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Bigzmey wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 4:25 pm
For DSOs I have tried 40 to 82 and gravitated to ~70 at the end. For planets, Moon and doubles I prefer 50 to 60. Bellow 50 feels too narrow for me.
You should try a ball lens, on axis about 5-15° AFOV on axis, everything outside that is blurred but you will have the cleanest most contrasty view in center. Quite amazing views.
ER is usually 5mm and less though.
Do you means the Herschel eyepiece? Not the monocentric.....
The glass ball lens is trivially monocentric
Sorry,
JG
6" F/5 Sky-Watcher achro, 2" BBHS Star Diagonal, 2" zenith prism, 1.25" Takahashi prism Leica 82mm APO Televid Eyepieces: Docter UWA; Leica B WW and WW Asph. Zoom; Leica HC Plan S and L, monocentric; Pentax SMC XW, O-, XO; Tak MC O, Carl Zeiss B WW, and Pl, E-Pl, S-Pl, W-Pl;
Swarovski SW; Baader Symmetric Diascope Edition; Nikon NAV SW, ; TMB supermonocentric; Rodenstock; Vixen HR; TV Delos Filters: Astrodon, Astronomik, Baader, Balzers, Zeiss West and East, Lumicon Binoculars (7x42 up to 15x85): Docter Nobilem, Leica Ultravid, Nikon Astroluxe, Swarovski EL Swarovision; BA8 (Kunming Optical)
You should try a ball lens, on axis about 5-15° AFOV on axis, everything outside that is blurred but you will have the cleanest most contrasty view in center. Quite amazing views.
ER is usually 5mm and less though.
Do you means the Herschel eyepiece? Not the monocentric.....
The glass ball lens is trivially monocentric
Sorry,
JG
HA! Indeed it is trivially monocentric if not Steinheilianly mono centric.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
Do you means the Herschel eyepiece? Not the monocentric.....
The glass ball lens is trivially monocentric
Sorry,
JG
HA! Indeed it is trivially monocentric if not Steinheilianly mono centric.
Recalling one of the pics of the TMB Supermonocentric,
this eyepiece might have been inspired by the quasi-monocentric shells with different indexes of refraction (Arisawa, Matthae),
quasi monocentric shells Arisawa Matthae.jpg (6.48 KiB) Viewed 8134 times
bonding them for the purpose of an eyepiece into one monolithic triplet.
Most of our hobby optics has its predecessors, sometimes from far away.
Best,
JG
6" F/5 Sky-Watcher achro, 2" BBHS Star Diagonal, 2" zenith prism, 1.25" Takahashi prism Leica 82mm APO Televid Eyepieces: Docter UWA; Leica B WW and WW Asph. Zoom; Leica HC Plan S and L, monocentric; Pentax SMC XW, O-, XO; Tak MC O, Carl Zeiss B WW, and Pl, E-Pl, S-Pl, W-Pl;
Swarovski SW; Baader Symmetric Diascope Edition; Nikon NAV SW, ; TMB supermonocentric; Rodenstock; Vixen HR; TV Delos Filters: Astrodon, Astronomik, Baader, Balzers, Zeiss West and East, Lumicon Binoculars (7x42 up to 15x85): Docter Nobilem, Leica Ultravid, Nikon Astroluxe, Swarovski EL Swarovision; BA8 (Kunming Optical)
HA! Indeed it is trivially monocentric if not Steinheilianly mono centric.
Recalling one of the pics of the TMB Supermonocentric,
this eyepiece might have been inspired by the quasi-monocentric shells with different indexes of refraction (Arisawa, Matthae),
bonding them for the purpose of an eyepiece into one monolithic triplet.
Most of our hobby optics has its predecessors, sometimes from far away.
Best,
JG
That's an excellent observation!
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
This has been a very interesting thread...reading all these posts and personal preferences of AFOV with the particular observational interests.
I had to think about the afov question as a "favorite".
I have my favorite EP but have not particularly judged them for their AFOV.
Of late I have enjoyed the 84° 12.5 Docter.
I generally have my Televue 22 Panoptic in the tray as well at 68° AFOV.
The third musketeer in my kit is the 7mm Pentax XW which I believe has a 70° afov.
