I saw an astronomer at GCSP using an Orion short tube 80 as a spotting scope on a 17 inch dob that seemed to work pretty well. I picked one up a few years ago with the same intention but ran into a balance problem and thus stuck with my Telrad. The Short Tube 80 is only about $200.00 and I use mine for multiple things including solar observing. The Orion isn't a top end scope, its about as good as it gets for the money. You would just need to find some mounting rings, Orion used to carry them, maybe they still do. I hope this helps... Chuck Stan Gorodenski <stanlep@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: The finder scope that comes with the Meade 16" LX200R is a pain in the neck because it is always going out of pointing alignment and every time I start a night I have to re-align it. I am thinking of replacing it with a 3" refractor to serve as a finder, possibly guider, and for solar observing, i.e., H-Alpha and all that. Can anyone suggest a good refractor that would not cost thousands of dollars and still give good images for solar stuff? For this a chromatically corrected objective is not necessary, from my understanding. I always use a straight through finder because I use both eyes to center an object. The Meade finder uses a 2" objective and so it doesn't seem that going to a 3" would obstruct my one eye. I know this depends on how widely separated a person's eyes are. I imagine David F. could easily use a 4" refractor as a finder scope. (-: Does anyone have any experience using something as large as a 3" for a finder scope? Finally, I want the pointing alignment to stay put and not continually change as the Meade one does. Since refractor's are thin tubed (except a certain model of the TMB refractor) I think I might have to machine two thick aluminum sleeves, one for each end of the tube, and cement them to the tube. I could buy mounting rings, but I probably could machine something more sturdy that would hold pointing alignment better. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Stan -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list. --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.