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Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:38 pm
by Bigzmey
j.gardavsky wrote: Wed Jun 02, 2021 10:10 am
Jones wrote: Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:14 am Do not count eyepieces, count sets of lenses.
You need a planetary set,
An 82 degree set for galactic targets,
An ortho/plossl set, maybe 2 cause you can get a whole lot of lenses in a small case.
A zoom set, maybe 2 of these,
A sun set, do not want to expose expensive lenses to the heat of the sun.
A travel set, sort of a minimal set since you don't wanna travel with a large case.
If you like Barlow's maybe a case just for these.
And then you need a case for your diagonals,
Then there are 2 inch eyepieces,
And on and on you can go...
This is the correct approach to the eyepieces.

What's needed are the sets for the specific observing projects.
Otherwise people end with hoarding too many eyepieces, and eventually missing some eyepieces needed.

Best,
JG
Hear hear! I have DSO set, double splitting set and now building binoviewer set. :)

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 12:39 am
by Jones
Oh, I forgot, you also need a .965 set for the older telescope buys you will make.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 4:51 am
by Don Pensack
A set that covers all the bases for each scope owned.
I have a 4" f/7 refractor with 24, 18.2, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 4, and 3mm eyepieces.
I have a 12.5" reflector with 30, 22, 17.5, 14, 11, 8, 6, 4.7, and 3.7mm eyepieces (and a couple more out on loan)
The only jump that is a tiny bit large is the 11mm to 8mm jump in the reflector, but it matches objects so well, I haven't brought myself to get a 9mm for the in-between.
The one thing I'd point out is that I never use every eyepiece on one night. The most I've used in either scope on one night is seven.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 5:58 am
by Lady Fraktor
I am like you in that respect Don, I have individual sets that work well with each telescope but do not take the full set out with me.
I posted my complete set for my 150mm f/8 on a different astro forum once and was told that it was offensive...

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:20 am
by notFritzArgelander
Lady Fraktor wrote: Thu Jun 03, 2021 5:58 am I am like you in that respect Don, I have individual sets that work well with each telescope but do not take the full set out with me.
I posted my complete set for my 150mm f/8 on a different astro forum once and was told that it was offensive...
:lol: some folks are exquisitely sensitive though..... ;)

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:48 pm
by Lady Fraktor
notFritzArgelander wrote: Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:20 am :lol: some folks are exquisitely sensitive though..... ;)
Apparently I found the needle in the hay...
The person never replied on what exactly was offensive, the range of focal lengths or the eyepieces themselves but I still love them all anyways :D

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 8:12 pm
by SkyHiker
I have a 2" GSO 35 mm Kellner, a 2" 24 mm 68 degree Explore Scientific, and a 1.25" 9 mm GSO Plossl. Combined with a 2" GSO ED Barlow and a 2" Paracorr II coma corrector that gives me pretty much all I need and it's good enough AFAICT. They are mostly unused since I do AP, the only use is for rough polar alignment before running the accurate computer based alignment. So in my case, the fewer the better.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 8:31 pm
by Chich
I don't think It is so much how many EP's one should have as how many 25mm EP's one has amassed.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 9:22 pm
by notFritzArgelander
Chich wrote: Thu Jun 03, 2021 8:31 pm I don't think It is so much how many EP's one should have as how many 25mm EP's one has amassed.
If you don't give them away it would be a reliable indicator of just how many scopes you've owned!

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:49 pm
by j.gardavsky
Chich wrote: Thu Jun 03, 2021 8:31 pm I don't think It is so much how many EP's one should have as how many 25mm EP's one has amassed.
Twenty Five is the Royal Class among the eyepieces,
and here are mine:
CZJ Plössl (Symmetrical) military BW Optik
Carl Zeiss S-Pl 10x/20 # 44 40 39
Carl Zeiss Pl 10x/25 #44 40 34
Carl Zeiss E-Pl 10x/20 #44 42 31, 99% transmissivity
Carl Zeiss E-Pl 10x/20 #44 42 32, pair, 99% transmissivity
Carl Zeiss E-Pl 10x/20 #44 42 32, heavy body
Carl Zeiss E-Pl 10x/25 #44 42 34
Carl Zeiss W-Pl 10x/23 #45 50 43, pair
Leica HC Plan S 10x/22 #507807
Leica HC Plan 10x/20 Brille #507802, pair
Leitz Periplan GF 10x

and some more Zeiss are in the drawer,
JG

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 2:39 am
by WilliamPaolini
Over my observing lifetime I've owned/borrowed almost 400 eyepieces! Today I maintain several sets, e.g., XWs, Morpheus, Take LEs, Edmund RKEs, BST Starguiders, plus a bunch of singles. IMO the sky's the limit for how many eyepieces one can have. It is a hobby so no reason to be frugal if you do not want to...so enjoy!

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 2:53 am
by OzEclipse
WilliamPaolini wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 2:39 am Over my observing lifetime I've owned/borrowed almost 400 eyepieces! Today I maintain several sets, e.g., XWs, Morpheus, Take LEs, Edmund RKEs, BST Starguiders, plus a bunch of singles. IMO the sky's the limit for how many eyepieces one can have. It is a hobby so no reason to be frugal if you do not want to...so enjoy!
400 eyepieces but only 14 posts to TSS. You win. You probably have by far the biggest E/P ratio of any of us except perhaps @Don Pensack. The two of you can slug it out for the E/P title.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 3:39 am
by Lady Fraktor
WilliamPaolini wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 2:39 am Over my observing lifetime I've owned/borrowed almost 400 eyepieces! Today I maintain several sets, e.g., XWs, Morpheus, Take LEs, Edmund RKEs, BST Starguiders, plus a bunch of singles. IMO the sky's the limit for how many eyepieces one can have. It is a hobby so no reason to be frugal if you do not want to...so enjoy!
Thank you for justifying my addiction Bill!

