[CC Bear (Tim)]

Hello all,

I have a GSO 8 inch Dob.

I have just purchased a Baader Hyperion 17mm with the two sizing rings of 14 and 28mm, giving me basically 17, 13 and 11mm eyepieces for the price of 1 eyepiece. Using both rings together gets me close to 9mm, but I notice its not quite as clear near the edges as with just 1 ring.

The system though works beautifully, though a bit fiddly with the rings at night, but worth it.

I have a TMB 6mm which is fine, and a cheap Plossl 9mm but think I need something with a wider view around 8-9mm, as I think I would use it a lot for planets in Sydney - I've noticed already maybe 25% of the time the 6mm TMB is blurry (mag x 200).

My question/s is/are this. Should I :
a) get a Baader Hyperion 8mm and use the rings for the odd occassion its clear enough to use a 4-5mm equivalent
b) save money and get a TMB 8 or 9mm and forget about the 10% of times I could use 4-5mm eyepiece
c) get the TMB eyepiece and a 2x Barlow - I understand half the Barlow can be unscrewed to make it a 1.5 Barlow, giving me around 5mm
d) just get a 2x Barlow. If so, i can get 8.5mm with the 17mm Hyperion.
e) do nothing as the gap between the Hyperion 28mm ring @11mm and 6mm with the TMB is just not worth worrying about?

Also, can I use a 2x Barlow in conjunction with the tuning rings as well?? That would mean with the 17mm hyperion I could cover almost every contingency from 5.5mm up!!!

Finally, should I go a Barlow, whats the best value (budget limited to $100 or so) and should I go 2 inch or 1.25 inch? (the only 2 inch eyepieces I have are the 30mm GSO Superview 30mm, which I like, plus the 17mm Hyperion using the 2 inch component which gives me 21mm (not that great).

Appreciate any suggestions!

Cheers, Tim