Which High Power Eyepiece

75BC (Brendon) · #1 24-09-2015, 01:30 PM

Just wanted to ask peoples advice. I know there are thousands of these types of threads. I’ve read a lot of them. But I can’t find an answer specific to my situation.
I’m looking to buy a few high power eyepieces for planetary and lunar viewing with my new CPC1100. As I spent way more than intended on my new scope I can only go for the cheaper types. I’m looking for ones in the 8 to 20mm range. Advice on focal lenghts would also be welcome as I have been using a 10” Dob (1200mm f/l) with only a 10 and 25mm and 2x barlow. Max power with this set up was 240x, and there were times I could have gone a bit higher. The new scope is a different beast entirely and although I understand its characteristics, I haven’t had much chance to use it yet.
I’m not all that keen on plossls with their short eye relief and looking through pin holes on the shorter focal lengths. But I’am considering them, understanding that having less glass, they provide good views, especially when on a budget. Also I would prefer to buy from Australia rather than overseas, unless very strongly advised otherwise.
So here are a few I’ve been looking at;
Plossls – Skywatcher, GSO, Bintel, Vixen NPL’s.
Long Perng LER Planetary.
Meade Series 5000 HD60.

These would have to be really good for me to justify;

Orion Edge on.
William Optics Super Planetary.
TV Plossl.

And lastly, I even considered a Badder Zoom MkIII.

I know this is quite long question. I just wanted to give as much specific info as I could. So to anyone who takes the time to read this, I appreciate your time.

SkyWatch (Dean) · #2 24-09-2015, 02:20 PM

Hi Brendon,

Personally I think the Long Perng eyepieces are very good value. I have used the 9mm, 5mm and 3mm- and each give very good, sharp views right to the edge (especially at f8 and above: but they do very well in my f5 dob too) and with 20mm eye-relief. Much better than pushing right up to a "pin-hole" plossl.
I have used the 9mm in my CPC800, and it compares very well to some of my more expensive eyepieces.
Currently $79 at Andrews, and I suspect they are identical to the Orions and Williams- just re-badged.
9mm and 12.5mm will give you 310x and 224x respectively- and it wouldn't be too often that you would be able to higher than that anyway.
The Baader zoom is very good, but it is quite a bit dearer than getting (say) two LP eyepieces.

All the best,

Dean

75BC (Brendon) · #3 24-09-2015, 07:53 PM

Hi Dean,

The Long Perngs did seem a good candidate. I read some mixed reviews of them, though I think those that were critical of them were using faster focal ratio scopes, and use to more premium eyepieces. And there were more 'for' than 'against'.
As the 9mm would only get a run when conditions were great, I was thinking of getting 3 focal lengths. The next up in this range is 14.5mm then I think an 18mm. Is the 14.5mm too close to the 12.5mm, and is the 18mm too big a gap? Should I look at a different type to fill the 150x to 180x spot?
Mmmm. Decisions Descisions

This is why I value advise from those with more experience.

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #4 25-09-2015, 10:03 AM

+1 on the Long Perng,s I have the 3mm and it almost as good as my 3mm TV Radian , optically , probably better in its ease of use , .
Brian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyWatch

Hi Brendon,

Personally I think the Long Perng eyepieces are very good value. I have used the 9mm, 5mm and 3mm- and each give very good, sharp views right to the edge (especially at f8 and above: but they do very well in my f5 dob too) and with 20mm eye-relief. Much better than pushing right up to a "pin-hole" plossl.
I have used the 9mm in my CPC800, and it compares very well to some of my more expensive eyepieces.
Currently $79 at Andrews, and I suspect they are identical to the Orions and Williams- just re-badged.
9mm and 12.5mm will give you 310x and 224x respectively- and it wouldn't be too often that you would be able to higher than that anyway.
The Baader zoom is very good, but it is quite a bit dearer than getting (say) two LP eyepieces.

All the best,

Dean

SkyWatch (Dean) · #5 25-09-2015, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75BC

Hi Dean,

The Long Perngs did seem a good candidate. I read some mixed reviews of them, though I think those that were critical of them were using faster focal ratio scopes, and use to more premium eyepieces. And there were more 'for' than 'against'.
As the 9mm would only get a run when conditions were great, I was thinking of getting 3 focal lengths. The next up in this range is 14.5mm then I think an 18mm. Is the 14.5mm too close to the 12.5mm, and is the 18mm too big a gap? Should I look at a different type to fill the 150x to 180x spot?
Mmmm. Decisions Descisions

This is why I value advise from those with more experience.

If you are wanting opinions, then if I were going for 3 eyepieces in this range for your CPC1100 I would think strongly about the 9, 12.5 and 18- and for most nights the 12.5 would I suspect be the "high power" of choice (224x), with the 9 being used on exceptional nights.

AstralTraveller (David) · #6 25-09-2015, 11:24 AM

I'm a fan of orthos (I have the UO HDs) and think their optical quality is great but, based on your opinion of plossls, I suspect they aren't for you.