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2021 5:56 pm
by Bigzmey
WilliamPaolini wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 2:39 am Over my observing lifetime I've owned/borrowed almost 400 eyepieces! Today I maintain several sets, e.g., XWs, Morpheus, Take LEs, Edmund RKEs, BST Starguiders, plus a bunch of singles. IMO the sky's the limit for how many eyepieces one can have. It is a hobby so no reason to be frugal if you do not want to...so enjoy!
Bill, you are getting paid by astro companies to promote EP hoarding, right? ;) Still I hear you! This is a hobby and as such is about enjoyment (within you budget) not needs.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 5:58 pm
by j.gardavsky
Bigzmey wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 5:56 pm
WilliamPaolini wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 2:39 am Over my observing lifetime I've owned/borrowed almost 400 eyepieces! Today I maintain several sets, e.g., XWs, Morpheus, Take LEs, Edmund RKEs, BST Starguiders, plus a bunch of singles. IMO the sky's the limit for how many eyepieces one can have. It is a hobby so no reason to be frugal if you do not want to...so enjoy!
Bill, you are getting paid by astro companies to promote EP hoarding, right? ;) Still I hear you! This is a hobby and as such is about enjoyment (within you budget) not needs.
In my collection,
I have historical eyepieces (19th and early 20th century), eyepieces for my microscope and stereo microscope, repurposed microscopy eyepieces, spotting scopes eyepieces, and the astronomy eyepieces.
Nothing just on loan, to make comparisons.
No addiction, the eyepieces are just those optical tools.

Should you ask me, how many eyepieces I have had in total over the last 60 years? I don't know, too many are gone.

And as Andrey, I enjoy all of them,
JG

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 9:09 pm
by 25585
30 years of amassing eyepieces has left me with a hoard. I have been on a quest to find what suits me best. My quest is over but curiosity remains.

Being restricted to size & designs of telescopes, my vision as I wear glasses gets most attention to help viewing things, so long eye relief and good exit pupil behaviour are most important.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 9:16 pm
by 25585
Don Pensack wrote: Thu Jun 03, 2021 4:51 am A set that covers all the bases for each scope owned.
I have a 4" f/7 refractor with 24, 18.2, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 4, and 3mm eyepieces.
I have a 12.5" reflector with 30, 22, 17.5, 14, 11, 8, 6, 4.7, and 3.7mm eyepieces (and a couple more out on loan)
The only jump that is a tiny bit large is the 11mm to 8mm jump in the reflector, but it matches objects so well, I haven't brought myself to get a 9mm for the in-between.
The one thing I'd point out is that I never use every eyepiece on one night. The most I've used in either scope on one night is seven.
Don, if you do get a 9mm, I recommend the Baader Morpheus.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:17 pm
by Don Pensack
I've used the Morpheus 9mm, and it is a very good eyepiece. I may have to get one once it becomes available again.
Though not glasses compatible, I had a chance to look through a 9mm Stellarvue Optimus in a friend's 32" f/3 last month,
and it was quite stunning, with excellent sharpness and contrast. 312x and a great view of M51, perhaps the best view I've ever seen.
in my 12.5", the same eyepiece would yield a 1.6mm exit pupil, so below the point where I need glasses. I might just try the 9mm Optimus in my own scope.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 2:19 pm
by 25585
I know where I went barmy. I found a couple of eyepieces in different ranges that pleased me, then bought more from those ranges.

Then I got FoV-fever, and added more. And more. And more.

However I was waiting, looking & trying out different models over the years. I had some early, expensive disappointments and stopped buying, but when new or discounted previously more expensive models were available, I started re-buying.

Eventually I now have; ES92s 12 & 17, all the Baader Morpheus, a Vixen 22mm LVW, an Orion LHD 20mm & APM 30mm UFF as my main set.

Re: How many eyepieces should we have?

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:29 pm
by WilliamPaolini
Bigzmey wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 5:56 pm
WilliamPaolini wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 2:39 am Over my observing lifetime I've owned/borrowed almost 400 eyepieces! Today I maintain several sets, e.g., XWs, Morpheus, Take LEs, Edmund RKEs, BST Starguiders, plus a bunch of singles. IMO the sky's the limit for how many eyepieces one can have. It is a hobby so no reason to be frugal if you do not want to...so enjoy!
Bill, you are getting paid by astro companies to promote EP hoarding, right? ;) Still I hear you! This is a hobby and as such is about enjoyment (within you budget) not needs.
Actually, many many years ago, I had an epiphany that if I bought used, kept for a while, then sold for near or at what I bought an eyepiece at, then I could cycle through a whole bunch of different eyepieces and get experience with many optical designs and brandings at minimal cost. So that is what I did. Was a hole bunch of fun doing that over a few decades. I do not any more so much because after going thru all those eyepieces, I finally found those few brandings that "hit the spot" for my personal preferences and am uber satisfied with the experiences they provide me.