Orion 7211 Black 6x30 Right-Angle Correct-Image Finder

To begin, I must state that I am not a fan of the "red dot" finders that are included with many telescopes these days. The red dots are practically useless for how I use my telescopes (star hopping in a light-polluted small city). I've replaced my red dot finders in the past with traditional 5x24 or 6x30 finders (that mount to the telescope with two bolts) and been much happier with them. However, I purchased a Meade Infinity 102 as a gift for my father and wanted to remove the red dot, but the telescope used a dovetail connection for the finder, so I had to come up with a new solution. br>br>I knew my father preferred a right-angle finder, so I only had one choice: this one. The price put me off a little, but I went ahead and bought it anyway. br>br>I have to say, this finder has left me impressed. To begin, here's a quick recap: Advantages: br>br>
- Correct-image optics are excellentbr>- Focus is simplebr>- Alignment is surprisingly simplebr>- sturdily mounted with a tall stalkbr>- Caps for the objective and eyepiecebr>br>Cons:
- br>Expensive- I can't seem to get the crosshairs to rotatebr>- The finder cannot be removed from the mount without major disassemblybr>br>Optical quality is the most important criterion, and this finder meets it: images are bright and sharp, and focusing on terrestrial or astronomical targets is simple. A diagonal mirror is used in many right angle finders, resulting in an upright image that is reversed left-to-right. right, making them more suitable for use on land than the traditional upside-down finderscope view, but still not ideal. This one employs an amici prism to produce images that are both upright and correct on the left-hand side. right, making it easier to use for targets on the ground. It's especially convenient with scopes like the Infinity 102, which have correct image optics, because what you see in the finder matches exactly what you see in the telescope eyepiece. It was surprisingly simple to align the finder. br>br> I usually avoid "three screw" finders in favor of four or six screw finders because of their superior ease of adjustment and ability to maintain alignment even when bumped against. At first, I was skeptical of this "two screw and a spring" finder, but when I tried it out, I was astounded by how simple it was. A typical three-screw finder is loose on the front end and requires tape to keep it in place, whereas the Orion finder uses a rubber O-ring to keep it in place. The front of the finder scope is secured in the mount by a ring. Better yet, unlike three-screw finders, the adjustment screws on this one are oriented 90 degrees apart, allowing you to adjust one screw at a time. then make the necessary adjustments- You're done when you get to the bottom of it. It was easy and quick. The only thing that would make it easier is if you could rotate the crosshairs until they were aligned with the adjustment screws, but that's a minor quibble. br>br>Because of the long stalk, the finder is far enough away from the main telescope tube that it does not get in the way when looking through the telescope and is easy to access when needed. The dovetail mount is useful because the connection between the finder mount and the telescope has very little "wiggle," so you won't have to realign the finder to the main scope if you remove it for storage and then reinstall it. It's almost a pity, given how easy the alignment process is. br>br>In terms of storage, there are caps to protect the lenses, which are nice because they don't fall off and get lost. br>br>My only other nitpick is that removing the finderscope from its mount is difficult. That's only a disadvantage because it takes up a little more space in storage, but it's a small price to pay for the finder's overall quality. br>br>While it isn't the cheapest finder on the market, it is the only one of its kind (right angle with dovetail) and does a great job.

Sariyah Baker

| Jun 08, 2021

I've always been a fan of Orion! With one exception this time, I really like their equipment, and this piece is no exception: the finderscope is sturdy and has excellent optics, just as I expected. The pictures are clear and crisp. That being said, and I may be mistaken, I was under the impression that the viewing diagonal on this piece could be rotated and held in place. It appears that I was wrong! It rotates, but only unscrews and goes away. unscrews. It loosens and does not stay in place if it is not physically held in the up position. No grip- There's nothing there. I'm not sure if this is the proper function. If there is a problem, I suppose some Teflon or electrical tape cut to fit the threads would fix it. Dunno?? I'm a big fan of learning new things. Finderscope performs admirably in all other respects, as previously stated. br>br>Recent changes: br>br> After considering the problem from a different perspective and doing some research, I believe the solution is to rotate the entire scope tube in the bracket rather than using the diagonal. An elastic band keeps the tube in place. ring, and two adjustment screws, as well as a tension screw. You can carefully rotate the entire finderscope tube in its bracket by loosening the adjustment screws and pulling out the tension on the third tension screw. I did this with the entire scope removed from the OTA mount to ensure that I wouldn't break the mount, bracket, or anything else by turning it. (Despite the fact that everything is loose and there is no tension, rotating requires some force) you must exercise extreme caution. Taking a step forward and revealing the The turning is made easier with the help of the ring. Restart the computer after that. Place the finderscope tube in the Liked position by ringing it in the tube grove. You're ready to go now that you've pulled back for grip and setting the ring. Of course, this is the new permanent viewing angle right now. (This is not something I do on a regular basis. ) It was simply a matter of collimating the finder image to the main telescope and calling it a day. I hope this information is useful to anyone who is considering adjusting this finderscope, as I was.

Zander Ramirez

| Oct 02, 2021

On my Orion Astroview 90 EQ, its wide field of view and light weight make it a winner. I wasn't sure how easy it would be to aim because you aren't looking up at the sky, but the wide field of view allows me to sight along the telescope tube and get it close enough to find in the 6x30, then center in on my target for observing through the big scope. It's not as simple as using an EZ Finder or a Telrad, but it does reveal stars that are invisible to the naked eye in my light-polluted skies, which the zero-light Finder and Telrad do not. Mag finders aren't going to cut it anymore, which is why I wanted to give this scope a shot. br>br>Given the light weight, the construction is acceptable. Everything is well-made and fits together snugly. It's a precision instrument, not a utility item, and should last a lifetime if cared for like a fine optical device. Because it uses a prism rather than a mirror, there's no risk of the mirror breaking down in the future. When removed and reattached, it fits snugly in the Orion dovetail slot and maintains its alignment. br>br>The view is noticeably darker than with the 7x35 binos I use for constellation spotting, but I can see all of the same stars with both instruments, making star hopping much easier. It's just that the stars aren't as bright through the 6x30. They're still visible to me, and they're correct- with the right side up and enough background to allow for easy orientation I think it's a good fit for my scope, and it's a lot less painful on my neck than the 9x50 finder it replaced!.

Castiel Yu

| Feb 20, 2021