Looking For an Eyepiece

[LDW47]

What are the recommendations, from actual experience prefered, of a good eyepiece in the 42-50mm range preferably as wide a FOV as possible in a 2" size. Cost is not a problem.

[Piet Le Roux]

Good day,
Your field of view is dependent on the fieldstop (entrance window) of the eyepiece, few eyepiece makers supply the field stop value of their eyepieces, Tele Vue do. You must also consider the maximum field stop of your telescope, for example the 2" visual back of my 8" SCT has a field stop of 38.5mm so there would be no point in using a eyepiece with a 40mm field stop because it would be masked to 38.5mm. Tele Vue makes a 35mm Panoptic eyepiece with a field stop of 38.7mm and that is the widest pracktical view I can get with my SCT. To calculate field of view divide the eyepiece field-stop diameter in mm by the focal length of the scope and multiply the result by (360/2φ) or about 57.2958. For me that would be 38.5/2000 X 57.2958 = 1.1 degrees

[LDW47]

Good day,
Your field of view is dependent on the fieldstop (entrance window) of the eyepiece, few eyepiece makers supply the field stop value of their eyepieces, Tele Vue do. You must also consider the maximum field stop of your telescope, for example the 2" visual back of my 8" SCT has a field stop of 38.5mm so there would be no point in using a eyepiece with a 40mm field stop because it would be masked to 38.5mm. Tele Vue makes a 35mm Panoptic eyepiece with a field stop of 38.7mm and that is the widest pracktical view I can get with my SCT. To calculate field of view divide the eyepiece field-stop diameter in mm by the focal length of the scope and multiply the result by (360/2φ) or about 57.2958. For me that would be 38.5/2000 X 57.2958 = 1.1 degrees

I know all the numbers but I just want one. Thats why I am trying to find what all is out there and just see some experiences. Right now I am using several Russell Optics ep's up to 65mm but I might like to expand.

[Piet Le Roux]

65mm! what telescope are you using? The widest field stop made by Tele Vue is 46mm and are available in their 55mm Plössl and 41mm Panoptic, I would like to know what telescopes has a field stop big enough to utilise these eyepieces? It is not possible to go wider that that with a 2" eyepiece so longer eyepiece focal length is not going to give a wider field stop and thus views with a 2" eyepiece.

[Lady Fraktor]

Luckily you have picked the 2 focal lengths I have and would recommend, the Vixen 42 mm LVW and the Vixen 50 mm NLV.
Both are excellent eyepieces, the 42 mm has a 65° AFOV and 20 mm eye relief, the 50 mm has a 45° AFOV and a huge 38 mm eye relief.
The 50 mm is no longer made but appears on used sites occasionally.

Of course there is also the 41 mm Panoptic.

[notFritzArgelander]

I'm very happy with my 42mm Panoptic (I have them all and prefer them to the Naglers). I also have the Takahashi 50mm LE which is very fine. I used to own the Russel Optics in 65mm and 80mm focal lengths and they are good but the coatings on the Panoptic and Tak LE make a big difference.

[Bigzmey]

A bit outside your focal range but I like TV Plossl 55mm. Sharp stars and very flat field in my SCTs.

[LDW47]

Luckily you have picked the 2 focal lengths I have and would recommend, the Vixen 42 mm LVW and the Vixen 50 mm NLV.
Both are excellent eyepieces, the 42 mm has a 65° AFOV and 20 mm eye relief, the 50 mm has a 45° AFOV and a huge 38 mm eye relief.
The 50 mm is no longer made but appears on used sites occasionally.

Of course there is also the 41 mm Panoptic.

The 41 is a little too heavy for my liking by about a lb. The 2 Luminos that I had were heavy enough and I didn't like their bulbous shape.

[Lady Fraktor]

The 50 mm is under 1 lb and the 42 mm is just over 1 lb.
A issue with low power 2" eyepieces unfortunately.
They are all heavy.

[LDW47]

The 50 mm is under 1 lb and the 42 mm is just over 1 lb.
A issue with low power 2" eyepieces unfortunately.
They are all heavy.

I was mentioning the weight of the 41 Pan, a high end ep with a high end heft, lol.