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Old 10-02-2007, 06:03 PM
ausastronomer (John Bambury)
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ausastronomer is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shoalhaven Heads, NSW
Posts: 2,620
Knowing what I know, having used what I like and owning what I like If it was me I would do the following.

30mm Pentax XW

Televue 2" 2X Powermate

10mm Pentax XW
7mm Pentax XW

That covers just about any option you need covered, with that scope. Alternatively you could go with a 26mm Nagler T5 and the 10mm and 7mm Pentax XW's. At the top end of town (Pentax XW's and Naglers) there isn't much between them; and it comes down to little things. They each do some different things a little better than the other. My 1st choice would be as indicated above but you could also go for something like a 31mm or 26mm Nagler T5 and the 11mm and 7mm Nagler T6's as opposed to the Pentax XW's. IMO the Pentax XW's are a tad sharper with better light throughput and longer eye-relief, hence a little more comfort, particularly if you or anyone else using the scope wears glasses. The Naglers have a wider FOV by a tad. You need to work out what aspects of eyepiece performance are likely to be the most important to you. The Vixen LVW's are also very good but you are limited here in appropriate focal lengths IMO.

FWIW I have 3 Televue Naglers (31T5,17T4 and 12T4), a 27mm Televue Panoptic, 5 Pentax XW's (5,7,10,14 and 20) and 6 University Optics HD orthos (5,6,7,9,12,18);as well as 3 good barlows and a paracorr. In addition to what I have, I have used most other eyepieces you're likely to consider. I use these in a 10"/F5 dob and an 18"/F4.5 dob.

I will conclude by saying this: The eyepiece is 1/2 the optical system and if you can afford high quality eyepieces buy them, you won't regret it and they always hold their value pretty well. You may ultimately upgrade your telescope, but it's likely you will keep top quality eyepieces for a long time to come.

CS-John B
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