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This quick start guide shows how I set up a red dot sight to help with acquiring distant targets when shooting with the Pentax Q and adapted telephoto lenses.
In this case the specific items I used are the Pentax RD10 red dot sight along with a Photosolve Xtend-a-Sight gun rail to hot shoe mount.
Links
Pentax 1x Gameseeker RD10 Red Dot Sight (Matte) 89701 B&H Photo Photosolve Home > Products > Xtend-a-Sight
1.) Install the battery on the RD10, it goes in the top of the large knob with the numbers. Use a coin to take the cap off, install the battery and replace the cap.
Test the RD10 by turning the knob away from 0, and see if a red dot appears when you look through the knob end of the unit.
Remember to always turn off the unit by setting the knob back to 0 to save battery power.
2.) Attach the Xtend-a-Sight rail to the RD10, making sure the rail clamps are set so the long tooth grabs the RD10 and the short tooth grabs the wide part of the rail.
Make sure it is oriented properly with the Large knob over the hot shoe mount.
3.) Install the RD10 on the Q with your long lens on a tripod, and lock the rail to the hot shoe by turning the wheel.
4.) Turn on the Q and Aim the rig at an item at a typical distance you will be shooting, such as a mailbox or sign down the street, so that the item is in the center of the frame. Lock the tripod head
5.) turn on the RD10 and peer through it to see where the red dot appears in relation to your target.
You want the red dot to be in the same spot as the item that is in the center of the Q frame.
If it isn't, you can adjust the position of the dot by taking the small black caps off the RD10.
These cover the adjustment pots, by turning the top one you can change the up/down position of the dot, and the side one changes the left right position of the dot.
6.) Test your alignment now by using the RD10 to find a new object and confirm that it shows in the middle of the Q screen.
By using the RD10 you will cut down the amount of time needed to find your target, which can be especially difficult in cases with no landmarks - for example in trying to find a bird in the middle of a tree.
Enjoy!
Last edited by crewl1; 01-17-2013 at 01:23 PM.