75BC (Brendon) · #7 25-09-2015, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian nordstrom

+1 on the Long Perng,s I have the 3mm and it almost as good as my 3mm TV Radian , optically , probably better in its ease of use , .
Brian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyWatch

If you are wanting opinions, then if I were going for 3 eyepieces in this range for your CPC1100 I would think strongly about the 9, 12.5 and 18- and for most nights the 12.5 would I suspect be the "high power" of choice (224x), with the 9 being used on exceptional nights.

Hi Brian and Dean,
These Long Perngs are starting to sound good. I've had my eye on some other items from Andrews as well so it will make ordering simpler, rather than getting stuff from 2 or 3 different places. Which I would do if it meant getting the right stuff. I was going to get my scope from there but by the time I worked out which one I was going to get, they had sold out

and i couldn't wait for new (and more expensive) stock to arrive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

I'm a fan of orthos (I have the UO HDs) and think their optical quality is great but, based on your opinion of plossls, I suspect they aren't for you.

Hi David,
Like i hinted to in my original post, if i couldn't get something with longer eye relief and crisp views, i would go for something like that. After all, quality of view is what i'm after (albeit on a budget). But i found with my dob and a 10mm plossl i had trouble getting comfortable with the eye placement so close.

astroboof (Steve McN) · #8 25-09-2015, 05:37 PM

You will find a good orthoscopic to be far superior to any plossl including TV's. For relief they offer much more space, even at 4mm. Please don't mistake them for offering similar performance.

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #9 25-09-2015, 07:08 PM

IMO you can't go far wrong with a good quality ortho or plossl, although they might not be to everybody's taste. The thing is, when using high powers FOV is largely irrelevant and you just want something that's sharp and contrasty in the centre.

Just to throw a curve ball in there, have a look for a Pentax XF...they do 8.5 and 12.5 IIRC and I find them to be excellent eyepieces for the money (albeit a little more than you'd pay for a good ortho or plossl), but they have good eye relief and 60 degree apparent FOV. I use them in both my C8 and C11 btw.

75BC (Brendon) · #10 29-09-2015, 08:31 PM

Just wondering if anyone has used these Dual ED eyepieces I have seen on ebay. I've read some reviews of Paridigm ED's which seem to be the same. Most seem quite positive????

75BC (Brendon) · #11 21-10-2015, 04:03 PM

Just thought i would update those who are interested. I decided to go with the Long Perngs and ordered the 9, 12.5 and 18mm from Andrews, as they fit my budget and I found far more good reports than bad.

My wife has let me know that my parcel has arrived today ready for me to open when i get home (Xmas has come early for me).

As I'am a very casual observer due to so many other commitments, I don't know how long before they will see first light. When they do, I will let everyone know my thoughts on them, from a newbies perspective of course.

PSALM19.1 (Shaun) · #12 21-10-2015, 04:39 PM

Hey, anyone think that these Long Perng EP's are very similar to Orion Edge On's?
http://www.bintel.com.au/Eyepieces-a...oductview.aspx

SkyWatch (Dean) · #13 21-10-2015, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSALM19.1

Hey, anyone think that these Long Perng EP's are very similar to Orion Edge On's?
http://www.bintel.com.au/Eyepieces-a...oductview.aspx

I think you will find they are identical (except for the price!). Some brands have changed the rubber coating- so the LP's at Andrews look a bit different now (in fact they now look identical to the Williams); but the ones I got look identical to the Orions, with the same specs.

75BC (Brendon) · #14 23-10-2015, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSALM19.1

Hey, anyone think that these Long Perng EP's are very similar to Orion Edge On's?
http://www.bintel.com.au/Eyepieces-a...oductview.aspx

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyWatch

I think you will find they are identical (except for the price!). Some brands have changed the rubber coating- so the LP's at Andrews look a bit different now (in fact they now look identical to the Williams); but the ones I got look identical to the Orions, with the same specs.

Upon opening mine, i found the eyepieces I've received are identical to the Orion Edge On's also. Even though the picture on Andrews website shows the Williams style. As you say Dean, it's just a different rubber grip.

dannat (Daniel) · #15 23-10-2015, 11:34 AM

they may look physically identical & sometimes the optical element arrangement will also be the same, however there will be some coatings differences & QC variances. a case -i bought an orion expanse clone off ebay -looked identical -however looking thru it was rubbish, not as good as the genuine eyepiece which i have

75BC (Brendon) · #16 23-10-2015, 12:03 PM

Yes. I should have said Look, not ARE identical. I have read a lot about when buying clones / generic / non brand names, that there are differences. I have also read the difference can be huge, as with your Expanse clone, or there can be almost no noticeable difference. I suppose it depends what you are buying.

PSALM19.1 (Shaun) · #17 26-10-2015, 01:39 PM

Mmmmm...so maybe they are worth the price....I have the Orion Edge-On 6mm and it is a terrific EP, well worth the bucks and vastly superior to the plossls supplied with my scope

(Although, if Brian says that Long Perng's are a good EP then maybe it would be better to spend less bucks and get something just as good....I feel a new EP coming on....)