Eyepiece in the 30mm range

[iceman]

Hi guys

I'm after an upgrade to my 32mm GSO plossl. I've had it for 3 years (it came with my first scope) and while adequate for its purpose (budget low power) it suffers from the fate of all cheap eyepieces - seagulls and abberations around the edge of the FOV.

It has also served as my low-power eyepiece for afocal imaging of the Moon - where the full disc is framed nicely for me to squash the camera up to the eye lens.

The replacement needs to be able to serve the same role.

What are the best options for a replacement at that focal length?

My requirements:
1) To be used in a 1500mm focal length 12" newt.
2) To not be a 31mm nagler
3) Good quality at a reasonable price
4) Doesn't need to be a super-wide or ultra-wide, but if it's only 45° AFOV then it should be sharp across the field.
5) I'm very intolerant to seagulls and edge abberations
6) Focal length 30-35mm
7) Suitable for afocal imaging
8) New or second hand both considered, but to keep the price down, second hand preferred.

Thoughts?

[Starkler]

You mightnt like my suggestion but Ill suggest it anyway...
30mm Pentax XW

[iceman]

I knew someone would suggest it, and I'd love to own it. But I don't think I can justify it. I simply don't do enough observing through my own scope.

What are they worth?

[erick]

I know how you feel Mike. I carefully read the Televue site and accepted Al's advice that the eyepiece I needed is a 2" 26mm Nagler Type V - then I looked it up - $819 at Bintel :sadeyes:

ps. Pentax 30mm XW - something like $660

[janoskiss]

Baader Scopos 30 or 35mm (bigger siblings of the Hyperions) might fit the bill. Or the Baader Aspherics 31 and 36mm. Maybe you could convince Steve from MAS to get some in.

[Dave47tuc]

As you don't view much Mike:rolleyes:

may I suggest a Tele Vue 32 mm Plossl.
http://www.televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=25

A really nice eyepiece.:thumbsup:

[astropolak]

There will be a lot of coma in wide eyepieces on F5 Dob, dare I say Paracorr + Uwan28...I know, I know you tested it and you do not like it...get rid of coma and then test it again...

Joe

[iceman]

Hi Joe
I imagine it would be very good with a Paracorr, but then I'd need to buy a paracorr as well as an eyepiece :)

I'm looking to just buy an eyepiece at this stage.

Thanks for suggestions so far.

[janoskiss]

Coma won't be any worse than at shorter focal lengths.
30mm XW is outstanding edge to the edge without Paracorr. :)

[skies2clear]

Yes, I agree, a Paracorr and decent eyepiece will set you back more than a really good 30mm, like the Pentax 30XW. However, you get to use the Parracor with all your eyepieces.

The only thing I can think of that might be OK , apparantly the TMB/Burgess Paragon 30mm is due for release very soon according to CN forums. I think I remember reading the Paragon 30mm will be corrected for fast scopes. If it's anything like the 40mm, it should be pretty good and reasonably priced compared with the heavyweight contenders from TV and Pentax.

CS
Nick

[Stephen65]

I was also going to suggest the forthcoming Paragon 30mm. Another option would be the WO UWAN 28mm at around $450. Incidentally, has anyone ever directly compared the UWAN 28mm and the 30XW?

[stringscope]

Hi Mike,

The nearest thing I can think of that would meet your criteria would be the Celestron Ultima type EP. I have a 30mm parks GS which I understand is the same EP just re branded. At F6 it is very sharp across most of the field compared to a Plossl. Some astigmatism at the very edge only. 52 degree AFoV. When I get that finderscope of yours :poke: I would be happy to ship the 30mm Parks GS with the return package - on loan - for you to try.

Cheers,

[Eric48]

Mike,

I've read good reviews about the discontinued 30mm & 35mm Orion Stratus eyepieces - I see that Skies Unlimited appear to have some 30mm for sale at $175.95 US.

