Zoom Eyepieces

[04Stefan07]

After using one at the Snake Valley Astro camp I am in the market to purchase one of these!

It was very handy to use in my PST observing the Sun. The one I used however was around the $300 mark which is a bit beyond my budget.

Can anyone advice me on a decent one to get for around the $100 mark (even second hand).

Thanks!

[pluto]

I have the Orion 7.2-21.5mm which I use in my PST and I think it's pretty good.
It was a bit more than $100 though: http://www.bintel.com.au/Eyepieces-and-Barlows/Orion/Zoom/Orion-Zoom--br-7-2mm-21-5mm/311/productview.aspx

[04Stefan07]

Looks good but is beyond my budget.

[pw]

That Orion one seems to be what Lunt sell as their own zoom eyepiece for their solar telescopes. The Lunt one has a red ring under the eye cup, but apart from that they look the same and the specifications are the same.

From my reading on zoom eyepieces, the Baader Hyperion III is very good, and the Pentax and the Orion are a notch down. The rest are less satisfactory (apart from the Lieca which is around $1000).

[04Stefan07]

I have been eying this one off.

http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-eyepieces/125-inch-eyepieces/meade8mm24mmzoomeyepiece125inch.cfm

Decent price from USA (about $90 including shipping) and has good reviews.

Thoughts?

[pw]

I haven't read about that one but it says in the ad that Meade 4000 series is the gold standard in eyepieces, not sure if that's true. I hear Televue Ethos & similar stated to be best by forum members.

[04Stefan07]

Yeah Televue and Ethos are voted highly by forum members but they are 3-4 times the cost.

[Merlin66]

Peter,
Not sure about your comment on the Pentax being inferior to the Hyperion!

When looking for zoom eyepiece for solar I bought and tried a Moonfish, Baader (x2), TV (x2) and found problems with them all....
I was lucky enough to find a Pentax SMC XW 8-24mm Zoom.
These things are BIG...nitrogen filled and work extremely well. Everyone who has looked through it has gone "Wow".
It definitely works for me and is the best I've tried.
https://www.astronomics.com/pentax-8-24mm-smc-1-25-inch-long-eye-relief-eyepiece_p3772.aspx

[Marios]

Hi Guys

I understand we all have diffrent budgets. However I feel you should try to buy something good that you will be happy with for years to come. The cheaper options are a IMO a false economy as you will inevitably upgrade them as you aquire better optics.

The higher end zooms typically have camera fittings to attach a DSLR for imaging of planets, SUN etc.:hi:

[pdalek]

I have a Vixen NLV 8-24 you can borrow to try.

[pw]

Ken, I'd take your word for that, I've used neither but have been doing a bit of reading about them. I'd only ever heard good things about the Pentax eyepieces previously. I just bought a 10mm XW from another member here too and on my brief look through it last night it seemed very good.