Looking for new Eyepiece advice
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Looking for new Eyepiece advice
I need some advice here please. I'm a beginner and have a Celestron Powerseeker 114eq. This is now my second scope. My first was a cheap 70mm refractor. I'd like to upgrade my eyepieces for the Celestron 20mm and 4mm that came with the scope. I'm aware that my new Celestron is a Newtonian and therefore provides an image that is upside down and backwards. The lenses that came with the scope correct this. The old ones from the refractor show the true image from the Newtonian.
I've been told to look into the Plossl eyepieces. Do they correct the image? Should I not want the image corrected? How do I tell if they do or don't while shopping? Do you have other suggestions? I was thinking about a 20mm and 10mm eyepiece. I'd like them to be able to accept filters. If 20mm and 10mm aren't a good Idea, Please advise.
Should I also change out the Barlow? I've used it with the 20mm viewing the moon and it seems alright.
I'd also appreciate some filter suggestions for light pollution, the moon, planets and possibly nebula(primarily orion).
Sorry about so many questions. I just want to make the correct decisions and google hasn't been much help.
Thanks in advance for the help.
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
It will help if forum members know your max budget.
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
These are good questions.
So, all telescopes invert the image--refractors, reflectors, catadioptrics. This is because the eyepiece collects the image after the focal point. Mirror diagonals uninvert on one axis, but not the other. Newtonians don't use diagonals, so you're inverted (just like Maverick in Top Gun)
Some diagonals have an Amici prism inside, which uninverts fully. A lot of smaller refractors come with that type of prism, because they also get used for daytime/nature viewing. Astronomers tend to value brightness and image clarity over non-inverted images, so the best diagonals and eyepieces don't correct the image. (A correct image can be very useful in your finderscope, however.)
I believe only your 20mm eyepiece corrects your image, but your 4mm does not. When you are shopping for eyepieces, I do not think you will find any that correct the image. The will all accept filters in the barrel.
Plossls are ok for long focal lengths, but harder for short. Just like your 4mm is probably pretty hard to look into. Rather than make specific suggestions on EPs, I will link to another recent topic that covered all of this thoroughly.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6039
In summary, you have a lot of
Best regards,
Russmax
Celestron AVX 8" SCT & Omni XLT 102 AZ
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
Celestron AVX 8" SCT & Omni XLT 102 AZ
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
Eyepieces: ES62 40mm; ES82 30mm; TeleVue Nagler 22mm; TeleVue Delos 17.3mm, 12mm; Meade UWA 14mm; TeleVue DeLite 9mm, 7mm, 5mm; Celestron X Cel LX 25mm, 12mm, 9mm, 7mm; Zhumell Z Series 5mm
Diagonals: Explore Scientific 2” 99% Dielectric Diagonal
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
One excellent resource is the eyepiece guide that's posted over on cloudynights.com. It's a large Excel sheet that you can plug in a few parmaeters like scope focal length and all sorts of specs (and prices) pop out. Not sure if the prices are 100% accurate because of sales and such, but there's a boatload of info there.
Happy hunting!
Edit: Here ya go:
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/6575 ... ers-guide/
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
The spread sheet doesn't allow me to add anything.pakarinen wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 2:05 pm Something you might want to consider is eye relief, essentially how far back can you keep your eye when viewing. I find short eye relief EPs ( less than 10mm) to be very uncomfortable to use, but you might not.
One excellent resource is the eyepiece guide that's posted over on cloudynights.com. It's a large Excel sheet that you can plug in a few parmaeters like scope focal length and all sorts of specs (and prices) pop out. Not sure if the prices are 100% accurate because of sales and such, but there's a boatload of info there.
Happy hunting!
Edit: Here ya go:
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/6575 ... ers-guide/
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
1. Select the last line (1153) and below that as many new lines as you want to add.
2. Type CTRL-D (fill down) to duplicate line 1153 for as many lines as you selected.
3. Replace the cell entries of the new lines with your new eyepiece info.
Celestron AVX 8" SCT & Omni XLT 102 AZ
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
The next step up is more than double the price.
An erecting eyepiece that get included with these is a poor eyepiece and is really only good for terrestrial viewing.
When looking at the sky there is no up or down so after viewing for a bit it will not seem odd to you.
