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Skywatcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces

Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2020 9:23 pm
by ChrisP90
Evening all,

Does anyone have any experience with the following eyepieces?
I’ve been looking at investing into some planetary eyepieces but can find no recent reviews on them. I’m always wary of trusting reviews from any website..

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywat ... ieces.html

From what I’ve read, I’m leaning towards going for a 5mm EP.
However, I’ve had the following 4mm & 6mm recommended if they are a better choice.

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/328239856 ... sitedetail

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/327270274 ... sitedetail

Apologies for the million questions and posts, I am trying to learn as much as I can from online reading but I always find the best way is to chat to others myself.

In the meantime, I’m going back to the sticky post to try and get my head around how to choose a selection of eyepieces.

Thanks in advance,
CP.

Re: Skywatcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 1:00 am
by Ruud
Your telescope has a fast focal ratio, f/5. Most inexpensive eyepieces struggle with such a fast focal ratio. Sharpness drops off quickly toward the edge of the view.

I would advise a decent Barlow. I see that FLO has a 2.25x (link) for £39. A 2.25x Barlow will slow your telescope's focal ratio down to a much more forgiving f/5*2.25 = f/11.25. Many budget eyepieces work quite well at such a slow focal ratio.

With a 2.25x Barlow, a 10mm EP gives the magnification of a 10/2.25 = 4.4mm EP without Barlow and
with a 2.25x Barlow, a 25mm EP gives the magnification of a 25/2.25 = 11.1mm EP without.

Expect from a Barlow + budget eyepiece: more magnification, better edge performance and increased eye relief. There's a good chance that a Barlowed budget 25mm will give a much better experience than a bare budget 10mm.

Remember: more magnification spreads out the available light wider, so the image appears dimmer. Sometimes people think that Barlows dim the image, but it really is the higher magnification which does that.

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btw, the Aliexpress EPs you link too may be just a little too cheap. Expect them to perform poorly. FLO's BST starguiders are good value for the £47 that they cost. They're probably the best budget choice for UK observers.

Re: Skywatcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:45 am
by Jones
A 5mm sw uwa was included with my 120mm refractor. Was not impressed by this one. Kind of soft and fuzzy. I just bought a 6mm HR planetary from TS Optics Germany and it is great on the planets with my f4.6 newtonian. Did an article on it, was so impressed for under $60eu.
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Re: Skywatcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:52 am
by Jones
That 66 degree 6mm is pretty good. Had one a few years ago with the 9mm in that line.

The TMB planetary that is real cheap has only 5 lenses inside and is not very good. The originals had 6 lenses, do not know of anyone except TS Optics selling them new. APM germany also sells them.

Re: Skywatcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:26 pm
by Jones
Another one to consider are the Celestron Xcell LX, I kept the 5mm for a long time till I could afford pentax xw.

Re: Skywatcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 6:33 pm
by Bigzmey
I don't believe these EPs will be a good match for your scope.

If you don't mind short eye relief I would get Baader Classic Ortho 6mm instead.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/baader ... piece.html

If longer eye relief and wide field of view are priorities Celestron X-cel LX 5mm would be my second choice

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/celest ... piece.html

Re: Skywatcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2020 1:41 pm
by helicon
Good timing for some new eyepieces as the Mars' opposition is almost upon us.

Re: Skywatcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2020 2:14 pm
by Ruud
FLO also sells the 16, 7 and 4mm Nirvana: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/ovl-ey ... ieces.html

I have the 16mm (£79). It is incredibly good value. My best ever view of Jupiter was through the 16 mm Nirvana (barlowed, 196x).

The 4mm and 7mm are £69. Unfortunately II have no experience with these two.

Re: Skywatcher UWA Planetary Eyepieces

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 2:24 am
by Shorty Barlow
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I think Synta describe these sometimes as 'five element Plossls', which is a bit weird. I was using the 7mm (in a Vixen 2x Barlow) to view Mars recently. Predominantly because its filter thread is compatible with my Lumicon #11 filter and my 7mm Fujiyama orthoscopic isn't. I thought it held its own against the ortho'. Not sure if they're a similar design to the 'Planetary HR' range.

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