high overhead. The only negative experience that I can remember so far is trying to adjust the focus - the threads were a bit sticky and let out a loud screeching sound when focusing. Be careful not to wake the neighbours. :)

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

5.0 GSO 8x50 RACI Finder

Strong Construction

I recently purchased a gently used Vixen ED80Sf refractor, a great little scope! The package included an 8x50 straight-through finder and other accessories. I've always preferred right-angle finders so I decided to upgrade, but wanted a white tube to match the original.An online search led me to Agena AstroProducts who offers a GSO right angle, correct image (RACI) 8x50 finder. I found similar units from several sources, but only Agena offered a white version (along with black and silver). The foam lined box contains the finder installed in its bracket, a dovetail base for the telescope if needed, and an instruction sheet. Agena offers three different dovetail bases- the "standard" is included in the price. For a few additional dollars, an SCT or Crayford base is also available. The instruction sheet warns you that the rear cell and/or diagonal are not designed to be removed. It also explains how to focus the objective. As with similar finders, the eyepiece cannot be focused. This could present a problem to users whose eyesight is not 20/20 because the crosshairs are focused for that correction, but it was fine for me. (Interestingly, the pictures on the instruction sheet shows the finder mounted in the bracket backwards!) The color matched the Vixen tube assembly perfectly and I installed the finder, focused the objective, and aligned it with the main scope. Optically, the GSO 8x50 is perfect for its intended purpose- a low power finder. It provides a sharp view, and a deg + field. If yo're looking for a right angle finder to replace your current "neck breaker", give the GSO 8x50 right angle finder a try! Other than being a satisfied customer, I have no interest in Agena AstroProducts, GSO, or Vixen.

This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

4.0 Good Inexpensive Finder Replacement

Well built, right angle eyepiece, inexpensive

Doesn't quite fit properly in my JMI finder bracket

I replaced the stock 9 x 50 straight through finder that came with my Celestron Nexstar 8 GPS with this one, and I'm very pleased with the results. It's much easier to use than the straight through one, and the field of view is a bit wider, making it easier to find objects, which is the whole point. It seems to be well constructed, and the slight loss in magnification hasn't made any noticeable difference to me.

I haven't been able to get it to fix as securely as my original finder in my JMI Quick release bracket though, so I'd strongly recommend getting whatever dovetail base you need with it for the minor additional cost. It stays put while I'm using it, but when I take the bracket off for storage, it loses it's alignment with the main scope.

Very nice upgrade if you are looking for right angle finder

4.0 Great Inexpensive Replacement Finder

Great value, erect image, no neck strain, easy to use 2-screw alignment

Eyepiece crosshairs cannot be rotated

Like most production-run telescopes, mine came with a 6x30 straight-through finder that was useless for anything but daylight use. Images were not very bright, they were upside-down and flipped right-to-left and not having a diagonal, my neck would hurt when trying to use it. I found a good, inexpensive replacement in GSO's 8x50 Right Angle Erect Image Finder Scope, sold for $59 by Agena Astroproducts.

Probably the biggest difference in the upgrade is the 50mm aperture. With more light-gathering power, more stars are visible in the eyepiece field making it easier to locate or star-hop to objects. Brighter DSOs are visible also, something I wouldn't even expect with a 30mm finder. The diagonal prism also takes a lot of strain off of the user's neck. This is especially important for deep-space observing where much time may be needed looking through the finderscope.

Probably the biggest improvement in the upgrade is the erect image provided by the amici "roof" prism diagonal. Seeing the image in a correct right-to-left orientation makes moving the scope much more intuitive than without it. One minor issue with this scope is that the eyepiece is not designed to be rotated, holding the crosshairs in a fixed position which may or may not coincide with the mount axes of the telescope the finder is mounted on. (While the eyepiece can be unscrewed from the diagonal, this would not be an acceptable way to rotate the crosshairs.)

Focusing the finder, like most finders, is done by turning the objective housing, basically screwing or un-screwing it and holding it in place with a lock ring. While the mechanism is a little on the squeaky side, the typical user will probably need to focus the finderscope only once and then not need to focus again.

The mounting bracket that comes with the GSO 8x50 RACI Finder Scope is typical of most finder brackets found today. The front portion holds the scope in a fixed position with a rubber O-ring while the back end holds the finder tube with a spring-loaded plunger and two right-angle adjustment screws. This is much easier to use than traditional 2-ring, 6-screw finder mounts. The bracket is designed to fit on a standard Orion/Synta dovetail base.

All told, the GSO 8x50 Right Angle Erect Image Finder Scope is a great value and an excellent upgrade for scopes that come equipped with smaller, difficult to use finders.

4.0 Good value finder

Value for the money, right angle design, large aperture and brightness.

Focusing is difficult, so-so image quality.

We got this finder to replace the straight-through finder that came with our telescope. In terms of image quality, it does a serviceable job; not outstanding, but good enough to star hop. The images are bright, and we are able to make out some of the brighter deep-sky fuzzies when we go out to a darker site. Having a right-angle helps a lot with neck strain when hopping around high overhead.

The only negative experience that I can remember so far is trying to adjust the focus - the threads were a bit sticky and let out a loud screeching sound when focusing. Be careful not to wake the neighbours. :)