Wanted: 8-24mm zoom

[erick]

Just testing to see if someone might be willing to part with their zoom eyepiece.

Either the Vixen LV or Televue. Melbourne or surrounds so I could "try before I buy" would be appreciated.

Thanks for considering,
Eric

[erick]

Still wanted :)

[goober]

Eric, I can lend you a Televue 3-6mm zoom, if you want to see how the zoom bit works.

[erick]

Thanks Doug. Next time we are together somewhere observing together, I'd be glad to have a look. :thumbsup: Of course, that focal length range is far shorter than the one I am interested in. I find myself doing a lot of 20/10/6 swapping and re-acquiring target and am thinking, that's dead observing time. Of course, if I want a specific 30mm or 6mm for prolonged observation, I'll put one in, but my reading suggests that several are very happy using this 8-24 zoom for most of their observing.

If anyone wants to comment on zoom eyepieces, feel free to throw up a thread over on equipment discussions.

[goober]

No problems - I thought the 3-6 may be a bit tight for your scope.

I can confirm that the convenience of dialling in different focal lengths without having to change an eyepiece, and possibly upsetting the balance/lose the target, is very nice. I mainly use it on double stars - it doesn't seem as contrast-y on planets as my other eyepieces.

[JethroB76]

I don't really want to go to the extent of a new thread, but rather just say that as another option the Baader Hyperion zooms are meant to go ok also, though I haven't used one.

I think like other zooms you lose FOV at the longer focal lengths

[mrsnipey]

I have a Baader Hyperion zoom (8mm-24mm) and I think it's fabulous.
I rarely use the 8mm as my dob isn't 100% collimated and it makes things a bit fuzzy. But it sure does save a lot of time swapping eye pieces.
I haven't used any of my old ep's since I got it.
I love scanning at 24mm and if I see something interesting, I just zoom in to have a closer look.

If you can't already tell, I love my baader hyp zoom.
Now, if only those clouds would go away, I could go and use it.

[mill]

Erick i have an Seben zoom if you want to try that out 8-24 zoom.

[Escortitis]

Hi Erick,

I have a boxed, near new 8 - 24mm Williams optics piece. I'm in Perth but if your interested it's going at a very reasonable price. Or trade if you like, I'm chasing a 2" LPS filter.

George:D

[dannat]

Another thought is Andrews sells long perng zooms - which are basically unbadged WO ones, & i think they are reasonably priced also.

[Screwdriverone]

Hi Eric,

Daniel is right, last time I was in there at Andrews, Lee showed me a very nice zoom EP which I think was one of these ones.

Zoom eyepiece, 3:1 zoom range, 1.25", focal length 7-21mm, fully multi-coatedZoom eyepiece, 3:1 zoom range, 1.25", focal length 8-24mm, fully multi-coated and features twist-up eyecups

They are $79 and $99 respectively. On the Long Perng page.

They also have some WO ones but are triple the price!!!

Chris

[erick]

Thanks guys. No more correspondence in this thread. By end of Monday I should have not one, but two different brand 8-24 zooms. I'll comment elsewhere in the forum when I have done some more testing. :)

[JimmyH155]

I agree with mrsnipey. I have a Baader 8 - 24 mm click zoom, and it is the best. I only use that one now, and occasionally my Meade 26 mm QX. The Baader zoom I am told is same FOV as the other Hyperions at 8 mm, and just gets a little less at the 24 mm setting. Anyway all the settings look fantastic, so add the Baader to your list, and throw away all your other EP's:D

[bindibadgi]

A bit OT I know, but to all those with the Hyperion 8-24, I wonder if you find the same thing as I have found. The actual field of view is the same all the way from 20mm to 24mm, only the apparent FOV gets smaller as you get towards 24. I don't know if I got a unique EP, but it seems that part of the range is rather useless.

It makes a wonderful 8-20mm zoom though. ☺

[mrsnipey]

I would have to agree.
From the 20mm to 24mm setting, the FOV does seem to shrink.

I use the 20mm setting the most on my 12" dob and the 8mm setting the most on my ED80.

I don't use the 24mm for anything (anymore - as I mentioned in my post above) as the view also seems to be more spherical than the other settings.

I still love it though.