Quote:
Originally Posted by koputai
Guys,
I'm wondering how someone might get a wide field view, preferably with aperture, for visual use.
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Hmm, yes, a common quest but not entirely easy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by koputai
1) Meade 5000 80mm refractor. Fitted with a 35mm Panoptic eyepiece, would give a field of a bit over 5 degrees, similar to binoculars. The aperture is a bit small though.
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The same would go for any 80mm refractor like the ED80's I'd think, they're relatively wide field and are comparable to binoculars when using wide field eyepieces.
Quote:
Originally Posted by koputai
2) 8" SCT with f3.3 focal reducer. Fitted with a 35mm Panoptic eyepiece, would give a field of 3.6 degrees.
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I wouldn't recommend that option. I believe you'd get an extremely vinyetted and curved ugly view. Nothing pleasant. F/3.3 reducers have limited uses even with photography these days, and were never suited to visual use. SCT really isn't the direction you want to go, they are long focal length from the start.
If you're after 8" you're going to get a wider FOV and better view from a quality 8" DOB with focal ratio of about F/4 or 4.5. I think they are reasonably common but I'm not a newtonian guy
I think youre best bet is going to be wide field refractor (gets expensive, but like the William Optics FLT 110's), or "fast" DOB like in the F/4.5 range (of 8", 10", etc).
I'm pretty sure that in general wide field with aperture = $$$