Are these eyepiece good enough?

[Tom Hancock]

I have just purchased a Bintel 10" Dob from and it comes supplied with 3 GSO eps, a 9,15 and 26mm.
The scope just cost me around $699 and that left me with plenty as I initially budget to spend around two grands overall.
Now, the next step is for better eps.
I would like to spend not more then $300 for a couple of really good eps.
What should I buy that will go well with my 10" Dob?
There were a lot of threads about Hyperion, Orion Strauss and TMB.
How do they perform and where can I buy them?

[barx1963]

The Orion Stratus are a clone of the Baader Hyperion. I had one (the 8mm) It was OK but nothing spectacular.
I am a Televue user, If I was to recommend an EP it would be the 24mm Panoptic. Lots of fans of the EP in IIS. Nice eye relief, good wide filed at 68deg, pin sharp to the edge and not a great heavy hand grenade.
Will use up a fair chunk of your $300 (in fact all of it as Bintels price is $309)but worth every cent. It spends more time in my scope than any other EP.

Personally I wouldn't rush. The 15 and 26mm that came with your scope will let you see lots, so enjoy using them. Try to get to a viewing night or astro camp and see if you can check out some other eps to see what you like. Then you will get great value for money when time comes to spend the cash.

Malcolm

[rmcconachy]

Enjoy the new scope Tom! :) I'd like to echo Malcolm's comment about not rushing. Play with what you have for a while and figure out which magnifications you use the most and what you like and dislike about the eyepieces you already have. Also, go to any scope gatherings you can and see what you like and dislike about other people's eyepieces (cheaper than having to buy everything yourself before you can play with it!). Everybody has slightly different preferences, e.g., I love lots of eye relief but many people don't care about that at all, and you only really figure out what you like best with experience. Clear skies sir.

[ausastronomer]

Hi Tom/Malcolm,

I agree with Malcolm that you shouldnt rush in. Use what you have, learn the sky and targets a bit and see what focal lengths you prefer to use the most. This is important because personal preference plays a big part here. Malcolm has recommended the 24mm Panoptic and that's obviously a focal length he is comfortable with and likes. For mine, a 24mm eyepiece in a 10"/F5 scope is way way too low power for me. I have 3 scopes, the smallest being a 10". In my 10" scope easily my most used eyepiece is my 10mm Pentax XW, which gives a 2mm exit pupil (ideal) and 125X. However, I have Argo Navis on the scope and have no need for a finder eyepiece.

Cheers,
John B

[Poita]

As an alternative to the panoptic, check out the explore scientific range of eyepieces if you can get a look through one. I got to use a panoptic and an ES side by side, and I'd go for the ES eyepiece. There was so little difference between them visually that I'd definitely get a pair of ES eyepieces rather than a single Panoptic.

http://www.scopecity.com/detail.cfm?ProductID=9259&pn=Explore%20Scientific%2024mm%2068 %20degree%20field%20waterproof%201. 25%20inch%20eyepiece+Explore%20Scie ntific+EPWP6824-00&sc=&tc=

But get a look through some eyepieces and work out what magnification you want first.

http://www.scopecity.com/detail.cfm?ProductID=9256&pn=Explore%20Scientific%2082%20Degr ee%201.25%20inch%20Waterproof%20N2% 20Eyepiece%208.8mm+Explore%20Scient ific+EPWP8288-00&sc=&tc=

[doug mc]

I agree with JB, perhaps the most used eyepiece gives a view of about half of a degree or a little less. About 125x in a widefield type. I use an 8.8 meade uwa. Good contrast and high enough power for most objects.

[mercedes_sl1970]

Hi Tom

Welcome. Firstly, ditto to mostly everything said above - I would recommend trying a few different eyepieces if you can get to an astro night. Not only will you get the chance to try different focal lengths but also different fields of view.

For me, I find I like no more than about 70 deg eyepieces, whereas others like a much wider view. The other thing to consider is buying secondhand (eg. here, Astromart and Cloudynights). If you find you don't like an eyepiece you are less likely to lose money if you choose to re-sell, which was my situation with a couple of Naglers. On reading about Pentax eyepieces here, and being a little patient, I recently picked up a secondhand Pentax 10mm which is simply superb.

And then there are some alternative approaches. Something else I have also done is to convert some new/secondhand Nikon digiscoping/spotting scope eyepieces for Astro use and these have been terrific.*

Just some food for thought.

Andrew