Product Description
The circles stay the same size no matter how far your eye is positioned behind the finder. Unlike ordinary magnifying finders, you don't have to keep your eye pushed up against the QuikFinder to use it. You can be as much as 12" to 18" behind the finder and it will still work properly.
Separate controls on the finder adjust the brightness of the red circles of light and adjust the rate at which the circles pulse on and off. Some observers find it easier to use a pulsing light to avoid tiring out the eye. The Rigel QuikFinder builds this feature in, rather than making it an option as it is with some other finders. The pulsing action also conserves battery life.
The finder uses one user-replaceable 3 volt BR2032 or CR2032 lithium camera battery (supplied, but not guaranteed by Rigel to be fully charged when received). Battery charge and battery life are not covered by the finder warranty. When it is time to replace the battery (readily available at Walmart, Radio Shack, camera stores, etc.), you can use either of the above batteries or a BR2025 or CR2025.
The QuikFinder comes with two bases, each measuring 2" x 2.5". They attach semi-permanently to your telescope optical tube by means of supplied double-faced tape. The tape can be removed from the optical tube, but might mar the finish on a sonotube reflector, so be sure the finder is precisely where you want it to be before taping it in place. One base is shaped to fit scope optical tubes under 5" in diameter, the other fits larger scopes. The finder itself is 5" tall by 1-3/8" square. Its compact size, height, long eye relief, and small base option makes it ideal for small scopes such as the Bushnell 4.5" Voyager and the Meade ETX scopes, where it is difficult to get your head close enough to use a conventional finder. At the same time, it makes an excellent second finder for quick object locating with virtually any large telescope.
Tech Details
Warranty | 5 years |
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Reviews
BTW, if you do a search on CN for "Rigel" and "dovetail" you'll find a vendor who offers a 3-D printed base so you can slip the Rigel into an vixen type finder slot if your scope has one. (Posted on 1/13/2019)
It's a red dot sight with a little tiny bit better ergonomics. Chances are you will still forget to turn it off. Bring spare 2025s because you can't pop in a standard battery. (Posted on 1/3/2019)
The only nits to pick are that there is a tiny bit of parallax error if the eye is a good distance away from the window, no outer (4*) ring on the bullseye, and you need to use care in how you attach the base to the OTA. The single central screw might allow the base to rotate a little, add double-stick tape to prevent this. Also, don't over-tighten the mounting screw, as this can hinder mounting/dismounting. (Posted on 11/6/2018)
+ light weight
+ eyepoint away from scope tube (easy or ergonomic)
+ variable brightness and pulse (faint pulse great for faint targets)
You have to remember to turn this off or you may get a surprise after a long stretch of cloudy weather, and be careful not to lose a push-on knob in the dark grass. It's usable with a missing knob since you can still turn the stalk the knob fits on.
I find these useful enough that I have 2 quikfinders, first one is second-hand and over 5 years old, second going on 5 years: one for SCT using standard snap-in base, and one with the shoe adapter for dovetail finder base on a couple of smaller scopes. (Posted on 8/4/2017)