MistrBadgr wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 7:07 am
Hi Bruce!
That is a very nice scope you picked up. I have wondered if any of the old Bushnell scopes were good, simply because some of the modern ones I have seen were far from it. I am curious about the attachment on top, which I assume is a finder. Would be interested in hearing how that works out for you as well. Looks like you are in the .965 business now in a big way!
Bill,
So far I am a little frustrated with the prism reflex finder on top of the scope. I have not been able to observe yet because of all the clouds (go figure!), but I tried aligning the finder to the scope on a distant object in the daytime and have mixed feelings about it. After the first precise alignment, it will supposedly keep that alignment for a long time, or so I've heard.
First of all, the knob on the finder that drops the prism down, blocks the view through the scope until the knob is turned to raise the prism back up. Where this becomes frustrating is the knob is a little stiff, and the 3 adjustment screws and 1 center lock screw used to collimate the finder (just like with a secondary mirror on a reflector) are very tight. As you know, to align the finder, you position the scope on the object, lock it in, and then adjust the secondary, or in this case, the prism to the object. Except in this case, you have to keep turning the stiff knob on and off while looking between the scope and the finder because the stiffness of the knob is causing the scope to move from the object! Whew!
I will eventually need to find a way to make the knob less stiff, but for now I don't want to mess with it. I am thinking the stiff knob is attributed to the scope being stored for what, 40 - 50 years or more? I don't know the exact date it was manufactured, but maybe late 60's?
Of course, if I had a better mount the scope would probably stay in position better. Anyway, I think I have it close and will need to adjust it again when I can finally get First Light, hopefully tonight looking at the almost first quarter moon.
I have a few .965" eyepieces and a good .965" Vixen 2x barlow for now and of course my 1.25" eyepieces and hybrid diagonals, but yes, I am thinking maybe some more .965" eyepieces would be nice!