Andrews Communication Eyepieces

cjmarsh81 · #1 22-01-2006, 10:50 AM

Hello All!

Andrews Communications have a special on their eyepieces. You can choose three eyepieces for $99. They are Andrews series 500 1.25" plossl eyepieces.
You can choose from 4,6.5,10,12.5,15,20,25,30 and 40mm pieces.

I know these are probably cheap eyepieces. Would they be alright for a beginner. I don't think they could be any worse than the eyepieces that came with my Skywatcher scope which I am using now.

What are your opinions on these eyepieces. Will they work ok, or am I just wasting money?

cjmarsh81 · #2 22-01-2006, 10:59 AM

I am after a 4mm eyepiece. These are the options available from Andrews (or the 3 or $99 deal mentioned below)

4mm Andrews Series 500 1.25" Plossl $39
4mm Guan Sheng 1.25" Plossl $39
3.8mm ED (Extra Low Dispersion) 1.25" $99

I would like to step up to around 300x magnification. Which do you recommend?

asimov (John) · #3 22-01-2006, 11:00 AM

What EPs came with your skywatcher? I think if a scope comes with series 500's....that's ok, but to actually buy some...well that's a different matter. I don't reckon you'll get many opinions suggesting you do it! But I could be wrong. I would not if I was in your position, word has it that their not good eyepieces.

cjmarsh81 · #4 22-01-2006, 11:02 AM

The skywatcher came with a 10mm and 25mm super plossl. Don't know what brand, probably Synta or Skywatcher.

asimov (John) · #5 22-01-2006, 11:04 AM

I'd recommend saving up for an LV vixen 4 or 5mm to be honest.

cjmarsh81 · #6 22-01-2006, 11:07 AM

Yeah that sounds like it might be a better idea. I think the Vixen 4mm is about $185 last time I checked. Might save up for one of those.

Thought it sounded too good, 3 eyepieces for $99.

Starkler (Geoff) · #7 22-01-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjmarsh81

The skywatcher came with a 10mm and 25mm super plossl. Don't know what brand, probably Synta or Skywatcher.

If these are the silver bodied ones, they are not half bad for cheap plossls, and alot better than the el-cheapo Andrews ones.

When focal length get much shorter than 10mm, plossls become very hard and uncomfortable to look ( more like squint ) through. Consider getting a barlow lens and using that with your 10mm plossls.

It will be very rare that you can usefully use a 4mm ep in your dob. 90% of my planetary viewing is done at about 200x, and sometimes up to 250x in excellent conditions.

asimov (John) · #8 22-01-2006, 11:29 AM

So from what Geoff says, you'd actually be going backwards by buying the 500's.

asimov (John) · #9 22-01-2006, 11:33 AM

I was also going to mention that...I have a 5mm LV Vixen & I would only get to use that 40% of observing night in a F5 reflector. 6mm seems to be a good compromise perhaps.

asimov (John) · #10 22-01-2006, 11:39 AM

That's a good piece of advice right there from Geoff too. Get a 2X barlow lens. With your existing EP's that will turn your 10mm into a 5mm EP.

davidpretorius · #11 22-01-2006, 11:42 AM

i have the 6.5mm series 500 that came free with the scope and it is fine, but having to go back to it after asimovs 5mm, I can definately say, save up and go a vixen or equivalent $ high power eyepiece.

I would go a 6mm to start with and then work your way down. I am going to be buying a 4,5,& 6 lv vixens down the track as i know i will get a good % of time with the 5mm and then the 4mm for great conditions

janoskiss (Steve H) · #12 22-01-2006, 11:58 AM

Barlow + 15mm plossl may be be your best bet. An inexpensive but very useful addition. Word of warning with barlows: many 2x barlows end up giving 2.2-2.4x magnifications with some eyepieces, and it may well be that your 10mm barlows to become a 4-4.5mm, which would be really pushing the limits of seeing on many nights. A barlowed 15mm could be used more often in any case.

