{"product_id":"orion-optics-uk-ag16-straight-finder-50mm-wide-field","title":"Orion Optics UK Straight Finder 50mm Wide Field","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e50mm Aperture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e8x Magnification\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStraight-Through Optical Design\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFully Coated Optics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdjustable Crosshairs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuick-Release Dovetail Mounting Shoe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- more --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAQ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section-center\"\u003e\n      \u003ch2\u003eOrion Optics UK Straight Finder 50mm Wide Field\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThe Orion Optics UK 8x50 Straight Finder delivers a bright, wide-field view essential for manual star-hopping and object acquisition. Its 50mm objective lens gathers significantly more light than standard finder scopes, revealing fainter guide stars needed to locate deep-sky targets. The 8x magnification provides a generous field of view to easily frame constellations and asterisms while you navigate the night sky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003e50mm Aperture and 8x Magnification: A Bright, Wide-Field View\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eA 50mm finder is the ideal balance between light-gathering power and size. The fully coated objective lens pulls in enough light to make guide stars pop against the background sky, a critical advantage over smaller 30mm finders when hunting for faint fuzzies. At 8x magnification, the field of view is wide enough to easily recognize star patterns, making it straightforward to move from a known bright star to your desired target.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eQuick-Release Shoe and Sprung-Loaded Screws for Stable Alignment\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThis finder includes a fixed dovetail shoe for rapid mounting and removal without losing alignment. The bracket uses sprung-loaded adjustment screws, which maintain constant pressure on the finder tube. This design prevents the frustrating image shift common with simple set-screw systems, ensuring your finder remains precisely collimated with your main telescope, even after transport.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eThe Straight-Through Advantage: Intuitive Aiming at a Glance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eFor many observers, a straight-through finder offers the most intuitive aiming experience. You can quickly sight along the main telescope tube to get in the general vicinity of your target, then switch to the finder for precise centering on the crosshairs. While this can lead to an awkward viewing position when observing objects near the zenith, its direct, non-reversed view simplifies the mental translation from a star chart to the sky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhy choose the Orion Optics UK 50mm finder over a smaller one?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e50mm aperture\u003c\/strong\u003e gathers significantly more light than smaller finders (e.g., 6x30). This allows you to see fainter stars, which are often essential for accurately star-hopping to deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae, especially from light-polluted locations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat is the benefit of the quick-release shoe on this 8x50 finder?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThe dovetail shoe allows you to remove the finder scope from your telescope for transportation and storage, then re-attach it quickly without needing to perform a full realignment. The sprung-loaded adjustment screws help maintain the alignment between sessions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow do I align the Orion Optics UK Straight Finder with my telescope?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eFirst, aim your main telescope at a distant, stationary terrestrial object during the day (like a telephone pole or treetop) and center it in a low-power eyepiece. Then, use the finder's adjustment screws to move its crosshairs until they are centered on the exact same object. Final, fine-tuning can be done at night on a bright star like Polaris or Vega.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWill the 8x50 straight finder be difficult to use on my 12\" Dobsonian when pointing at the zenith?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eYes, this is the primary trade-off of a straight-through design. When the telescope is pointed straight up, you will need to crouch or kneel quite low to look through the eyepiece. For observers who spend a lot of time near the zenith, a 90-degree right-angle finder can offer more comfortable ergonomics, though some find its reversed image less intuitive for navigation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eCan I use the Orion Optics UK 50mm finder to locate faint targets like the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eAbsolutely. The 50mm aperture is well-suited for this task. From a reasonably dark site, you will be able to identify the key guide stars in Ursa Major needed to navigate to M51. The bright image makes it much easier to confirm you are in the correct star field before switching to the main telescope's eyepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eAre the crosshairs on the Orion Optics UK 50mm Straight Finder illuminated?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eNo, this finder features non-illuminated crosshairs. The fine, dark crosshairs are designed to be visible against the background sky without requiring batteries or introducing extra light that could interfere with dark adaptation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n  \u003ctable class=\"DAV-specifications\"\u003e\n    \u003ctbody\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduct Code\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAG16 Straight finder 50mm wide field\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n  \u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n  \u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/pages\/orion-optics-uk-warranty-policy\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOrion Optics UK 1-Year Warranty\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Orion Optics UK","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52942364246301,"sku":"OOUK-AG16-STRAIGHT-FINDER-50MM-WIDE","price":198.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/OrionOpticsUK-Straight-finder-50mm-wide-field-1_69f61e39-8c17-4294-a10b-5bfa88d7e429.jpg?v=1789606830","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/products\/orion-optics-uk-ag16-straight-finder-50mm-wide-field","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}