There can be only 2.....for now at least.

Mariner (Frank) · #1 15-06-2011, 03:27 PM

PrePreamble: Please ignore the identical post to this in the Equipment section - some mad fool was too busy pontificating and in their haste posted it in the wrong forum section by mistake......What sort of fool would do such a thing?

Hello All,
Preamble:
I know that this subject has been done to death but, I am shortly going to purchase a couple of EPs. I know that it can be a contentious issue over which brand is better and I know that wars have probably been started over less! I am not particularly brand loyal but must say that I am a big fan of televue and like their quality. I don't have much other brand experience. I have a couple of other Meade EPs that I genuinely like but concede do not have the contrast or sharpness of my televue EPs. For example, the Meade EP that came with my dob was a 2" QX 26mm; I thought that it was absolutely wonderful until I bought a 32mm TV plossl and realised that it wasn't as wonderful as I thought. I don't really use it anymore but lets face it, we can be snobs and geeks about these things, if the only EP I had was a couple of ground down coke bottles jammed into a baked bean tin I would still derive an unending pleasure from stargazing, I would still be in absolute awe of the vast and infinite expanse of the heavens above. So what I am saying is, I am not interested in any of the BS arguments about x brand is better than y brand. I am big on quality and durability - I only ever want to buy a piece once, no matter how many scopes I go through over the next 50yrs i want to be able to enjoy the same EPs. I would also like some nice immersive views - some nice wide fields. I am also on a budget and only have about $600 to spend which I want to get me 2 EPs......but which 2??????

Equipment:
My equipment is as follows;
Scopes - Meade LB 12" dob and a Meade 102mm refractor (see my other posts for the wacky and fun filled adventure if cheap telescope modifications about this scope as well as a how(not)to guide on the subject to follow once all has been undertaken). The refractor has just the slightest bit of chromatic abberation.....which might make an experienced astronomer with better scopes than me do one or all of the following; turn away in disgust, vomit or immediately wash their eyes out with soap and water to cleanse and purge the unclean visions. The pretty violet/magenta ring at the edge of the moon at higher magnifications is kind of like a bad smell - you don't like it, but after a while you kind of get used to it. Another note about this subject is that I would not have known the difference if it hadn't been for reading about it in this forum!!!!!
Eyepieces (worthy of mention) - Televue Plossls, 32mm, 15mm & 8mm. The 8mm is pretty exclusively used in the refractor as it is way too much work in the dob.
Eyes - My eyesight is excellent ( I only know this because I have to have a comprehensive test for my job every 2yrs), I do not wear glasses and eye relief doesn't really bother me - I have no issues with the 8mm plossl which has very little of it [eye relief]. I will concede that the 32mm is more comfortable to view through than the 8mm.

Objective:
The objective is to buy EPs that will be excellent all rounders in both types of scope that I currently own as well as being good for any future scopes as well - no matter what type. I want EPs that will last a life time.

The Contenders:
So far the contenders are the 13mm nagler and a 19 or 24mm panoptic (I would like to swing for all 3 if I could - don't know if the finance minister would allow this though). This would give me a good spread of magnifications in the lower to mid range magnification ranges.

Future Contenders:
I do not know which EPs are good in this range but I will be getting a 2" powermate as the next investment after the above mentioned pieces and will see how it goes from there.....any advice is more than welcome on higher magnification EPs as well.

Anyway, thanks for any info in advance.
Kindest regards, F.

Lowepro · #2 22-06-2011, 12:00 PM

I went through this process not too long ago for myself. I ended up with the 13mm Nagler and the 24mm Panoptic. I think they were a great choice and should see me through for many years of viewing (touch wood).

I haven't compared the 19mm and 24mm pans in person, but the 24mm really does seem to be the most favorable from the reading I've done. It's also that bit more removed from the 13mm Nagler (if you're going to have only two).

I'm planning on getting a third now, but will be looking at a planetary eyepiece. If you're to get a third, it might be best to try out the other 2 you get and get a feel for what magnification you'd prefer to fill that gap, if any. Personally, I think the 19mm pan would be a bit close to the others to justify getting it in a three eyepiece collection.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #3 22-06-2011, 07:13 PM

The TV gear is good no doubt and I am pleased with the 24 Pan and 13 mm Nagler that I have and would highly recommend them.

