Reading mode: Light Dark

Red Dot Sight (RDS)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gerard M Foley
  • Start date Start date
Go to last post
G

Gerard M Foley

Guest
Sorry to bring this up again, but I missed contributing to a thread on very inexpensive ones. I may be repeating what others have already said.

I am using the BSA RD30. Others have used this and ones identical to it.

I bought a different one for less than $10, and it sort of worked, but was so dim I could not see the dot in full sunlight, where it is often most useful. The BSA, which I found at a local Walmart for about $25, is just bright enough at its 11 setting for full sunlight, and of course can be throttled back for anything else.



I got the adapter to the flash shoe from

http://www.photosolve.com/

and have been surprised (and very pleased) to find that, once adjusted, I can remove the RDS and put it back on without recollimating it.
--
Gerry
http://www.pbase.com/gfoley9999
http://www.wilowud.net
http://home.columbus.rr.com/gfoley/

 
While that may be the best sight to use and I will check into it, I can not understand the Daisy one being hard to see. ( the 8 dollar walmart version)

I just went outside and tried it again to be sure.. and if I was pointing directly at the sun it was hard to see but in any other direction it seems very easy to see.
What am I missing?
--
Gene
From Western PA.

Edit all you wish

Panasonic FZ-10 and FZ 20 and FZ30
B300
T Con 17 --two Tcon 14Bs -- Raynox 2020 pro -- DCR 720
http://imageevent.com/grc6/toshareonnet



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!
 
I am one of those who could not use the $14.00 rds I bought. It wasn't a daisy exactly, but similar I believe. It was very difficult for me to zero in and I couldn't see it for beans in the sunlight. Joan (JRobins) also had a similar experience. All I know is that with the new BSA RD30 rds, I can see with no problems and I'm having fun instead of struggling with the dot.
--

LaRee
 
Cut us normal folks some slack, OK? You're the one that can spot the bear off there eating his prey two miles away, and stack up your telephoto extensions to get the shot. The BSA sight allows us people with "normal" vision to come close to what you can do with the naked eye! ;-)
--
Not one to duck an issue...



EffZeeOneVeeTwo, EffZeeThirty
 
--

I chose the BSA RD30 too. I did not even look at the daisy sights. The pics of the BSA looked cool while the pics of the daisy ones looked like it was a more economical solution. The BSA RD30 is overkill for the job as it will never be subjected to the force of gunfire while mounted on a camera but it only weighs something like 5.5 ounces. The only thing I do not like about the BSA RD30 is that the light intensity knob is a bit hard to turn but that is minor.

Plug for Phil:

I bought my Xtend-a-sight from Phil over at photosolve too. I was very pleased with his excellent customer service and feel very comfortable recommending him to others.
http://www.photosolve.com/main/product/xtendasight/index.html?id=69

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1412.html
 
I just picked up a Tasco Red Dot -- compared it directly to the BSA and concluded that the BSA is just a a rebadged Tasco. The Tasco was $15 less expensive, so I got it. Now all I gotta do is fabricate a mount or wait for Photosolve to get some back in stock.

Scott
 
I am amazed at the ducks ..egrets and such.
I can see the dot but I do not get those results.

--
Gene
From Western PA.

Edit all you wish

Panasonic FZ-10 and FZ 20 and FZ30
B300
T Con 17 --two Tcon 14Bs -- Raynox 2020 pro -- DCR 720
http://imageevent.com/grc6/toshareonnet



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!
 
The No Name battery on my Daisy Maxspeed died in about 2 hours. The replacement is still going strong after about 3-4 hours.

John
 
flylow said:
--
The only thing I do not like about the BSA RD30 is
that the light intensity knob is a bit hard to turn but that is
minor.
Click to expand...
My BSA RD30 had the same problem, the knob was very hard to turn. I took it apart through the battery compartment and put 4 tiny shim washers under the metal knob tension spring disk. There are 6 screws, 3 on each side. Do not put a shim on the middle screws, but one on the two outer screws on each side, beneath the tension disk. This procedure is rather delicate and I would caution you not to try this unless you are comfortable working on delicate instruments. I was an industrial instrument repairman for 20+ years. It was worth the trouble. The knob turns much more smoothly now.

