I have two telrads and two red-dot finders and prefer the telrad. The clearly marked rings greatly help locating objects and help you learn more about sky locations, even if your scope has computerized gadgetry. A set of binoculars also helps locating things even with a telrad, especially if the weather is not-so-great. You can also use a telrad to locate terrestrial objects too. It is also a bit large for my small refractors. This should be a useful item, and still seems the best for general use. One downside is needing to recalibrate if/when you take the telrad off your scope. Oh, and almost forgot -- its easy to forget to turn it off so bring another battery if necessary.

--I have three telrads and have also used a red-dot finder, magnifying finders, and two other reflex finders. All the others pale beside the telrad (especially the red dots, which seem of little use on anything but bright objects). --IMHO this one is still the best by far, and heres why: 1.the circles let you star-hop so easily that I usually prefer it to a computerized setup. 2. it works simply and well, and is reasonably priced. 3. it has little or no parallax so you dont have to find exactly the same position for accuracy. 4.the reticle sight is clear and visible. 5.It can be transferred with a minimum of fuss and adjusts easily (just aim it at a fixed light source that is not very bright). 6. the field of view is right side up and unmagnified. --Drawbacks are few (thats why its a 9 not a 10). 1. Its big and clumsy and unaesthetic, especailly for a small scope like a TV-60 (surely telrad could make it smaller by now). 2. the fastening screws are low quality and are long enough to interfere with the dew shield operation on one of my small scopes (the user should replace or file down the screws). 3.its easy to accidentally turn the switch on or to leave it on during disassembly -- perhaps an automatic turnoff would be nice for telrad to add. --In summary, its still the King (especially when used with a low-power eyepiece to establish the visual field).

Beginner can enjoy observing deepsky with Telrad. In fact, my friend who said difficulty for searching deepsky with finderscope could search deepsky very easily with Telrad. But the most weakness of Telrad is useless in light pollution area. Therefore I recommend Telrad is used with finderscope together.

I have owned a number of medium to large cassegrain telescopes and believe me, this is a great addition as an alternative to your factory finder...Easy to use and install, I never leave home without one!

Having owned 3 LX-200s, 1 Celestron C-14, a Takahashi CN212 and Mewlon 250 I can honestly say a Telrad is a must have for any size Cassegrain or scope type...They are easy to use and align which makes your viewing alot easier especially if your a visual astonomer and want a site that helps you pin point your objects...The cost makes it all the more agreeable and after you get the hang of using one, You will never leave home without one!

10 stars easily!!! James Edwards Elk Grove CA

I have two telrads and two red-dot finders and prefer the telrad. The clearly marked rings greatly help locating objects and help you learn more about sky locations, even if your scope has computerized gadgetry. A set of binoculars also helps locating things even with a telrad, especially if the weather is not-so-great. You can also use it to locate terrestrial objects too. It is also a bit large for my small refractors. This should be a useful item, and still seems the best for general use. One downside is needing to recalibrate if/when you take the telrad off your scope. Oh, and almost forgot -- its easy to forget to turn it off so bring another battery if necessary.