Meade hd60

[croweater]

G,day, does anyone know what the Meade hd60 6.5mm is like. $119 at Bintel ($79 at Amazon). Or know of something better at around same price? Cheers, Richard. Apologies, I think I posted in wrong thread area.

[Tropo-Bob]

Richard,

These are decent eyepieces without being outstanding. The HD 6.5mm is a little larger and heavier than your TV 32mm EP. (I have both).

Compared with premium EPs (such as TV Radian), I find the images to be a little dull, so it depends what U plan to use it for. The EP will perform well on planets and double stars, but if U are person that likes to view galaxies at high magnification (185x with your scope), then this may not be the EP for U.

However, for most normal use, I think you shall find this EP is excellent value for money.

[croweater]

Thanks for the response Bob. It seems to get pretty good reviews and I can't really afford to go premium. I've also been looking at the pentax xf 8.5mm which is a bit more expensive and a little lower in power. I'm struggling even to decide what is better focal length to get.:shrug: At 141× do you think that 8.5 is a big enough jump up from my tv11? Cheers Richard:)

[brian nordstrom]

:) Hi Richard , I had the 14mm version of these and would still have it but I had the chance to buy a 14mm TV Radian , I found exactly what Bob says , these are a nice all round eyepiece , solid and well made with a diecent FOV , a definite step up from the generic plossls supplied with todays scopes , these plossls are mostly all good eyepieces by the way compared with what was available 20 years ago , we are spollt by choice these days .
On the 8.5 - 6.5 mm question as the fl's decrease in this size the jump in magnification jumps signifantly .

Brian.

[croweater]

Thanks for that Brian. Maybe my wife will let me get both? :) Cheers Richard

[dannat]

you might want to try a 7 or 7.5mm -might be usable on more nights, you could try a celestron x-cel or tmb planetary

[croweater]

Thanks Daniel, I'll have a look at those too. I'm tempted to save a bit longer and get the pentax lx 8.5 and yes it would be more usable fl. Cheers Richard.

[Tropo-Bob]

Richard,

The 8.5mm EP is spoken of in glowing terms by some observers and I do think that its magnification would be more useful than a 6.5mm EP.

The useful Magnification that U can use depends somewhat on your local, atmospheric conditions. I live in the Cairns region, and here on the tropical lowlands, I rarely use over 130x to good affect, but can normally use 150 to 180x on the Atherton Tablelands. (Occasionally 210x)

If possible, visit an Astronomy club and try out other members EPs and ask their advice on what high magnifications that they normally use and which magnifications are only usable on the best few nights of the year.

[croweater]

I think I will go with that Bob. I sometimes barlow my 11mm on good nights ( we have pretty dark sky here and sometimes very clear) and get pretty good view at 218× especially planets. My old Parks (about 23yrs) still got it! But I guess ideally 140 to 150× would be ideal for my scope and my preference to view mainly planets, plan neb and brighter galaxies, and globs.
As for clubs none within cooee but did go to last SV astrocamp for a look (about 400ks) and really enjoyed it. If shift work allows will try to go again. Thanks again, cheers Richard