Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
Baader Aspherics 31mm and 36mm have been with me for a few years. I love combination of lightweight, wide 72 deg views and high transmission coatings Baader is famous for. Some people report astigmatism. I don't see any, even in my fast refractors.
Russell Optics SuperPlossls 50mm and 56mm. Premium quality 5 element design for a very affordable price. Bodies are made from derlin plastic, tough and lightweight (about half weight of your typical 2" 55-56mm Plossl). I have measured FOV to be 45 deg for 50mm and 40.5 deg for 56mm.
TeleVue 55mm Plossl - classic circle NJ smoothie. 4 element Plossl design with 50 deg FOV. Surprisingly, can't see much difference in sharpness and contrast compared to Russell Optics 56mm. Both are good quality EPs. I do appreciate wider FOV of TV. Kudos to TeleVue for utilizing max field stop of 46mm for 2" EP.
TeleVue Panopitc 27mm - my newest EP. Have not had a proper first light yet. Hopefully, it will live up to the reputation.
I tried but never warmed up to 82 deg 2" glass pineapples, humongous size and weight been the main obstacle. They don't work for me but I love to hear (and see ) what 2" EPs work for you and what you like about them.
Just a comment for now but will post a pic later. I need to clear a table top of works in progress to take the portrait.
I agree about the pineapples. 82 degree AFOV is not for me. The only one I warmed to was the 17mm Nagler T4 which I miss a little (great on globs) but not enough to do anything about.
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
The Agena 37mm was my first purchase and I got that so I could see the Pleiades whole. (Pineapple) very good compared to the kit EP's, was surprised how crisp and bright everything looked in it.
The ES 18mm I have not used much.
Dragonsfire wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2020 5:56 pm
The Agena 37mm was my first purchase and I got that so I could see the Pleiades whole. (Pineapple) very good compared to the kit EP's, was surprised how crisp and bright everything looked in it.
The ES 18mm I have not used much.
AgenaSWA_38mm-500.jpg
P4089262_ES18mm82-500.jpg
At 21oz and slim profile Agena SWA 38mm is hardly a pineapple. Just for comparison ES68 40mm weigh 35oz (~1kg).
Any particular reason you don't use ES82 188mm much? Do you have an 1.25" EP in the same range which you use more often?
I used to have a TV 55mm Plössl, but sold that because it gave an 11 mm exit pupil on my f5 refractor. When I still had it I used it as a finder eyepiece.
I do like very wide views, so when the Maxvision 68° eyepieces were dumped on the European market I got four. Two of them are 2": the 28mm and 34mm.
They are wonderful eyepieces. Originally JOC made them for Meade (series 5000 SWA), but Meade broke the contract with JOC in the middle of a large production run. JOC ended up dumping them under the name Maxvision. JOC still makes them as Explore Scientific 68° using a different barrel design.
In my 101mm f/5 (Genesis) the 34 and 28mm give me 4.42° and 3.64° views at 15x and 18x respectively,
in my 73mm f/5.9 (WO ZS) they show 5.14° and 4.24° at 13x and 15x.
7x50 Helios Apollo ✶ 8x42 Bresser Everest ✶ 73mm f/5.9 WO APO ✶ 4" f/5 TeleVue Genesis ✶ 6" f/10 Celestron 6SE ✶ 0.63x reducer ✶ 1.8, 2, 2.5 and 3x Barlows ✶ eyepieces from 4.5 to 34mm
Ruud wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2020 7:58 pm
I used to have a TV 55mm Plössl, but sold that because it gave an 11 mm exit pupil on my f5 refractor. When I still had it I used it as a finder eyepiece.
I do like very wide views, so when the Maxvision 68° eyepieces were dumped on the European market I got four. Two of them are 2": the 28mm and 34mm.
They are wonderful eyepieces. Originally JOC made them for Meade (series 5000 SWA), but Meade broke the contract with JOC in the middle of a large production run. JOC ended up dumping them under the name Maxvision. JOC still makes them as Explore Scientific 68° using a different barrel design.
In my 101mm f/5 (Genesis) the 34 and 28mm give me 4.42° and 3.64° views at 15x and 18x respectively,
in my 73mm f/5.9 (WO ZS) they show 5.14° and 4.24° at 13x and 15x.
