Plossl Question and Beginner upgrade advice?

leinad (Dan) · #1 16-03-2008, 08:29 PM

Currently I have 10, 17, 25, 40mm plossls.
Im looking at getting the 4 and 6mm Bintel plossls as their quite cheap.
Has anyone tried the Bintel plossls, and what did you think of them?

I've been reading what I can about the Televue Radians, Naglers, Plossls and for the price I think I'll wait a little bit longer till I can justify the benefits they'll have to me. Currently it seems they have sharper views and better AFOV.

Id like a higher magnification for viewing the moon, planets.. but Im also really enjoying hunting and viewing DSO's, clusters and galaxies.

The 40mm and 25mm plossls give me a great AFOV which I enjoy. So I gather the best contenders with better AFOV to replace some plossls will either be a Nagler or Radian.

Being a beginner, I bet this has been asked a hundred times, but I hope some of you can share your thoughts and experience being in this situation, and also those that have some Bintel Plossls what your thoughts were.

Thanks

__________________________________
Skywatcher 8" Dobsonian
10, 17, 25, 40mm - 1.25" Plossls
DGM Omega OIII, NPB - 1.25"
Telrad

dannat (Daniel) · #2 16-03-2008, 09:56 PM

I have found it difficult to look thru such small ep's (high mag) - I have found it more comfortable seeing wise to stay at either 8 o 9mm & use a barlow to improve magnification. eye relief is usually short (distance pupil is from ep) and I have found my eyes strained.
I think you would have to go quite expensive to have this situation improve but I wouldn't be getting the bintel (gso) range in those sizes
One ep you might look at is the burgess/tmb planetary ep from frontier optics - they are reasonably price (~135) and give good views with decent eye relief

Merlin66 (Ken) · #3 16-03-2008, 11:26 PM

I have many ( too many!!) eyepieces in my collection.
But in my "observing box" I keep coming back to my old ( circa 1980) TV plossls; they do the job well 95% of the time. Only really use the 32mm, 21, 15, 10.4mm. The eyerelief can be maintained at higher magnifications by simply using a x2 or x2.5 barlow. As cheap as an eyepiece but effectively doubles the magnification range.
My 2c.

rmcpb (Rob) · #4 17-03-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannat

One ep you might look at is the burgess/tmb planetary ep from frontier optics - they are reasonably price (~135) and give good views with decent eye relief

Now there is some great advice, brilliant value for money eyepieces

Kal (Andrew) · #5 19-03-2008, 12:11 AM

I would get a 2x barlow effectively giving you the equivalent of 5, 8.5, 12.5 and 20mm eyepieces.

I gave away my televue 8mm plossl because I didn't like the short eye relief, it felt like I had to stick my pupil onto the glass

but I don't mind using my 11mm plossl barlowed.

leinad (Dan) · #6 19-03-2008, 12:42 AM

Hi Kal,

I have already the Televue Barlow 2x and 3x.
I purchased a 6mm plossl today, bit of a trial and error buy. Mostly for getting as higher magnification as I can for viewing the moon at a cheap cost.

flearosie · #7 25-04-2008, 09:53 PM

Hi everyone,I am only a beginner too (have had scope for over a year but just started to use it again).Can someone advise me when purchasing a Barlow lens,is there a particular brand that is recommended or is it strictly a price orientated exercise just like the other lenses?

I have an 8" Skywatcher Dobsonian with Plossl lenses.I do find that my eyes get tired quite quickly so wondered if the Barlow would help me out here also... I have 2 Super Plossls (10mm & 25mm)which came with the scope and a 40mm Plossl (Smart Astronomy/fully multi coated)branded. I presume that these are the 'cheap end' of the market lenses so would be very appreciative of some guidance in what 'not to buy'.

Cheers

dannat (Daniel) · #8 25-04-2008, 10:07 PM

I think most regard televue as the barlow to get, most cheaper offerings are not that great, maybe look for a secondhand one

As for your eyes getting tired, maybe you need to look for an eyepiece with better eye relief

AlexN · #9 25-04-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flearosie

I have 2 Super Plossls (10mm & 25mm)which came with the scope

I have the same setup with the same pair of ep's and it took me all of a week to decide on some replacement EP's.

I bought a 30mm 2" with an 80degree field of view which was a hell of a step up from the 25mm super plossi, and I got a 4x 2" barlow giving me an effective 7.5mm with very comfortable viewing....

The 30mm ep was $129 @ myastroshop.com.au, and apparently available @ andrews for $99.

through the barlow, coma is fairly apparent, however the central area of the FOV is still quite sharp and a joy to use.

flearosie · #10 26-04-2008, 09:30 PM

Thanks for the help people.Will start scanning the sites for a good Barlow and updated lense as advised. It takes me ages as being new have to 'take it all in' first! At least this pastime will definately last me a lifetime.....Cheers

fragchamp · #11 05-05-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

I have the same setup with the same pair of ep's and it took me all of a week to decide on some replacement EP's.

I bought a 30mm 2" with an 80degree field of view which was a hell of a step up from the 25mm super plossi, and I got a 4x 2" barlow giving me an effective 7.5mm with very comfortable viewing....

The 30mm ep was $129 @ myastroshop.com.au, and apparently available @ andrews for $99.

through the barlow, coma is fairly apparent, however the central area of the FOV is still quite sharp and a joy to use.

I tried the Andrews UW 30mm with a UO 2" ED barlow and the image was very bad. I recall someone liked the result of this EP with a GSO barlow. I wouldn't recommend a barlow based on my own experience.

Gargoyle_Steve (Steve) · #12 12-05-2008, 01:21 AM

I'm one of the people here who has the 30mm 80° ep, and I have used it with my GSO 2" barlow and yes I do like it.

Without the barlow this ep suffers from heavy seagulling in the outer field of view, but I like using it as my "big porthole" view ep anyway, or when searching around to cover as much sky as quick as possible.

With the barlow in place the image loses all of that distortion and the view provided is pretty good - not a Nagler class view of course, but not even close to Nagler money either even counting the cost of the ep (according to Andrew's website right now available at $59!!) and the barlow (2" 2x GSO $49).

For someone on a limited budget (like me) who wants a big wide view, and the ability to switch from a 30mm view to a 15mm view I'd definitely recommend it, and that was before I saw the price drop on the ep itself.