One other thing, there seems to be more than one model of RD30, so this fix may not apply to yours. YMMV.

--
Zoomster
What film? I don't need no stinkin' film!
 
Zoomster said:
flylow said:
--
The only thing I do not like about the BSA RD30 is
that the light intensity knob is a bit hard to turn but that is
minor.
Click to expand...
My BSA RD30 had the same problem, the knob was very hard to turn. I
took it apart through the battery compartment and put 4 tiny shim
washers under the metal knob tension spring disk. There are 6
screws, 3 on each side. Do not put a shim on the middle screws,
but one on the two outer screws on each side, beneath the tension
disk. This procedure is rather delicate and I would caution you not
to try this unless you are comfortable working on delicate
instruments. I was an industrial instrument repairman for 20+
years. It was worth the trouble. The knob turns much more smoothly
now.
One other thing, there seems to be more than one model of RD30, so
this fix may not apply to yours. YMMV.

--
Zoomster
What film? I don't need no stinkin' film!
Click to expand...
Do you think with use that the knob will loosen a bit? It is pretty difficult to turn. Especially fro someone with carpel tunnel hands and wrists. I am not confident in my ability to try your fix but instead hope that with use the knob may loosen. Think it's possible?
--

LaRee
 
LaRee said:
Do you think with use that the knob will loosen a bit? It is pretty
difficult to turn. Especially fro someone with carpel tunnel hands
and wrists. I am not confident in my ability to try your fix but
instead hope that with use the knob may loosen. Think it's possible?
--

LaRee
Click to expand...
Carpel tunnel syndrome is my problem too. The doctor who diagnosed it said it was not serious enough to advise surgery. Anyway, it gives me trouble when I try to twist things like the cap of a pickle jar or the RD30 knob.

I was hoping that it would loosen with time or use, so I tried turning it a thousand times or so. All that did was give me a sore wrist and hand and I lost some skin from my index finger. But it did not make it any easier to turn. That's when I decided RD30 surgery was the best thing to try.

I used the Daisy RDS before I bought the BSA. It is a big step up for me. I can see the red dot much easier and the field of view of the RD30 is much bigger making it easier to track a moving target.
--
Zoomster
What film? I don't need no stinkin' film!
 
Zoomster:

Great idea with the shim. Okay, I'll try it.

The BSA RDS30 I purchased from Wallyworld didn't seat properly on the extendo-site rail, so had to grind a shallow groove on the rail where the front bolt is inserted and it plopped right down where it belongs. Also wrapped plastic friction tape one turn around the barrels to shim up the lens covers so they wouldn't fall off. (Also secures the allen wrench to the side of the RDS).

Also having no problem gently wiggling the thing off the camera and re-attaching it to the hot shoe after the initial tightening without having to re-set the dot. The dot stays within suitable parameters even at full zoom once it's zero'ed in.

Best -- Dave

FZ-30
 
Quill said:
Zoomster:

Great idea with the shim. Okay, I'll try it.

The BSA RDS30 I purchased from Wallyworld didn't seat properly on
the extendo-site rail, so had to grind a shallow groove on the rail
where the front bolt is inserted and it plopped right down where it
belongs. Also wrapped plastic friction tape one turn around the
barrels to shim up the lens covers so they wouldn't fall off. (Also
secures the allen wrench to the side of the RDS).

Also having no problem gently wiggling the thing off the camera
and re-attaching it to the hot shoe after the initial tightening
without having to re-set the dot. The dot stays within suitable
parameters even at full zoom once it's zero'ed in.

Best -- Dave

FZ-30
Click to expand...
I bought mine from Wallyworld too. Had the same problem fitting it onto the extend-a-sight. I filed the same groove into the 3/8" rail. Only difference is I put the groove where the rear bolt hits the rail.

I know others have used the RD30 with the extend-a-sight without modification, and that's why I think there are several versions of the RD30.

Your plastic tape idea is a good one. The lens caps are not very secure as supplied. I think they would be lost the first time I took the camera out with the lens caps on, so I have never used them. I'll try the tape.
--
Zoomster
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top