Eye Piece and accessories question.

DJVege · #1 23-04-2007, 10:03 AM

Ok, I'm thinking about these purchases... Good? Bad? I tried to follow your advice, Rob.

ASTROSHOP
------------
OT30mm Ultra-Wide 2-inch Eyepiece 80deg - $129
MAS 9mm Ultra-Wide Super Plossl eyepiece 66deg - $75
SkyWatcher Red Dot Finder - $47

ANDREWS
--------------------
Crayford style 2" focuser with 10:1 fine focusing (inc. 1.25" adaptor), for Newtonians $119.00

Sorry to start a new thread, but I'm not sure anyone would read my other thread.

Should I put this under Equipment Discussions?

Thanks.

...DJVege...

ving (David) · #2 23-04-2007, 10:22 AM

what sorta scope you got again?

casstony · #3 23-04-2007, 01:02 PM

Hi DJVege,
it's very easy to end up accumulating a bunch of mediocre eyepieces that you'll ultimately not be happy with. I'd suggest you figure out what your most used magnification will be with the eyepieces you have and purchase an Orion Stratus($200) or Pentax XF($215). Then add to the collection as funds become available. In the end you'll be much happier with 3 good eyepieces than than 6 or 10 mediocre ones. All IMHO.

rmcpb (Rob) · #4 23-04-2007, 01:43 PM

Tony's advice is very sound and worth following. It is slower to get your goodies together this way BUT you don't tend to end up with as many expensive paper weights this way.

Cheers

MortonH · #5 23-04-2007, 01:43 PM

I agree with Tony. Although many of us own more than three eyepieces, you really don't need more than that. If you need to stick to a budget, try getting second-hand ones of higher quality.

Morton

DJVege · #6 23-04-2007, 03:43 PM

My scope is a http://www.iteastronomy.com/products...iew.php?p=MN56.

Good point, guys. What I would like is a a 30mm wide view lens, as well as a 9 or 10mm EP for the planet Closeups!!! So Orion Stratus or Pentax are supposed to be good, yeah? Not OT?

Also, any suggestions as to where I can buy these from? Online?

Thanks.

...DJVege...

janoskiss (Steve H) · #7 23-04-2007, 05:49 PM

I don't think the GSO Crayford focuser will fit that scope without some modifications.

casstony · #8 23-04-2007, 07:53 PM

The problem at 30mm is that there aren't any good quality, wide field eyepieces that are also cheap(for fast scopes like yours). However with such a short focal length a 25 to 30mm plossl will give you a fairly wide field anyway. I have the 30mm UWA and it's a great finder eyepiece but it does not produce a 'fine' view - the outer half of the field is distorted in fast scopes.

The Pentax XF's are available at http://www.frontieroptics.com.au/ and the Stratus are available at http://www.bintel.com.au/ . The only possible concern I'm aware of with these eyepieces concerns the Pentax XF12mm - it may or may not show field curvature(blurry outer field) in your scope. The XF8.5mm should be very nice in your scope. XF's are 60 degrees AFOV, Stratus are 68 degrees.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJVege

My scope is a http://www.iteastronomy.com/products...iew.php?p=MN56.

Good point, guys. What I would like is a a 30mm wide view lens, as well as a 9 or 10mm EP for the planet Closeups!!! So Orion Stratus or Pentax are supposed to be good, yeah? Not OT?

Also, any suggestions as to where I can buy these from? Online?

Thanks.

...DJVege...

MortonH · #9 23-04-2007, 08:24 PM

Tony, why the particular concern with the Pentax XF 12mm?

I'm considering this ep to fill a gap in my collection. I have a Bintel 8" f/6 Dob.

Also, for the benefit of DJVege, what about a Baader Hyperion 13mm, which converts to a 26mm wide-angle, I believe.

Morton

casstony · #10 23-04-2007, 09:33 PM

My concern with curvature in the XF12 stems from this review http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1438 - see field curvature graph towards the bottom of the page. I have the XW14 which shows significant field curvature in my dob; the XW14 would perform at its best in a longer focal length Newtonian or other scope that produces a relatively flat field.

I imagine the Hyperion would perform poorly without the bottom lens group, but in any case I'm not a fan of taking eyepieces apart and risking getting crud inside them (such as dust or blackening off the threads).

I'd still urge DJVege to go slow and explore your observing habits with the eyepieces you already have(assuming you have a few plossls).

janoskiss (Steve H) · #11 23-04-2007, 10:44 PM

13mm Hyperion or Stratus are no better than the 14mm XW as far as out-of-focus stars near the edge are concerned, and they also have astigmatism at f/6 and faster, while the 14mm XW has only field curvature. I would be very surprised if the 13mm Hyperion or Stratus was any better than the 12mm XF. The 8.5mm XF shows practically no FC, and performs brilliantly even at f/4.

DJV, for a scope as nice as yours I would not buy any of the EPs you listed in the first post, instead buy quality EPs that the scope deserves. If budget is tight, some nice plossls down to 10mm and a good barlow. Ultima style 5-element plossls are the best general purpose plossls I know of. Televue plossls are great too but they lose out because of the drop off in illumination nearing the edge - makes them feel more cramped than the Ultimas.