[iceman]

Thanks for the ideas and Ian thanks for the loan offer. Gives me motivation to send that finderscope sooner rather than later :)

[wolfman]

I have a Meade Series 5000 28mm Super wide for sale, its a 2 inch 68 degree FOV Eyepiece, or a Series 5000 Super Plossl in a 26mm, 1.25 inch with 60 degree FOV. both excellent and at the right price.

[iceman]

hmm, tempting on the 28mm Neil. I'm not sure how well the moon would fit being a 28mm instead of the 32mm i've been using. The wider FOV (68°) would probably make it ok.
Price is probably a tad more than I was looking at, compared to a plossl.. Will definitely give it some thought - thanks.

[StarLane]

Hi Mike,

I know you have mentioned that you can't justify the purchase of a 30XW, but here are my thoughts anyway.
You can use all the XW series for eyepiece projection photography, not just purely visual. Under the rubber eye cup there is a 43mm thread. With the help of an adaptor (M43/T-2) you can attach a T ring and then attach your SLR directly to the EP. I was shooting the full moon on Monday night with my XW eyepieces, they work great for this purpose.
In this focal length there simply isn't anything out there that is reasonably priced that performs well in fast scopes. I did a couple of months of research and testing before I bit the bullet and purchased a 30XW and I don't regret the decision. The glass and special coatings are amazing, great contrast, excellent throughput and sharpness, the build quality is better than any EP I have ever seen. 20mm eye relief, twist up eye cups for eye position adjustment are a couple of other features.
I have tried the 28UWAN in my scope, although a nice EP also, the edge performance is not as good as the 30XW, although it's unfair to compare an 82 degree EP against a 70 degree EP. In my scope, I could only use around 70 degrees of field anyway with the 28UWAN, the rest of the field at the edge was not acceptable to me.
I know the 30XW is expensive, but you will have it for life, you will never have to upgrade and you can use it for photo and visual purposes.
I probably sound like a salesman right now, but I have no connection with Pentax at all, I just reckon it's a superb EP, worth every cent IMO. There should be more out there.

[wavelandscott]

Have you considered the Vixen LV or LVW?

I've not tried one but I did see several at a shop I was visiting in Japan earlier this week (I did not buy anything)...

They sure did look pretty in the case (as did the Pentax XF and XW...Zoom too next to them)

[MortonH]

Don't want to hijack this thread, but am curious if anyone has comments about the amount of back focus required for the eyepices that have been suggested. The reason I ask is that I just bought a GSO 2" star diagonal for my 66mm Petzval and the GSO 32mm 'wide view' eyepiece I have can't reach focus (there's not enough in-travel). My Televue Panoptic is ok, but it's a bit heavy for such a small scope.

Any suggestions for 2" eps that require more back focus than GSO? Similar to Mike, price is a major consideration as I only want this for casual observing/travelling with the 66mm.

If anyone has any to sell, I will give Mike first refusal since this is his thread.

Regards

Morton

[ving]

you can have my 30mm gso sv mike ;)

[CoombellKid]

I saw a sexy looking 31mm t5 for sale on IIS recently from memory $700.00
I was very tempted to buy that myself... very very tempted.

But it's also nice to know the 30 XW is a good performer too!! haven't had
the opportunity to try one of those yet, I'm a bity more nagler orientated
in lower powers where for me wider FOV is more important.

regards,CS

[ColHut]

Mike - did it matter if it was 1.25" or 2"? Otherwise as you say the moon is only 0.5 degrees. I think you get about 1 degree TFOV with a 1.25" and 1.8 degrees with a 2" TFOV maximum (for your 12 " f5 beast). (Which unless you buy a super expensive wide angle you will never use as the exit pupil will be enormous!).

Anyway Why not just get a better quality plossl of the same size, or - maybe a meade 4000QX 26mm?

cheers

[ving]

just buy a TV plossl :)

[KG8]

Hows the EP hunt going iceman? what did you settle on. This one quoted above might be the goer. I have the 20 and the 50 and both are good EP's, though the 20 I would only use for planetary stuff as it's a bit lifeless under the milky way. There down to $39 at andrews now, hell I might even grab a 30 myself at that price. Or the 40, that's better in my scope anyway.