Maxvision2inch.png
Yes, 50mm+ EPs are most suitable for slow scopes.
Nice catch on Maxvision 68° EPs. Those SWAs are indeed good performers. I see requests for Meade SWAs quite often.
Dragonsfire wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2020 5:56 pm
The Agena 37mm was my first purchase and I got that so I could see the Pleiades whole. (Pineapple) very good compared to the kit EP's, was surprised how crisp and bright everything looked in it.
The ES 18mm I have not used much.
AgenaSWA_38mm-500.jpg
P4089262_ES18mm82-500.jpg
Any particular reason you don't use ES82 188mm much? Do you have an 1.25" EP in the same range which you use more often?
I found the ES24mm with 3x Barlow very easy on the eye, even better then the ES11mm because of eye relief. the 18mm seams to be in the middle for me.
Most of my eyepieces are 1.25", but I do have a few 2".
From left to right: GSO SuperView 30mm (came with my AD12), ES 82° 24mm, ES 82° 18mm, ES 82° 30mm, ES 70° 25mm, and a 12 oz. soda can for size context.
The 18mm is the most used of the bunch. Excellent galaxy hunting eyepiece in my 12" for my eye and backyard. The 24mm offers nice views as well. I haven't used the big 30mm much. Offers a bit too large of an exit pupil with my 12", but does a very nice job in my AR127. The 25mm I picked up because ES was offering these for $25.00 one holiday season. I had two but gave one to a needy astronomer.
Bryan Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10 Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100
bladekeeper wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2020 2:39 am
Most of my eyepieces are 1.25", but I do have a few 2".
From left to right: GSO SuperView 30mm (came with my AD12), ES 82° 24mm, ES 82° 18mm, ES 82° 30mm, ES 70° 25mm, and a 12 oz. soda can for size context.
The 18mm is the most used of the bunch. Excellent galaxy hunting eyepiece in my 12" for my eye and backyard. The 24mm offers nice views as well. I haven't used the big 30mm much. Offers a bit too large of an exit pupil with my 12", but does a very nice job in my AR127. The 25mm I picked up because ES was offering these for $25.00 one holiday season. I had two but gave one to a needy astronomer.
IMG_0142.JPG
Nice set Bryan! I like the red one in particular. 18mm been most used makes sense. It gives 3.7mm exit pupil in your DOB. This is equivalent of 36mm in my SCT, also most used 2" EP.
The Parks 50mm plossl is very sharp and gives great views, but the eye-relief is enormous (around 50mm!). I got it because the price was irresistible (about $A40). An oldie but a goodie.
The GSO 42mm is surprisingly good, but is best used in scopes that are f8 and above. At f5 its "sweet spot" would be less than 50% of the field. (You get what you pay for!)
I recently bought the 27mm Panoptic (used) and I am very happy with it in every scope I have tried, including my f5 12".
I bought the ES 20mm hand-grenade when our Aussie $ was nearly at parity with the $US. It is an excellent eyepiece and did extremely well in a head-to-head test with a 21mm Ethos: at 1/3 of the price! However, I rarely use it because of its weight, and I have decided I am not a great fan of the super wide fields. One day I might pass it on to a happier home...
All the best,
Dean
Attachments
Telescopes: 12" f5 dob, Celestron CPC800, 150mmf5 Celestron achro, Tak TSA102, TV76, ETX125...
Binos: Steiner Wildlife XP 10x26, Swarovski 8x30 Habicht, Zeiss SFL 8x40, Vanguard Endeavour 10.5x45, Fuji FMTR-SX 10x50, Tak 22x60, Orion Resolux 15x70
Eyepieces: way too many (is that possible?), but I do like my TV 32mm plossl, 13mm Nagler T6, 27mm Panoptic and 3-6mm Nagler zoom, plus Fujiyama 18mm and 25mm orthos and Tak 7.5mm LE
Not exactly what the OP was about, but similar -- I rather show the two extremes I have for my C9.25, side by side:
right: Vixen orthoscopic 7mm (AFOV~45deg, I bought it about 15 years ago)
middle: Explore Scientific 68deg 40mm,
left: 500ml can of water.
The size difference is just ridiculous. . The big one weighs approximately 1kg, the small one is not even good for a paperweight. Btw., I use magnetic counterweights here and there to balance the scope for the eyepiece in use.