If it was me I'd go 12 and 8.5mm XF, a good barlow (1.8-2x), and one more for wider tfov: 32mm plossl, 22mm LVW, 24mm Panoptic, maybe 28mm UWAN (never tried it), depending on budget.

DJVege · #12 24-04-2007, 11:52 AM

Orion Stratus 08mm (1.25"/2") - $199
Orion Barlow Shorty-Plus 2x (1.25") - $139
Meade Series 4000 Super Plössl 32mm (1.25") - $109

All from Bintel.
How are those? Can I buy them?

Oh, and the SkyWatcher Red Dot Finder - $47. I'll wait a while before I upgrade the focuser.

...DJVege...

MortonH · #13 24-04-2007, 12:38 PM

The Pentax XF 8.5mm and 12mm are $215 at Frontier Optics, just to give you more choice!

Morton

DJVege · #14 24-04-2007, 01:11 PM

haha. You're killin me here!!

What's better? Pentax or Orion? The 8mm is obviously for some close up Planetary views, so which is better for me? The 30mm is there for some good wide view stuff. Bit of sky surfing. And the barlow if for some "super" up close and personal.

Is it better to ALWAYS get wider view lenses? Even for the high powered EPs? If so, I'd prefer EPs with at least 68deg. FOVs. However, I'm a noob, so I may not know what I'm talking about.

Which is where you guys come in! I need someone to say, "GET THIS, THIS and THIS....because they're AWESOME!" My price range is no more than $600 for 2 EPs (30 - 40mm and a <10mm), a barlow, and the skywatcher red dot finder.

Thanks guys.

...DJVege...

janoskiss (Steve H) · #15 24-04-2007, 02:33 PM

you'll get many opinions on forums. you really need to go out and try some EPs for yourself at a star party, club meet etc.

btw. you have a scope on a tracking mount. no point getting widefield eps if they are going to be dedicated planetary eps as a planet will only ever occupy a small portion of the centre of the FOV. But 8mm is still on the low power side for planetary viewing in an f/6. I'd go more for 5 or 6mm. or 10-12mm barlowed. 12mm UO HD ortho in an Orion Deluxe barlow (best barlow for planets IMO thanks to internal baffling) would be superb.

casstony · #16 24-04-2007, 04:07 PM

Our clever plan is working. You can't possibly make a purchase amidst this confusion. Only one thing for it: go to a star party so you can figure out what us jokers are on about.

DJVege · #17 24-04-2007, 07:32 PM

haha, ah man!!!!! Janoskiss, that's why I got an 8mm....cause when i barlow it, it'll be like a 4mm....not enough?

And I can't get to a star party because I live in Rockhampton, and I don't think we have any. I have tried a 3mm Tele Vue Nagler at Phil's, and it was awesome. But at $900, it's a bit pricey for me. I already have a 26mm EP. I just want to do some close planetary observing first...so what's a good EP size for that? I'm definitely getting a barlow as well... I thought 8mm would be fine. If I get a 5mm, will barlowing that be crap?

So, to recap... I want to view planets up close and personal; I want a barlow. I'm getting the skywatcher red dot finder. I have a 26mm EP. My budget is $600. I was thinking the Orion Shorty Plus barlow (2x), and an 8mm EP, and a 32mm EP.........

I'll get EPs one day!!

...DJVege...

EDIT:

Ok, how about this?

Tele Vue Nagler VI (what size) = $419
Orion Shorty Plus barlow = $139
Skywatcher red dot finder = $47 (is this a good red dot finder?)

That hits just over $600....and if I need another EP after that, i'll decide on that LATER on!!! Is that a good EP? Sure is expenseive!!

casstony · #18 25-04-2007, 11:10 AM

How about this: orion shorty plus barlow, XF8.5mm together with your existing 26mm plossl, giving you 26,13,8.5 and 4mm focal lengths. See how you go at those magnifications before making further purchases. Both the barlow and XF are high quality items which would be easy to resell if you don't like them.

DJVege · #19 25-04-2007, 03:03 PM

Hi Casstony, thanks for the suggestions! The problem is that I haven't looked through any Pentax EPs.... I have, however, looked through Tele Vue, and although they're mucho Dinero, they seem awesome!! (Not that I have a lot to compare to

). So I'm thinking of sticking with the Nagler... 7mm should be a good choice, right? I figure, it will give me a magnification of 107X and 214X... So, then, with the barlow I'd have 26mm, 13mm, 7mm, and 3.5mm effectively.

Also, any suggestions on red dot finders? I'm trying to decide between these two:

Orion Finder - EZ II Reflex Sight = $79 from Bintel or
Skywatcher Red Dot Finder = $49 from myastroshop.

Anyone had experience with them. I find the red dot finders much better than finderscopes. I'm good at finding stuff with them! Just ask Phil!!

Thanks! I want to order this stuff this week!!

...DJVege...

casstony · #20 25-04-2007, 10:17 PM

The 7mm nagler is ok as long as the atmosphere at your viewing location can almost always support 107X and at least sometimes support 214X, which is something you won't know until you use the scope for a while - $420 is a lot of cash to slap down on a single eyepiece when you're just starting out.