Astromania Guide Scope Finder Scope 50mm FMC Multi-Use with Helical Focuser

This finder scope was exactly what I was looking for, it was a significant upgrade over the scope I had previously. I had to replace the custom mechanism for the telescope to a dovetail connector base to make it fit, but most accessories use that standard dovetail, so I would have needed to do so anyway. Once I've replaced the base with the dovetail one, this fit perfectly. The image through this finder is clear, it is easy to align (although, you'll have to align it as perfectly as you can on as far of an object as you can). I've used it a few times for finding planets and stars and have had no issue with viewing the night sky in terms of brightness, and finding what I wanted to focus on. I've seen a few reviews indicating it would be nice to have crosshairs to make it easier to see the centre, but on the scopes I've seen those crosshairs, they're on the side of the eyepiece, so it should be possible to add your own, it's also better to be able to choose crosshairs that are visible at night, because quite a few have crosshairs that are effectively invisible at night on the dark sky. Just to note, this is not an all-in-one, the eyepiece adapter is a standard one that fits 1.25" eyepieces, so make sure you have an eyepiece of your own. This has the upside of making the magnification of the scope modifiable as desired.

Have not used it yet as a guide scope but did add a 25mm eyepiece and tested it out during the day and at night on the moon and a couple of stars just looking through it . Sharp crystal clear images!!! Pin point star images , sharp clear craters on the moon. Daylight viewing just as sharp. Helical focuser very smooth. Holder bracket has a nice tight grip on the body. My only dislike was one of the screws to hold the tube in place was missing the Teflon cushion pad but I can deal with that minor issue. I have no doubt this will be an excellent guide scope. This was my first ever guide scope and I'm glad I bought it to compliment my Astromania diagonal astrophotagraphy flip mirror .

The 50mm Astromania finder features great optics and the potential ability to use the finder as a telephoto lens and use the finder in a straight through mode, 45 degree prism mode, or 90 degree prism mode. You can loosen a set screw to adjust the draw tube that holds the eyepiece or prism diagonal. You get a wide range of focus options, but it will not work for all prism/eyepiece combinations. Also, because of the sliding draw tube, you don't have an internal baffle. When sighting on an object near the moon, you will get a lot of annoying stray light. It's a well made accessory with the caveats mentioned.

Warning if you're considering this guide scope - the aperture was significantly stopped down by an aperture mask within the tube on the one I purchased. Not a baffle (I know scopes), but an aperture mask. Quality of the unit was good and the helical focuser was convenient but this was not a "50mm" guide scope. With the mask it was closer to 35-40mm.

Works well. Good star focus.

The stars do not focus to a point so I am pretty sure the collimation is off. Other than that it serves my purpose.

I use this to hold my auto guiding camera. It works well and focusing is easy and solid with no drift. If you are looking for a guide scope, this is a great choice.

This 50mm scope works great as either a finder or a guide scope. I've used it as a finder scope on a 8" SCT using the included base and a 23mm illuminated eyepiece, and as a guide scope on a 72mm refractor. I use the nose piece on my CCD guide camera instead of screwing it directly onto the focuser. That way I can easily remove the camera and swap in the eyepiece, which has a parfocal ring so the focus point is very close to that of the camera. The helical focuser works quite well, if you have a light touch, and has a locking knob to hold the focus. The mounting rings are solid and have plastic tips on the screws so they don't scrape the scope up.

La calidad de hechura es buena, no sirve para hacer fotografía adicional como campo amplio por lo que es muy específico para su funcion

Llegó incompleto, le falta un tornillo, y al ser equipo de astronomía esto si afecta mucho