Celestron Polar Finder for CG-5 and CGEM Mount

Comments about Celestron Polar Finder for CG-5 and CGEM Mount:

The Good:
Once installed and optically aligned, the polar finder speeds the initial setup time on the CGEM, Celestron mount.

The Bad:
Initial optical alignment seems nearly impossible.

Service and delivery comments:

Delivery was within a few days of order. Very fast.

The product arrived with no defects.

Comments about Celestron Polar Finder for CG-5 and CGEM Mount:

What can I say? It has cut down my polar alignment time by threefold... and more accurate...

Comments about Celestron Polar Finder for CG-5 and CGEM Mount:

The image inside the alignment scope is easy to see, even at night, and it lines the mount with the celestial pole. However, this alignment scope did not come with an allen wrench to adjust the TINY alignment screws, which was a big hassle. After I found the wrench I needed, it works as advertised. (Note: the included instructions don't mention replacing the tiny screws with the silver tabbed screws (seen in the photo for this item. It is MUCH easier to adjust the alignment if you remove the tiny screws and replace them.)If the wrench were included I'd give it five stars.

Comments about Celestron Polar Finder for CG-5 and CGEM Mount:

I am using this polar finder scope on my CGEM mount. Even though I have gotten used to the AllStar Polar Alignment Routine, essentially making something like this polar scope unneeded - I still found it a very handy tool. For this low price, it makes a great time saver. If this was much higher in price, I would say pass on it.

Before, I would simply "gunsight" polaris through the polar axis hole in the mount - that was good enough to get close. But often when going through the AllStar polar alignment routine, I found I would have to make some pretty large adjustments to get centered on the polar axis. Using this axis scope gets me very, very close and then I use the AllStar routine to finalize it up.

On the nights when I feel I have time, I then do a drift align. But I have found the AllStar routine to get me so close that with my exposures rarely going over 2 minutes, I am more than satisfied.

This was simple to install, it just threads in. I aligned it during the day by following the simple instructions - then tweaked it that night using a star.

For as inexpensive as these are, I think anyone with a CGEM mount should add this, just for the time saving alone. You only get so much time under clear skies, so use that time wisely.

Comments about Celestron Polar Finder for CG-5 and CGEM Mount:

Precise adjustment is difficult to achieve. Lack of precision in the adjustment process.
Directions could be a lot better.
Should work OK now that its adjusted