Selling My Meade HD 6.5mm Eyepiece

[Refractordude]

I am using a 120mm f/8 achromatic refractor. I find that the eye placement is much to critical for me. Maybe I got a bad one. What say you?

https://agenaastro.com/meade-series-500 ... piece.html

[Bigzmey]

When I moved from Plossls to Celestron X-Cel LX EPs (which are of the same optical design as Mead HD60) I remember been annoyed by frequent blackouts. Eventually, I got used to them.

This is fairly typical for long eye relief EPs. They all require some degree of eye placement, but some are more sensitive than others. I went through several designs before I found those working for me (SLVs, Delites and XWs).

[Refractordude]

I have other eyepieces with greater eye relief, but not as bad with eye placement as the HD 6.5mm. I read a comparison review that stated the starguiders are not as sharp as the HD 60 eyepieces, but are better with eye placement. What do you guys think of the ES 58 degree 6.5mm?
https://telescopes.net/store/explore-sc ... wGEALw_wcB

[Bigzmey]

I have other eyepieces with greater eye relief, but not as bad with eye placement as the HD 6.5mm. I read a comparison review that stated the starguiders are not as sharp as the HD 60 eyepieces, but are better with eye placement. What do you guys think of the ES 58 degree 6.5mm?
https://telescopes.net/store/explore-sc ... wGEALw_wcB

Generally speaking EPs with shorter eye relief have less eye placement issues. Indeed, I don't remember any eye placement issues with starguiders, but their effective ER was shorter and I was not able to see whole FOV with glasses on. I would say the sharpness between them and HD60/X-Cel LX is about the same. Starguiders have more light scatter, so on bright targets it may be perceived as less sharp.

General issue with ES EPs is that due to recessed top lens and eyeguard design their effective eye relief is even shorter than what they list. So I never was able to see the whole FOV with glasses on. On the positive side I never had any issues with eye placement with them.

[Refractordude]

Bigzmey:

Are there different brands of Starguiders? The 8mm Starguider at agenaastro has an eye relief of 16.5mm. The 3.5mm and 5mm are short. The others are 18mm eye relief or longer. Where did you get your Starguider? I am thinking about buying the Starguider 15mm. Have you tried the 15mm?
Anyway the Meade HD 6.5mm is out the door. I just got back in from comparing the Meade HD against a Svbony 15mm with a Svbony barlow. The barlowed Svbony 15mm is just as sharp and bright as the Meade HD 6.5mm, with better eye placement. Seems others have the same issue with the Meade HD 6.5mm.

[Bigzmey]

Bigzmey:

Are there different brands of Starguiders? The 8mm Starguider at agenaastro has an eye relief of 16.5mm. The 3.5mm and 5mm are short. The others are 18mm eye relief or longer. Where did you get your Starguider? I am thinking about buying the Starguider 15mm. Have you tried the 15mm?
Anyway the Meade HD 6.5mm is out the door. I just got back in from comparing the Meade HD against a Svbony 15mm with a Svbony barlow. The barlowed Svbony 15mm is just as sharp and bright as the Meade HD 6.5mm, with better eye placement. Seems others have the same issue with the Meade HD 6.5mm.

Yes, you can get them from a few vendors Agena list them as Starguider Dual ED. Astronomics list them as Paradigm Dual ED. They are also sold on eBay under other names. Astronomics lists eye relief 15mm for 15mm. I feel it is closer to reality. Also on HD60 you use all eye relief, on Dual EDs due to eye guard design you loose at least 3mm.

[Refractordude]

Bigzmey:

Are there different brands of Starguiders? The 8mm Starguider at agenaastro has an eye relief of 16.5mm. The 3.5mm and 5mm are short. The others are 18mm eye relief or longer. Where did you get your Starguider? I am thinking about buying the Starguider 15mm. Have you tried the 15mm?
Anyway the Meade HD 6.5mm is out the door. I just got back in from comparing the Meade HD against a Svbony 15mm with a Svbony barlow. The barlowed Svbony 15mm is just as sharp and bright as the Meade HD 6.5mm, with better eye placement. Seems others have the same issue with the Meade HD 6.5mm.

Yes, you can get them from a few vendors Agena list them as Starguider Dual ED. Astronomics list them as Paradigm Dual ED. They are also sold on eBay under other names. Astronomics lists eye relief 15mm for 15mm. I feel it is closer to reality. Also on HD60 you use all eye relief, on Dual EDs due to eye guard design you loose at least 3mm.

That really is interesting. Agenaastro has the Starguider 15mm with an eye relief of 20mm. Maybe we hobbyist should start our own company to manufacture what we need.

[notFritzArgelander]

Bigzmey:

Are there different brands of Starguiders? The 8mm Starguider at agenaastro has an eye relief of 16.5mm. The 3.5mm and 5mm are short. The others are 18mm eye relief or longer. Where did you get your Starguider? I am thinking about buying the Starguider 15mm. Have you tried the 15mm?
Anyway the Meade HD 6.5mm is out the door. I just got back in from comparing the Meade HD against a Svbony 15mm with a Svbony barlow. The barlowed Svbony 15mm is just as sharp and bright as the Meade HD 6.5mm, with better eye placement. Seems others have the same issue with the Meade HD 6.5mm.

Yes, you can get them from a few vendors Agena list them as Starguider Dual ED. Astronomics list them as Paradigm Dual ED. They are also sold on eBay under other names. Astronomics lists eye relief 15mm for 15mm. I feel it is closer to reality. Also on HD60 you use all eye relief, on Dual EDs due to eye guard design you loose at least 3mm.

That really is interesting. Agenaastro has the Starguider 15mm with an eye relief of 20mm. Maybe we hobbyist should start our own company to manufacture what we need.

Only if herding cats is your favorite hobby! I like the Meade HDs btw.

[Bigzmey]

Bigzmey:

Are there different brands of Starguiders? The 8mm Starguider at agenaastro has an eye relief of 16.5mm. The 3.5mm and 5mm are short. The others are 18mm eye relief or longer. Where did you get your Starguider? I am thinking about buying the Starguider 15mm. Have you tried the 15mm?
Anyway the Meade HD 6.5mm is out the door. I just got back in from comparing the Meade HD against a Svbony 15mm with a Svbony barlow. The barlowed Svbony 15mm is just as sharp and bright as the Meade HD 6.5mm, with better eye placement. Seems others have the same issue with the Meade HD 6.5mm.

Yes, you can get them from a few vendors Agena list them as Starguider Dual ED. Astronomics list them as Paradigm Dual ED. They are also sold on eBay under other names. Astronomics lists eye relief 15mm for 15mm. I feel it is closer to reality. Also on HD60 you use all eye relief, on Dual EDs due to eye guard design you loose at least 3mm.

That really is interesting. Agenaastro has the Starguider 15mm with an eye relief of 20mm. Maybe we hobbyist should start our own company to manufacture what we need.

Manish is a friendly guy. You can email him and ask where ER info comes from. It could be that the EP manufacturer changed the EP design.

[Lady Fraktor]

Eye relief can be deceiving though, if the add says you have 15mm but the eye lens is inset 5mm you only have 10mm of useful eye relief.
Something to watch for.