If you want a native short FL EP with generous eye relief, but don't want to pay vixen LV prices, the ED-2 from AOE for $79 might be a good option. Asimov himself gave the 9.5mm a good overall review (see iis reviews page). Care to comment, Asi?

cjmarsh81 · #13 22-01-2006, 12:03 PM

I have just been looking at the 6.3mm LV Vixen and like the idea of the 20mm eye relief. Unfortunately, the myastroshop is down at the moment and I cannot check the price. I think it would be around the $185 - $200 price range.

I am considering getting a barlow as well. What brand do you recommend for a good quality barlow. What price do I need to spend to get a good barlow

I don't mind paying the higher price for a vixen as my budget for getting the scope was much higher than I ended up paying for it.

cheers

asimov (John) · #14 22-01-2006, 12:11 PM

I have a series 5000 APO 2X barlow that I like a lot! Can't remember what I paid for it though.

Starkler (Geoff) · #15 22-01-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjmarsh81

I have just been looking at the 6.3mm LV Vixen and like the idea of the 20mm eye relief. Unfortunately, the myastroshop is down at the moment and I cannot check the price. I think it would be around the $185 - $200 price range.

6.3mm should be a very good useful focal length in your scope, certainly useful more often than the 4mm. The vixen lv line have quite a small fov though.

Quote:

I am considering getting a barlow as well. What brand do you recommend for a good quality barlow. What price do I need to spend to get a good barlow

About $150 will get you an Orion Shorty-PLUS, which is a decent barlow. Please dont be tempted to economise on a cheap barlow or you will be dissapointed.

Quote:

I don't mind paying the higher price for a vixen as my budget for getting the scope was much higher than I ended up paying for it.

Just how big is your budget? If you can afford to go higher, many wonderful no-comprimise options open up

P.S. moving this to the eyepieces forum

janoskiss (Steve H) · #16 22-01-2006, 12:30 PM

Like I tell everyone, my Shorty-plus was very ordinary compared with another similarly priced Japanese barlow. I would not buy it. Does the job, but it's no keeper. I'd give the meade apo or televue a go in the 1.25" formats. Probably televue if you want to be sure it's top notch. But if you're willing to put up with the weight and bulk of a big 2" barlow (which you will be able to use with both 2" & 1.25" EPs) the Uni Optics 2" is simply magnificent, and an absolute bargain for around $160 new.

cjmarsh81 · #17 22-01-2006, 12:44 PM

I was initially going to spend up to $1500 on my scope, this was only because I was looking at an 8" tripod mounted Skywatcher at that time.

I ended up only spending $750 on my scope, so I have a bit left over for a few eyepieces. I don't want to go overboard though, I have seen some nice televues but do not want that kind of expense.

I was thinking of getting a 6.3mm LV Vixen and maybe a barlow and this should do me for a little while until I figure out what else I am going to need.

cjmarsh81 · #18 22-01-2006, 12:47 PM

The Unioptics 2" sound alright if I can use it for both 2" and 1.25" and $160 is reasonable as it is going to effectively double my EP collection.

Where would I get one of these? Myastroshop and Andrews both have a limited range when it comes to barlows

asimov (John) · #19 22-01-2006, 12:51 PM

Wise decision I reckon! 6.3 LV & a good barlow...way to go! As Geoff says, don't skimp on the barlow though. Not sure on the price of Televue power-mate barlows, but they have definitely got the nod.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #20 22-01-2006, 01:03 PM

Frontier Optics (www.frontieroptics.com) sell UO products.

You can buy directly from UO from www.universityoptics.com to save a few bucks perhaps (so I've been told), but Daniel from Frontier Optics has been great with me via email, and his prices are very reasonable. And while you are there you might want to consider getting the 12mm HD ortho eyepiece, which barlows to a 5.5mm in that barlow (in a typical 2-to-1.25" adapter; you get more mag with an extension piece, less with a low profile adapter). The combo makes for a superb high contrast high-mag planetary eyepiece. Eye relief of the 12mm HD is quite good on its own, and even better when barlowed. Televue 15mm Plossl is also superb in that barlow for high contrast mid-high mag planetary viewing.

Dave (47Tuc) did a review on this barlow for the site. Check it out in the Reviews section. This is a big barlow, and it needs to sit a fair way out of the focuser. Have a look at Dave's photos and make sure you're comfortable with the bulk of the thing.