My Newest

Discuss telescope eyepieces.
Locked
User avatar
LDW47 Canada
Jupiter Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 245
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 5:57 pm
4
Location: north bay,ontario,canada
Status:
Offline

My Newest

#1

Post by LDW47 »


A new competitor to my other widefields. 2", 31.5mm, 90° FOV . Tonite skies are to be average / above average, it will get a good testing against my ......... ? I will use a couple of different size scopes.
75959335-5EDE-478F-AFB5-38C29C4B7452.jpeg
User avatar
Ruud
Orion Spur Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 813
Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2020 9:56 pm
4
Location: the Netherlands
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#2

Post by Ruud »


Is this an Antares 2" 31.5mm 90 Degrees Speers-Waler Series2? I am very curious about your findings! I hope it is really good.

Happy observing!
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
User avatar
Seeker
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat May 29, 2021 10:03 pm
2
Location: Washington D.C., USA
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#3

Post by Seeker »


Should be interesting. 6 elements. 10mm ER.
TELESCOPES: GSO 10" Dob, Orion XT8i . BINOS: 15x70, 12x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EYEPIECES: 2" - APM's. 1.25" - APM's, Morphei & BHZ + TV P2.
User avatar
LDW47 Canada
Jupiter Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 245
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 5:57 pm
4
Location: north bay,ontario,canada
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#4

Post by LDW47 »


Just came in from doing a little observing under Bortle 5 - scrapping against Bortle 4 skies. With my 80mm, f6 refractor the 31.5 mm performed beautively with pin point stars practicaly edge to edge in a 6° TFOV. The Trifid and Lagoon Nebulas and the Eagle and Swan Nebulas looked remarkably great in single FOV's with room to spare. M13 at zenith and the Dumbell rising were well defined at 15x. This, so far, is a real keeper with its wide, clear views. It may replace my 2" 40mm WO SWAN, 72° as my finder ep ?
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9863
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#5

Post by Lady Fraktor »


A friend has been looking at this eyepiece, I will let him know your thoughts.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
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, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
LDW47 Canada
Jupiter Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 245
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 5:57 pm
4
Location: north bay,ontario,canada
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#6

Post by LDW47 »


For the price you are getting a lot. To me its a steal. To others ?
User avatar
LDW47 Canada
Jupiter Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 245
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 5:57 pm
4
Location: north bay,ontario,canada
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#7

Post by LDW47 »


Went out for a second test of this ep last nite between 11:30-12:30, this time using my 80mm, f11.4 refractor. Skies in my urban backyard, Bortle 5, were average or a bit above and the SQM-L was reading 19.9-20.2 depending where aimed. My scope / eyepiece put out 29x with a 3.1° TFOV. I hit the same objects as the previous session above plus several double stars, mainly in Scorpius but not all were and as an added bonus I had a look at the Coathanger. All were bright and contrasty only larger. This ep shows pin point stars over at least 90% of the FOV with negligible distortion, if any. I could still see the Lagoon and Trifid Nebulas in one fov but just barely, I had to turn my head to the edges to catch it all. The double stars split nicely and the Coathanger stretched out from edge to edge, pin point and wonderful. As a side test I put in my 2" Burgess CRX Enhancement filter and there is no doubt it took the same objects, their views up another level, as I have posted before. I may have to find a new home for my 2" 40mm WO SWAN finder soon, lol.
CygnusX-1 Great Britain
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 6:56 am
2
Location: Here
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#8

Post by CygnusX-1 »


31mm pic 3.JPG
Save your money peeps. I bought this EP based on a couple of reviews. It was sold within a week after buying it. Severe astigmatism and field curvature in a coma corrected 10 inch F/4.7 Orion Intelliscope. (F/5.17). Extremely short eye relief as well. I'd be surprised it it even worked at F/10.

For the record, those deep sky objects seen above will be a mere "blip" in the sky with no detail, (very small), at only 15x, lol.

Yes, this post was from last year, but I just wanted to inform others who maybe considering buying this eyepiece for a short FL Newtonian. AVOID !!!!
Last edited by CygnusX-1 on Fri Feb 24, 2023 11:49 am, edited 3 times in total.
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9863
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#9

Post by Lady Fraktor »


It works quite well in my friend Celestron 120mm f/5 refractor.
Perhaps there was some mis-alignment with your eyepiece?
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
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, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
LDW47 Canada
Jupiter Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 245
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 5:57 pm
4
Location: north bay,ontario,canada
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#10

Post by LDW47 »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 2:16 pm It works quite well in my friend Celestron 120mm f/5 refractor.
Perhaps there was some mis-alignment with your eyepiece?
Well said, thats exactly the story ! With an ep that size why would anyone laugh at 15x - 20x, you don't with 15 x 70 binos, many great nite sky objects look much better at low powers, just ask my f5.4-5.5 refractors ! Theres an old saying try before you believe not to mention the excellent price for a 2" eyepiece. Antares has been turning out astro gear for a long time right here in Canada !
User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Offline
Posts: 7551
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: My Newest

#11

Post by Bigzmey »


CygnusX-1 wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 11:45 am 31mm pic 3.JPGSave your money peeps. I bought this EP based on a couple of reviews. It was sold within a week after buying it. Severe astigmatism and field curvature in a coma corrected 10 inch F/4.7 Orion Intelliscope. (F/5.17). Extremely short eye relief as well. I'd be surprised it it even worked at F/10.

For the record, those deep sky objects seen above will be a mere "blip" in the sky with no detail, (very small), at only 15x, lol.

Yes, this post was from last year, but I just wanted to inform others who maybe considering buying this eyepiece for a short FL Newtonian. AVOID !!!!
Most SWAs on the market are based on simple EP designs (like Erfle and Konig) which don't work well in fast DOBs and perform much better in refractors and CATs. DOBs/Newts have different (opposite) to refractors and CATs field curvature and Erfle/Konig exaggerate that in Newts, but compensate in refractors and CATs.

If you like a widefield which works well in fast DOBs/Newts you should go with well corrected designs like ES 82. Always match EP design to the scope type.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
CygnusX-1 Great Britain
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 6:56 am
2
Location: Here
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#12

Post by CygnusX-1 »


LDW47 wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 7:55 pm
Lady Fraktor wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 2:16 pm It works quite well in my friend Celestron 120mm f/5 refractor.
Perhaps there was some mis-alignment with your eyepiece?
Well said, thats exactly the story ! With an ep that size why would anyone laugh at 15x - 20x, you don't with 15 x 70 binos, many great nite sky objects look much better at low powers, just ask my f5.4-5.5 refractors ! Theres an old saying try before you believe not to mention the excellent price for a 2" eyepiece. Antares has been turning out astro gear for a long time right here in Canada !
Try before you buy does not apply here. I've owned 8x, 10, 12x, 15x, 20x binoculars. It's a totally different ball game when comparing binoculars to a telescope. Completely different observing experience altogether. Any of those magnifications I just mentioned are ok in binoculars, (except for 8x, which I personally find far too small a scale for astronomy and never use them any more). As far as "Antares goes, I have also owned the Speers Waler Zoom, (The one with the red lettering). Great zoom, but a lot of their eyepieces, (IME), have been plagued with black flakes in the view, and shoddy crafstmanship. Now I am not saying ALL of their gear is junk.....just a few were. The 31mm Isn't something one would want to use anywhere below F/10, unless you like looking at seagulls every time a DSO enters the edge of the field. The eyepiece I had was perfectly fine. (The one I had was made well). They just don't jive at F/5. Whoever says they are fine at F/5 did NOT try it in a REFLECTOR. It sucked really bad in my 10" Orion F/4.7 with coma corrector.
CygnusX-1 Great Britain
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 6:56 am
2
Location: Here
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#13

Post by CygnusX-1 »


Bigzmey wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 8:30 pm
CygnusX-1 wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 11:45 am 31mm pic 3.JPGSave your money peeps. I bought this EP based on a couple of reviews. It was sold within a week after buying it. Severe astigmatism and field curvature in a coma corrected 10 inch F/4.7 Orion Intelliscope. (F/5.17). Extremely short eye relief as well. I'd be surprised it it even worked at F/10.

For the record, those deep sky objects seen above will be a mere "blip" in the sky with no detail, (very small), at only 15x, lol.

Yes, this post was from last year, but I just wanted to inform others who maybe considering buying this eyepiece for a short FL Newtonian. AVOID !!!!
Most SWAs on the market are based on simple EP designs (like Erfle and Konig) which don't work well in fast DOBs and perform much better in refractors and CATs. DOBs/Newts have different (opposite) to refractors and CATs field curvature and Erfle/Konig exaggerate that in Newts, but compensate in refractors and CATs.

If you like a widefield which works well in fast DOBs/Newts you should go with well corrected designs like ES 82. Always match EP design to the scope type.
BINGO !!! We have a BINGO !!! LOL
User avatar
Don Pensack United States of America
Mars Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 183
Joined: Tue May 25, 2021 8:07 pm
2
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status:
Offline

Re: My Newest

#14

Post by Don Pensack »


I might mention that Ramsden and Huygens eyepieces were designed in the era when f/15 would have been considered a "fast" f/ratio.
When Kellners, Plössls, most König designs, Erfles, Abbe orthoscopics, and the innumerable odd types were designed, f/10 to f/12 was normal and f/8 would have been considered "fast".
So it is not at all unusual that those designs don't work well in today's f/4-f/7 scopes.

More modern designs came out when faster scopes had become common, so they work better in faster scopes.
That is true, by the way, whether the scope is a refractor or reflector. Many of the older designs don't work well in a completely flat field f/5 refractor
because the oblique rays in the light cone from the primary objective induces aberrations in the eyepiece. The problem is the f/ratio, not the scope type.

But, here's the thing: eyepieces designed to work well at f/4 also work fine at f/8, f/12, f/15, while the reverse is not true.
Fortunately, many of the designs from yesteryear have been modified to work better in faster scopes, or there would be very few designs of eyepieces alive today.

But for their low cost of production, the older designs should have disappeared long ago.
Only if you have and use long f/ratio scopes (like SCTs, MCTs, and long refractors) should you look at the simpler designs.

One of the ironies of the market is that people often buy short, fast, dobsonian telescopes because they are inexpensive, yet to produce high quality images in the eyepieces from edge to edge,
the most expensive eyepieces are required. The good news is that the price of high end eyepieces have crept downward to where, today, excellent eyepieces for fast scopes can be obtained
for under £200. It is even true for £100 as long as you keep the apparent field narrow.
As they say: Well corrected in fast f/ratios, inexpensive, wide field--pick any two.
Astronomer since 1963
Currently using a 12.5" dob and a 4" apo refractor
Locked

Return to “Eyepieces”