Some people have had a really hard time finding the eye lens on the Vixen, as well as finding the eyepiece itself on the scope
In addition to representing the two sensible extremes for my SCT, these are also my personal favourites, real characters, although the little Vixen gets only occasional use due to seeing limitations.
That's not an EP, THIS is an EP! I love to do that stuff at outreaches. I thought to keep one of glass pineapples just for that, but would rather put money in something more useful.
I have always liked this image, the 2" eyepiece is the one on the right
The eyepiece on the left is a Siebert Optics Observatory Series 110mm 4.3" 55° AFOV that weighs 10lb and is used in the 36" Lick Observatory refractor
This is a Siebert Optics Elite 70mm SWA 3" for the 8" f/12 Moonraker refractor at Lowell Observatory
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
bladekeeper wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2020 2:39 am
Most of my eyepieces are 1.25", but I do have a few 2".
From left to right: GSO SuperView 30mm (came with my AD12), ES 82° 24mm, ES 82° 18mm, ES 82° 30mm, ES 70° 25mm, and a 12 oz. soda can for size context.
The 18mm is the most used of the bunch. Excellent galaxy hunting eyepiece in my 12" for my eye and backyard. The 24mm offers nice views as well. I haven't used the big 30mm much. Offers a bit too large of an exit pupil with my 12", but does a very nice job in my AR127. The 25mm I picked up because ES was offering these for $25.00 one holiday season. I had two but gave one to a needy astronomer.
IMG_0142.JPG
Hi Bryan, I forgot I had the ES 70° 25mm too: it should have been in my piccie in the above post. I bought it for the same reason, but I haven't used it much (says it all, doesn't it?). It looks impressive, but it is not the best ES eyepiece...
Telescopes: 12" f5 dob, Celestron CPC800, 150mmf5 Celestron achro, Tak TSA102, TV76, ETX125...
Binos: Steiner Wildlife XP 10x26, Swarovski 8x30 Habicht, Zeiss SFL 8x40, Vanguard Endeavour 10.5x45, Fuji FMTR-SX 10x50, Tak 22x60, Orion Resolux 15x70
Eyepieces: way too many (is that possible?), but I do like my TV 32mm plossl, 13mm Nagler T6, 27mm Panoptic and 3-6mm Nagler zoom, plus Fujiyama 18mm and 25mm orthos and Tak 7.5mm LE
Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 6:36 pm
I have always liked this image, the 2" eyepiece is the one on the right
110 4point3 brass c.jpg
The eyepiece on the left is a Siebert Optics Observatory Series 110mm 4.3" 55° AFOV that weighs 10lb and is used in the 36" Lick Observatory refractor
This is a Siebert Optics Elite 70mm SWA 3" for the 8" f/12 Moonraker refractor at Lowell Observatory
3 inch Lowell 1.jpg
Gotta love those Moonraker scopes! The Seibert eyepiece no doubt works well, but it looks a bit plebeian sitting on that scope. Perhaps if it was in polished aluminium like the highlights on the scope it might do it more justice. Seibert eyepieces are quality, functional optics, but they are not works of art like Moonraker telescopes.
I am envisaging that 110mm eyepiece sitting on my TV76. I wouldn't know which end to look through. The 17mm exit pupil might be a bit of over overkill too...
Telescopes: 12" f5 dob, Celestron CPC800, 150mmf5 Celestron achro, Tak TSA102, TV76, ETX125...
Binos: Steiner Wildlife XP 10x26, Swarovski 8x30 Habicht, Zeiss SFL 8x40, Vanguard Endeavour 10.5x45, Fuji FMTR-SX 10x50, Tak 22x60, Orion Resolux 15x70
Eyepieces: way too many (is that possible?), but I do like my TV 32mm plossl, 13mm Nagler T6, 27mm Panoptic and 3-6mm Nagler zoom, plus Fujiyama 18mm and 25mm orthos and Tak 7.5mm LE
Try full editor, attachments, add files, place inline.
That is working and I will let Gordon know to check the gallery again.
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
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
Eyepieces: a few.
Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.
) what 2" EPs work for you and what you like about them.
. The big one weighs approximately 1kg, the small one is not even good for a paperweight. Btw., I use magnetic counterweights here and there to balance the scope for the eyepiece in use.
