Eyepiece and Filter sets

Crash Nebula · #1 02-07-2006, 11:22 PM

I haven't been around for a while; I have had too much schoolwork and haven't used my scope in months. However, We are going on holidays to mt. Glorious and dad [surprisingly

] allowed me to take my scope. So, I think with the $795 I have saved up I could buy a set of eyepieces and filters.

Now, sirius optics used to have a page with all that stuff on it, but it's dissapeared. Does this mean they have stopped selling the sets? Or should I go to the store and check. I just want to know if anyone has a clue about it, becuasse dad might be mad if we have to drive over there for nothing.

The only webiste I could find something about a set on was York Optical, for seven hundred and fifty dollars. I won't be going there anytime soon.

Good to see you all again

Crash

EDIT - Budget - $350 max. I have a 15mm and 25mm EP.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #2 03-07-2006, 12:11 AM

Some questions to help us help you

:
What sort of scope do you have?
What types of eypieces do you have?
How many eyepieces are you after?
Any idea what focal length you'd like to have?
What are you going to view most of the time?
Got any barlows?

[1ponders] (Paul) · #3 03-07-2006, 08:17 AM

Hi Charlie, how have you been mate, long time no hear.

You might see around a celestron kit with about 5 eyepieces a barlow and 5 filters for around $350+. DONT BUY IT!. There is maybe 1 eyepiece in there (32mm) that is worth it. Not only that I picked mine up 18mths ago from the states for $250 delivered

I only have the case and the 32mm eyepiece left. Gave the others away.

Think seriously about what it is you mainly look at and buy eyepiece for that purpose. Ausastronomer did an extended eyepiece review quite some time ago that you might get some good ideas from. Not being an eyepiece officionado nor a dob owner I can only go by what others say.

Good luck.

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #4 03-07-2006, 08:21 AM

I bought a Celestron eyepiece set with my scope, over a year and a half ago now. I was able to get it considerably cheaper by doing so. However, if I had my time again, I would not buy a set. As yet I have only used a few of the colored filters. The two shortest eyepieces have never been used. You could probably pick up some eyepieces and the filters you want for less than the cost of a set. The box is nice to have them all together, but I think being able to pick the individuals bits yourself is better. BTW, I bought all this stuff before I found out that IIS even existed so I had no-one to ask for advice...at least you did!

[1ponders] (Paul) · #5 03-07-2006, 08:28 AM

Sounds like you and me would get on well OoO

Same kit I bought by the sound of it.

unfortunately I can't use the excuse of not being a member then, 'cos I was

Besides you only need an eyepiece to line the scope up before you put the camera on anyway

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #6 03-07-2006, 08:32 AM

I am hoping to update some of them in a few weeks when I join "The Pentax Club". A friend at work has offered to take some of them off my hands for a bargain price (the kit ones that is!).

janoskiss (Steve H) · #7 03-07-2006, 08:40 AM

Don't buy kit. You might as well just buy some GSO Plossls from Andrews or Bintel (down to 15mm they are quite good) and a barlow and have plenty of change left over.

Crash Nebula · #8 03-07-2006, 12:56 PM

I should have mentioned; I can't buy off the internet/phone anything like that. My dad doesn't like that sorta thing.

I have a 8" saxon dob. People on Skype have reccomended that I look into getting a Meade #140 Barlow and a 9mm eyepiece. Then just a solar and light-reducing filter.

Sound good?

Charlie

p.s - www.sirius-optics.com.au is where I will be buying from [website of the store where i'll be going]

EDIT- That has some nice ones in my pricerange; probably the Orion ones.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #9 03-07-2006, 01:31 PM

For your scope a barlowed 9mm is not going to do much, and the eyepiece itself is not going to be too exciting. This is what I recommend:

* 13mm Stratus - excellent wide field deep sky eyepiece for 8" Dob, very nice barlowed on planets
* Orion 1.25" Deluxe 2x Barlow - the 2" model appears to be identical too the now discontinued UO 2" barlow! - this is one of the best barlows around!! (skip the overrated shorty-plus imo, ditto meade #140: suffers from poor QC, very hit and miss)

Do haggle. They should be able to do considerably better than their website price on the 13mm Stratus!

Of course this does not leave enough change for a solar filter, but you will love the eyepiece. It's brilliant both on its own or barlowed.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #10 03-07-2006, 02:02 PM

Quote:

I can't buy off the internet/phone anything like that.

That's a shame, that really limits you to some of the really good options available on the net.

Crash Nebula · #11 03-07-2006, 02:44 PM

I'll look into those, thanks.

I thinka carry case would be a good investment too.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #12 03-07-2006, 02:57 PM

You can pick up an aluminium carry case from bunnings fairly cheaply and I'm fairly sure you can get pluckable foam from Clarke Rubber, to line the case with

Crash Nebula · #13 03-07-2006, 03:36 PM

Fair enough.

We can talk easier on skype if you hop on there.

colliedogs · #14 04-07-2006, 08:33 AM

Clark Rubber can supply a "firm" foam, cut it to size to fit the case, and for an additional (small) fee, will cut the slots for your EP's, barlows etc much more neatly that you can yourself at home (unless of course you are more adept with a Stanley knife that I am).

colliedogs