This may give you a few pointers on choosing the best focal length eyepieces for your telescope :viewtopic.php?f=34&t=550
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
Hit the "Enable editing" button at the top. Enter the focal length and f-ratio in the cells at the top left.Scubaguyron wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 5:23 pmThe spread sheet doesn't allow me to add anything.pakarinen wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2020 2:05 pm Something you might want to consider is eye relief, essentially how far back can you keep your eye when viewing. I find short eye relief EPs ( less than 10mm) to be very uncomfortable to use, but you might not.
One excellent resource is the eyepiece guide that's posted over on cloudynights.com. It's a large Excel sheet that you can plug in a few parmaeters like scope focal length and all sorts of specs (and prices) pop out. Not sure if the prices are 100% accurate because of sales and such, but there's a boatload of info there.
Happy hunting!
Edit: Here ya go:
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/6575 ... ers-guide/
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
The Agena Astro line of eps, in both sizes, are excellent performers vs their $ value, you would be more than happy with them as a first timer, you can move on from there when or if the time is right ! For $200 or in that range you could probably buy 3-4 depending on their sales at the time and free shipping in the US !Scubaguyron wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2020 10:27 pm I’d probably prefer to stay under $200.00 or thereabouts.
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
Seben 31.7mm 1.25" Zoom 8-24mm FMC Telescope Eyepiece
I am delighted, much better then my stock plossals and I don't have to change eyepieces anymore
Or something more "pro" :
Baader Planetarium 8-24/3.6-10.7 mm Hyperion Universal Zoom Mark IV with Barlow 2.25x - Black
I can imagine it's even better
Seben 8-24 EP
Canon 1000D
Falcon 10x50
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
So I purchased
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
A decent eyepiece makes a huge difference over the supplied eyepieces.
They will work well in both of your telescopes as well.
You know the trick of taking the lens cell off of the barlow and screwing it onto the bottom of the eyepiece?
This gives you 1.5x magnification so with your 25mm you would have 25, 17, 12.5mm focal lengths.
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
Yes, I agree. I would be a bit cautious about over-spending on eyepieces:Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2020 5:06 pm Good to hear they are working well for you
A decent eyepiece makes a huge difference over the supplied eyepieces.
They will work well in both of your telescopes as well.
You know the trick of taking the lens cell off of the barlow and screwing it onto the bottom of the eyepiece?
This gives you 1.5x magnification so with your 25mm you would have 25, 17, 12.5mm focal lengths.
1. High-medium quality eyepieces can get the most out of a telescope but top quality expensive ones won't
2. Many of us end up leaving our eyepieces in the cupboard and attach a camera to our telescopes instead.
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
In 30+ years I have yet to find a reason to place a camera anywhere near my telescopes so I will just continue to rotate through my collection of eyepieces
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
I'm surprised that you haven't been attracted to the dark side of astrophotography. It is quite rare for me to use an eyepiece, as I normally use binoculars for visual use and I have even aimed cameras through them.Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:00 am I would not say they will not as they will but the extra money spent for the last 5% gained is up to the purchaser.
In 30+ years I have yet to find a reason to place a camera anywhere near my telescopes so I will just continue to rotate through my collection of eyepieces
I think that an extra 5% of money is OK but some eyepieces are about £500 and I would not use them with a beginner or intermediate 'scope.
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
Most times they are average to above average optically just let down by the packaged items that come with them.
A quality eyepiece and diagonal can open the potential of the optics quite a bit at times.
Seeing just a bit more detail or digging a bit deeper than can be done with a regular eyepiece.
I am not saying everyone should go and spend money on premium okulars but do not pass up the chance if you can borrow one to test it or purchase one at a reasonable discount.
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Re: Looking for new Eyepiece advice
I like my
I take the 32mm Plössl along when I go bird watching. It is nice and lightweight. The 24mm 68° I use in my 6"
The views in the image above are screenshots from Stellarium. Using its included Oculars plug-in you can enter the specs of your actual and prospective telescopes, barlows and eyepieces. This way you can get an idea how wide a view you will get from any combination. Get Stellarium for free from https://stellarium.org. You'll also find a manual there. Use that to find out how to set up the Oculars plug-in. Stellarium is a beautiful planetarium program that can be a great help in planning observations.
I'd advise a decent 2x Barlow and the 24mm
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