Parks optical 1.25" Silver Series Eyepiece Kit

[k16charger]

Just wondering how good these kits are and if its worth buying one

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Parks-Opt...item19c77c4234

for my 10" dob

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Parks in the 70's 80's and even the 90's sold some of the best eyepieces around , for a really good price , lots of us older stargazers lusted over the gold tops and these are amongst the best ever made , and the price of these on Ebay are good ( silver ? ) , but I have never heard of this set , mayby some one here has ?.
Its a bit of a worry , if you decide to buy and these are the usual Parks high quality it will be a bargain , if not well?,
If I was looking for a set and this price would not break the bank I would grab these on Parks past record , that being very good .
Its a tough one . But as I say I would grab these just to see if the standard has been kept . .. has it ? I think it has .
Brian.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

My general advice would be to AVOID AT ALL COSTS BUYING EYEPIECE SETS from any manufacturer or distributor. Generally eyepiece sets, some of which will include different filters and a barlow will represent the lower end of the quality scale sold by that company. Over the years I have seen eyepiece sets from Parks, Meade, Celestron, Orion and Skywatcher and they have generally been put together as a full focal length range of the company's cheapest Chinese plossl series, which IMO leave a lot to be desired. In addition they have all included some cheap filters. These sets also usually represent pretty poor value for money for what you get.

As Brian mentioned the Parks Gold Series are excellent eyepieces. But they will not come in any set. These are a 5 element Masuyama design which are the equal of Televue Plossls and other high quality simple design eyepieces based on the orthoscopic and plossl design.

You are best to purchase individual medium/high quality eyepieces in the "exact" focal length you need to suit your equipment and to build your own set over time.

Cheers,
John B

[casstony]

One modestly priced eyepiece set which is good quality is the Sterling Plossl set: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/STERLING-...item58936b34e2

I've compared the 25mm to a recent vintage 25mm Televue plossl and contrast and transmission looked the same on deep sky targets. The 4 & 6mm Sterlings have short eye relief and really need a driven scope to use comfortably.

Ultimately though I'd say that a couple of widefield eyepieces would be better for your dob - perhaps something from the Explore Scientific 82 degree or 68 degree lines.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

as John and Tony and a few others watching this thread are saying ( thinking ) save your money and get a few 'wide fields' over time as you can afford them thus building up a set that suit's you and your scope personally ( I see these sets and there is always a gaping hole in focal lenghts no matter who is selling them .) .
i has taken me over 15 years to build up my Orthoscopics , but the price I have payed for them is under 1/2 of buying them new as a set. .
They will remain with me forever as the views the give in all my refractors is priceless .
I am 3 years into a TV eyepiece set up as I type this,,,,.
Thanks IIS .
Brian.