Ep

[jjjnettie]

Hi,
I've got a 125mm reflector on lend to me. While it is bigger than my own 60mm refractor, but I don't use it because the EP's are crap.
I'm thinking of buying one or maybe two EP's for it. What would you reccomend.

Jeanette

[elusiver]

if its on lend i'd assume u won't want to be spending big bucks? Andrews GSO ep's are on the cheap, and they're of decent qual for their price.

el :)

[RAJAH235]

Hi Jeanette, What happened to the 10/12.5" DOB????? Didn't you have one before??? Might be getting you confused with someone else around your area??????!!!!.....
Anyway, do you intend to buy a larger/better t'scope later? If so, then do not skimp on E/Pcs. Buy the best you can afford, eg, Meade Super Plossl's, (fairly cheap but good). Panoptics & Naglers,(expensive but excellent). etc etc.. If not, then the Andrews or Bintel plossls would be O.K. HTH. :D L.

[iceman]

If it's not your scope, i'd go for the GSO plossls or superviews. They're good quality and good value.

[asimov]

Depends what your going to be looking at most...DSOs or planets..?

[[1ponders]]

Does it take 1.25" or .925" eyepieces jjjnettie?

[dhumpie]

Hi Jeanette,

I agree with Mike. I have used GSO super plossl's in the past (once had a 20mm and 12.5mm GSO Super Plossl) and they were really nice and sharp ep's (right to the edge of field and in f/5 scopes no less). The only reason I sold them is because I got addicted to wider FOV ep's with good eye relieve (I have astig and have to keep my glasses on while observing). I would wholly recommend them if you are on a budget. Also these ep's could be used when you get your dob later. Try not to buy ep's with a 25 or 26mm focal length or a 9 or 10mm ones as these are most likely to come with your new dob. I say go for a 32mm (the largest true FOV in the 1.25" size) and maybe a 12.5mm. One word of caution if you wear glasses, the 12.5mm has a limited eye relieve. Or you could go for a 20mm GSO superview ep. Those have received good reviews as well. You can get them for cheap from Andrew's Communication.

Hope that helps.

Darren

[jjjnettie]

Thanks for all the replies,
At the moment I am using a 10mm Superview. It is 1.25".
While the kids and I enjoy the planets, DSO's are fun to find as well, after the kids are in bed.
I wear glasses, but view without them for comfort. I have astig as well, LOL, have problems reading the top line of the chart with my left eye. ( which is my viewing eye )
I like the idea of a 32mm and the 12.5 mm.
Made an adapter out of a film cannister so I can use the .925 EP's in the bigger scope. It works, but it is only a stop gap.
No I don't own a big dob, worst luck, but my buddy pal Andrew does, and he didn't mind me having a peek through it. Though I think it spoilt me for what I have to regularly look through. I hope to buy an 8" dob sometime this year, about 10 minutes after I manage to sell my other horse.
Jeanette

[astro_south]

Why wait the 10 minutes....? :D

[dhumpie]

Hi Jeanette,

Why go for an 8" if you can swing a 10" :) Btw is this the ep that came with the scope or did you get it from somewhere?

Cheers,
Darren

[jjjnettie]

The scope is a Saxon 130mm on a GEM. I guess that the EP is the one that came with the scope.

[dhumpie]

Will you be bringing this scope up to Astrofest? If so then you can try out all our ep's. be warned though that Andrew's ep's are addictive (and very expensive :) I am waiting on a 4"f /5 refractor OTA and it should be here by end of this week, early next week (the guy I am grabbing it off is coming up from Wagga Wagga). If this one comes in time I might not bother bringing my 6"f/5 newt to Astrofest.

Anyways.....

Darren

[ballaratdragons]

Jeanette,

If you are going to get an 8-10" dob soon, why not spend that little bit extra now and get at least 1 very good EP. Then you will have it for your own scope later on!

Just an idea.

[astro_south]

Darren's right Jeanette - they are addictive :D But you probably know this as you have already looked through all but "big brother" below - a situation we can rectify in a few weeks! :astron:

[[1ponders]]

How did you find a table strong enough to hold it Andrew? Or is the tableclothe on concrete slab? :D You will love looking through that big one jjjnettie. Especially once Andrew put his new filter in it as well. Stunning views.

[davidpretorius]

andrew, that rather large eyepiece, i thought there was a certain size limit for dobs. can you use superwides with dobs?

[astro_south]

David - just have to add the appropriate counter weight on the other side of the centre gravity. My current scope setup for the other eyepieces performs great for the 31mm Nag above about 40 degrees (ie holds position). Below this the weight of the eyepiece sends the nose of the scope to the horizon.

The "superwides" (and I assume you are talking about the GSO variety) work fine in the dob and I managed to test the range way back when Striker had them (how many sales ago was that!! :D ) The edge performance drops off based more on the focal ratio rather than whether its a newt or not. My dob is 12.5" F6 and I think the longest focal length I would use would be about 40mm (ie 42mm Superwide). Longer focal length eyepieces will have exit pupils that are too large for average person to get full illumination of the field and the secondary shadow becomes an issue (especially in daylight)

[Starkler]

I have one of those , a 31mm nagler and it gives wonderful 2 degree wide views through my 10 inch dob :thumbsup:

If you have a two inch focuser it fits :D

[davidpretorius]

thanks for advice, the 2" focuser, is that standard with a 10" or 12" dob from andrew, or is it a accessory?

i will be getting 9, 15, 20, 25 hopefully gso plossels. after that as a special treat, would i invest in a superwide 42mm?

[jackenau]

Most focuser's that come with the 10" or 12" dob's from either Andrews or Bintlel have a 2" - 1.25" adapter meaning they will handle either eyepiece.

Ken M

[davidpretorius]

cool, thanks