So I suppose my favorite range would be 68° to 84° afov. This may be a factor of my declining eyesite...cataracts...my collection ranges from 42° KK Ortho to the 84°Docter, but I tend now to use the three wider afovEP I have listed here.
I pay close attention to the ExitPupal size as I combine this kit with what telescope I deploy.
Lady Fraktors post regarding the "ball" EP is very interesting, but I think I would find it visually irritating.
"I am more than a sum of molecules.
I am more than a sum of memories or events.
I do not one day suddenly cease to be.
I am, before memory.
I am, before event.
I am"
Well reading through your comments JG and nFA, it reminded me of a Fry & Laurie show
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1011110) The only culture I have is from yogurt
The 82°Meades still are going to get the majority of time in my scope, and so is probably my favorite. I do like wide, immersive views. I do have a set of 4k Plossls that were mostly for planetary use. I've since changed my mind on this and use narrow field EP's more and more for DSO's as well, specifically Baader Orthos and the older Meade 5-element "super plossls" I've collected so far because I sometimes feel the detail they can deliver is better. The cost on EP's with wider field than 82°I feel is too cost prohibitive, its tough to imagine sufficient value returned for the additional price though admittedly I've never tried any. In that regard, its tough to envision beating BCOs which deliver very good quality and the entire Q-turret set costs as much as a single 82°EP.
"The heavens themselves, the planets, and this center observe degree, priority, and place,
Insisture, course, proportion, season, form, office, and custom, in all line of order.”
With the majority of what amateurs can see with our telescopes, Symmetrical and Abbe eyepieces work very well as objects fit in their FOV nicely.
Wider fields frame objects well and work for things like the Veil and California Nebula but at a much higher cost.
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1011110) The only culture I have is from yogurt
I just got in from stargazing. My zoom eyepiece at 24mm shows a 40 degree field of view with an eye relief of 18mm. It was a great view of Vega. Narrow but great, because the eye relief made it so. I would not give a wooden penny for a wide field eyepiece with short eye relief. I like any size field of view, but the eye relief must be adequate.
Of UWA, say 80°+, I have a Docter/Noblex 12.5mm 84° which is a rival for all my
other 12-14s. ES92s are superb and Orion LHD long eye relief 14mm & 20mm 80° are great optically, I prefer the 20 to my 22T4 Nagler, as the former has easier eye placement & better exit pupil behaviour, in F5 scopes they are equal.
Also have Axiom LX 82° (superior predecessors to Luminos) in 23mm & 31mm. The 31mm is equal optically to a 31T5 at F5. The Celestron has longer eye relief, and better eye placement than the 31T5, sadly discontinued, but still around as pre-owned or old new stock.
Refractordude wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 4:29 am
I just got in from stargazing. My zoom eyepiece at 24mm shows a 40 degree field of view with an eye relief of 18mm. It was a great view of Vega. Narrow but great, because the eye relief made it so. I would not give a wooden penny for a wide field eyepiece with short eye relief. I like any size field of view, but the eye relief must be adequate.
I hear you. I have tried many EPs big and small, but at the end all wide fields with tight eye relief are gone. All my wide field sets have close to 20mm ER.
I still keep a few good quality Orthos and Plossls for when I need an extra push on difficult target, but majority of my sessions are carried with LER EPs. Luckily, there are many good options at and below 76 deg FOV
The market has definitely changed since Vixen manufactured the LV eyepieces with 20mm eye relief.
Now finding 15mm+ high/ mid power eyepieces is much more common.
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1011110) The only culture I have is from yogurt
Vixen LVs were & are wonderful, I have the whole range 2.5 to 50mm. They kept me in the hobby until the LVWs with 65° AFOV. But LVs are great bino eyepieces, I gave 18, 20 & 25mm pairs. For eye relief the originals with eyecup turned down, are unbeatable.
I enjoy my eps that fall into the 65°- 70° range with quick dips into the 80°- 100° range. My 10-30mm, 55°- 35° zoom of my 4 zooms is my favorite. Right now I have a 2" 31.5mm, 90° ep on order, can hardly wait to try it in my (6) 80-127mm refractors.
Yes some of these larger AFOV eyepieces go from hand grenade sizes to the HOLY!! hand grenade size.
Gabrielle See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1011110) The only culture I have is from yogurt