Eyepieces

[Cam (Cam)]

Hi everyone, Ive just registered here so I could try and get some advice of experienced people. Ive just bought a Celestron Star Hopper 8" Dob. Its our first scope besides the small refractors the kids and I have been playing with. It comes with a 25mm lense and a 2x Barlow. Ive been told that the lense/filter kits arent that good and most wont get used. We want to view everything from Planets,galaxies, moon to nebulae. Wondering if I could get some advice on what eyepieces/filters would be a good starting point. Also does anyone know anything about those digital eyepieces that plug into your USB? Do they show you objects in colour? Are they any good? Thanks Cam

[Poita (Peter)]

Most objects won't come up in colour without a long exposure, so a 'live view' USB eyepiece in a 8" Dob will give you black and white images, and the cheap ones are not very sensitive.

I find a 10mm eyepiece really good for planets in my 8" SCT, I have a 5mm planetary TMB as well, but it has to be a good night for the planets not to be fuzzy at that magnification.
My favourite thing at the moment is the WO Binoviewer with the included 20mm eyepieces, viewing with 2 eyes is an absolute revelation, especially with the kids, and at just over $200 shipped with 2 eyepieces it is a bargain.

[sopticals (Stephen)]

Originally Posted by Cam

Hi everyone, Ive just registered here so I could try and get some advice of experienced people. Ive just bought a Celestron Star Hopper 8" Dob. Its our first scope besides the small refractors the kids and I have been playing with. It comes with a 25mm lense and a 2x Barlow. Ive been told that the lense/filter kits arent that good and most wont get used. We want to view everything from Planets,galaxies, moon to nebulae. Wondering if I could get some advice on what eyepieces/filters would be a good starting point. Also does anyone know anything about those digital eyepieces that plug into your USB? Do they show you objects in colour? Are they any good? Thanks Cam

Hi Cam, I can recommend the GSO Superview 15mm and 20mm 67deg 1.25" eyepieces which give nice visual views as stand alone, or can be used with your 2x barlow to give 7.5mm and 10mm focal lenghts but retaining the generous eye relief of the 15 and 20. Further the GSO 3x ED 1.25" Barlow represents very good value if you would like to expand the magnifications available.ie with the 15mm with 3x barlow would give you the equivalence of a 5mm 67deg occular while still retaining the eye relief of the 15mm.

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

Hi Cam, I would recommend saving and buying better quality eyepieces.
try a "Lens" of 32mm for a wider field and a higher magnification EP in the range of 9-12mm. Very short focal length, cheap EP's are often very dissapointing qualitywise and objects move very quickly unguided.

Do your research and buy 1 decent EP rather than 3 really poor ones....

Enjoy

[Cam (Cam)]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Poita, thats a bit disappointing on the usb eyepiece. I dont think Ill bother if it wont show us any colour. I was hoping that on the computer screen I could see nebulae in colour like the pictures. Sopticals, I found a GSO Super-Plossl on Ebay for $30 +$10 postage not sure if the Super-Plossl is the same eyepiece as the GSO Superview or if this is a good price for this eyepiece.I have a 3x barlow with our little refractors, its probably not good quality tho as the eyepieces that came with it were kellner. Max i agree.. being a fulltime single Dad on a budget I dont want to waste money on junk, and I dont want to turn my 3 kids off astronomy with disappointing results , They are so excited about picking up the 8" dob this weekend and would much rather them out looking through a scope than sitting mindlessly in front off a tv or video game. I also found on Ebay a set of TMB Planetary II eyepieces 9mm 6mm 4mm which has the 9mm you mentioned. Are these any good for our scope? They are $169 with free postage.The add states a FOV of 58.When you say "saving for a decent eyepiece" and "wider FOV"what kind of $ are you talking?What FOV? Any suggestions on brands?Im wondering if anyone has any advice on the filters,Ive been reading different forums all afternoon and the impression I have got is dont bother with the different colour filters at the moment and maybe get a moon filter and a "O III" what do you guys think? Thanks again for all your advice

[sopticals (Stephen)]

Hi Cam, GSO Superview 67deg and GSO Super Plossl 52deg eyepieces are not the same, both are good quality occulars for money asked.I have both in the 20mm types,the Superview is a little more expensive than the Super Plossl but the increased size of field of view of the Superview is well worth the little extra cost.

[koputai (Jason)]

Originally Posted by Cam

I also found on Ebay a set of TMB Planetary II eyepieces 9mm 6mm 4mm which has the 9mm you mentioned. Are these any good for our scope?

Don't waste your money on these. The 9mm would be the only one of any real use to you. The skies might be good five times per year for the 6mm, and one time every five years for the 4mm.

If you don't want to spend a lot, I'd recommend a set of good Plossl's, like Televue 25mm, 15mm, and 11mm. They are not wide FOV, around 52, but very good quality. You should be able to pick them up 2nd hand on this site for well under $100 each.

Cheap, Wide, Good...... pick any two.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Cam (Cam)]

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys