what eyepieces on a budget?

Jezza94 (Jeremy) · #1 28-02-2013, 10:51 PM

hi all, thinking its time to buy a new EP or two. I've currently got the 10 and 20mm Celestron EP's that came with my scope.

What should I buy now? I tend to look at the moon, saturn, jupiter, clusters and bright nebulae at the moment. I want to get a better, close up view of them.

keeping in mind I only have around $120 to spend.

Jeremy

Wavytone · #2 28-02-2013, 11:28 PM

On your budget take a look at those on www.andrewscom.com.au under Telescopes -> Guan Sheng. Towards the bottom of the GSO page the 'Super Plossl' series are $39. They're not great eyepieces but they are value at the price.

As you have a 10 and 20 mm, this poses a bit of a dilemma about which focal lengths. Personally I'd suggest something around 6-7mm and another around 30-40mm, preferably in a 2" barrel if the focusser can take 2" eyepieces. If the focusser is 1.25" only, 30mm will be the practical lowest power.

What's your scope f/ratio, and can the focusser take a 2" eyepiece barrel ?

Jezza94 (Jeremy) · #3 28-02-2013, 11:34 PM

hi mate, focal ratio is 12.8 or 12.9 i believe.

Jeremy

Wavytone · #4 28-02-2013, 11:47 PM

Ok... 10mm will be medium high power and the shortest you could ever use will be 7mm - a 4mm will be utterly useless.

Another possibility is to buy a 1.4X Barlow instead of more eyepieces - using this with your two eyepieces will give the equivalent of 14 and 7mm.

IMHO you only need 3 eyepieces - lowest power, medium and high power. More are a waste of money. The problem is the two you have make it awkward to choose a 3rd from what's available at Andrews.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #5 01-03-2013, 12:37 AM

First off (and apologies if I missed it in your post), what scope do you have? Do you wear glasses?

I might offer a contrasting point of view...

At the price level that you are looking at, the available options while very functional are unlikely to be "upgrades" from what you already have.

I have pursued an acquisition strategy of buying one really top notch eyepiece every year or so instead of several modestly priced ones. The eyepieces that you have are very usable and I would encourage you to get some viewing time in with them before buying anything else. I would also encourage you to get to a viewing night or star party to try out other folk's gear. Once you get some experience you will have a better feel for what you like and don't and it will be much easier to offer useful suggestions.

Wavytone · #6 01-03-2013, 01:28 AM

Agreed, though budget is clearly a problem for even 1 decent eyepiece.

Conversely if the weather is as bad as it has been here, you might only use your 'scope a few times in a year, which dies rather raise the question why plunge more money on something you rarely use, vs more useful things.

I have to confess I've used mine a whole 2 evenings in the past year, and am tossing up selling all my gear and waiting till the next drought sets in to buy a more respectable setup.

David Niven (David Niven) · #7 01-03-2013, 01:30 AM

I suggest a TMB Planetary 6mm.
They are great eyepiece but buy the real TMB not the clones that are thrown around!

Jezza94 (Jeremy) · #8 01-03-2013, 01:59 AM

if it helps, i only have a small astromaster 70mm refractor, not sure if it can take 2" EP's. I also don't wear glasses.

Jeremy

dannat (Daniel) · #9 01-03-2013, 07:59 AM

Astromaster 70mm is f11, so 800mm focal length, a 6mm ep would give you about 130x which is prob close to the max mag for a 70mm scope, so either look for a 6 or 6.5mm ep
The tmb eyepieces are good as are astrotech paradigm & the Orion explorer (sold under many names 66 deg super wide 6,9,15,20mm)

Jezza94 (Jeremy) · #10 02-03-2013, 06:32 PM

who is the dealer for TMB EP's in Australia? going to get myself a 6mm planetary and a 32mm plossl.

Jeremy

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #11 02-03-2013, 06:58 PM

Hi again Jeremy , take a look at the GSO 'Superviews' that Andrews Communications are selling , I grabbed the 15mm for a friend up here and was so impressed with its build quality and views , very nice and at 68* they are a good wide field eyepiece .
If I did not have TV Panoptics I would have grabbed a couple for myself they are that good , very good value as well . $39 for the 1 1/4 inch up to 20mm and $49 for the 2 inch sizes , great value !
Brian.

Jezza94 (Jeremy) · #12 02-03-2013, 09:21 PM

G'day Brian, I have been looking at the superviews and am tempted to grab a couple. i have heard good things about them.

Jeremy

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #13 02-03-2013, 09:41 PM

You wont go wrong with these Jeremy , I am pretty sure JJJinettie uses them , she is the one that put me on to them .
Good eyepiecs's .They feel nice in the hand , solid like TV eyepieces so I did do a quick 1/2 hour comparo using my Zeiss Telementor f/11.4 and SKY90 f/5.5 with the 15mm GSO SV and my 19mm TV Panoptic , thats when I realised these are very good eyepieces in both scopes . In a long f/l Zeiss and the short f/l Tak the 15mm held its own against my 19mm Pan , impressive for $39 .
Brian.

David Niven (David Niven) · #14 03-03-2013, 02:16 AM

who is the dealer for TMB EP's in Australia? going to get myself a 6mm planetary and a 32mm plossl.

Try www.vtioptics.com.au

MattT · #15 03-03-2013, 08:37 AM

I have just bought a pair, for bino's, of Meade HD 60's 12mm and they are pretty good too. $99 each from Bintel 60 degree with a nice twist up eyecup a bit like the Pentax XW. Twice the price of the superviews though. Worth a look IMO.
Matt

ZeroID (Brent) · #16 04-03-2013, 09:35 AM

+1 for the GSO Superviews, 15 & 20mm. But they may not be what you are looking for if you are wanting more mag.

Jezza94 (Jeremy) · #17 05-03-2013, 02:54 AM

anyway, update.

I went all out and treated myself to a 32mm GSO SW and a TELEVUE Delos 6mm.

Thanks for your help everyone,

Excited Jeremy

simmo · #18 06-03-2013, 11:31 PM

Hi Jeremy,

This is the EP doctor calling,
Just like you to read these statements for me please if you don't mind.

what eyepieces on a budget?

around $120 to spend

TELEVUE Delos 6mm

Yes i'm afraid your prognosis is quite bad! I think you have come down with a deadly EP bug that will eat your entire wallet, bank account and all loose change you have sitting around the house!

Your only antidote is to give all money to your wife/girlfriend/mom and deny all access to yourself. This still, may not be enough to save you.

Have fun with your new ep's

and let us know how they go and good luck.

Cheers
"Ep Doc"
Simmo

knightrider · #19 11-03-2013, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wavytone

On your budget take a look at those on www.andrewscom.com.au under Telescopes -> Guan Sheng. Towards the bottom of the GSO page the 'Super Plossl' series are $39. They're not great eyepieces but they are value at the price.

As you have a 10 and 20 mm, this poses a bit of a dilemma about which focal lengths. Personally I'd suggest something around 6-7mm and another around 30-40mm, preferably in a 2" barrel if the focusser can take 2" eyepieces. If the focusser is 1.25" only, 30mm will be the practical lowest power.

What's your scope f/ratio, and can the focusser take a 2" eyepiece barrel ?

I'm curious as to why 30mm will be the lowest practical power for a 1.25" focusser? Is it limited because of the size of his scope also or just the fact it's 1.25"?