For you budget you might also consider the ES line of "super wide" eyepieces. I don't own any but do own a few TV Ethos eyepieces...fabulous! I've heard people rank the ES eyepieces as reasonable competitors at an attractive price.

GrahamL · #4 22-06-2011, 09:16 PM

A 13 ethos will dust off your $600 nicely, great eypiece

and you can live with it as a stand alone for a good while.

Bide ye time well with this big ticket first purchase and

Quote:

the finance minister

though will likely not forget that first $600, but will be a little
more suportive of of a more modest $300 outlay or two as time passes.

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #5 26-06-2011, 01:26 AM

Like Scott I have the 13mm Nag and 24 Pan. Both beauties in a 12" dob. Great value for money and for most DSO's, just about all you need. Seeing has to be really good to justify more power than the 13mm will provide.

Malcolm

DiamondDust (Ingrid) · #6 24-07-2011, 09:18 AM

What did you finish up with Frank?

Mariner (Frank) · #7 24-07-2011, 10:05 AM

Hi Ingrid,
I was aiming at 2 EPs but ended up getting 3 - TV Nag 13mm, TV Pan 24mm and a Pentax XW 10mm. I haven't used the Pentax yet but the nagler has been unbelievably good. I have used the Panoptic on the sun but cannot really make a good judgement yet. I also bought a Bintel 2" 2x barlow to give me some better magnifications - don't know if it is good yet, I wanted a TV Powermate but ran out of funds, so that will probably be my next long term upgrade (would give me barlows for both scopes).

EPs are expensive and if you are like me - either away at sea or busy with kids - you don't have time to go to astronomy clubs to try before you buy. Reading all these forums here is really what guided me to buy the EPs that I did.

I remember when I first logged in to IIS for the first time asking for advice Malcolm (barx1963) gave me advice to get the Nag 13mm and the Pan 24mm - it was very sound advice. Very sound advice.

Don't know what EPs you have but the Nagler is totally awesome and I could not recommend it highly enough. By all accounts the Pan and XW are equally good - I will find out soon enough........

Best regards, F.

Groboz (Gino) · #8 24-07-2011, 08:30 PM

Hi Frank

I ordered my first premium eyepieces a couple of weeks ago and they should be here in a day or two.

I too bought the 24mm panoptic and 13T6 after reading reviews and assessing my magnification needs (16 GSO Dob). If I like the 12mm eye relief in the Nagler I might get the 9T6; if I don't then the 10mm Delos might do the trick. All are parfocal and use the same setting on my new Type 1 paracorr.

Let us know how the barlow goes. I fear that a paracorr, barlow and big eyepiece would add too much length, weight and glass.

Mariner (Frank) · #9 25-07-2011, 08:19 AM

Hi Gino,
Nice one mate. Let me know what you think of the eye relief on the nagler. I don't mind it at all but a lot of people seem to prefer a bit more - like with the pentax xw. I have an 8mm TV plossl and the eye relief (or lack thereof) isn't an issue for me on that either. I do think that extra eye relife is nice, just not a deal breaker or huge consideration for any of my purchases.

Let me know what you think of the 24mm Pan too, I haven't had a chance (too lazy to get up early with the cold weather down here) to really use it in anger yet. I will try to get a good view of M42 one morning this week if I can.

I will let you know how the barlow goes as soon as I get a chance to use it - it was a great price.

Groboz (Gino) · #10 26-07-2011, 07:41 PM

Hi Frank

I got my TVs today

I will be taking them out on Saturday night so will post my impressions of them on my post in the Beginners Section. Check it out.

Cheers

Mariner (Frank) · #11 28-07-2011, 10:14 AM

Hi Gino,
Nice one. Hope you get some clear skies. I got a chance to test the Panoptic 24mm - wow. I think, if possible, it is a little bit sharper and maybe a bit better with contrast than the Nagler 13mm - obviously far less zoomed. Both it and the nagler have been able to split some stars that I have looked at previously - that I though were just one star - with really, really good contrast and detail.

Enjoy your new Eps.
regards, F.