Planetary EP for the 10" Skywatcher

[zumka (Daniel)]

What about Pentax 7mm XL?

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

I don't think you can go far wrong with Pentax glass if it's available to you at a good price...

[zumka (Daniel)]

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

I don't think you can go far wrong with Pentax glass if it's available to you at a good price...

Agree, the only problem Pentax 7mm XL has 70deg AFOV. I wonder if ES 6.7 with 82deg AFOV is the better choice for that zoom

[MattT]

Here is a review of the XL's v XW.

http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/pentax.pdf

I'd still go for an ES 6.7 or double your budget and get the XW

Melbourne's sky is a limiting factor. The ES 1.25" 82º and 68º eyepieces all barlow beautifully, from my experience, so perhaps the 16mm 68º and a 2x barlow would be a good choice.

[zumka (Daniel)]

What's the best place to buy ES at the moment ?

[N1 (Mirko)]

Agena Astro is an option if the price after exchange stacks up. Their service is excellent.

Originally Posted by zumka

What's the best place to buy ES at the moment ?

[MattT]

Agree on Agena Astro. If you do the cheapest post US$20 or so it takes about three days longer to get here, and you save USD$40 in the process. I have done the cheap thing a few times no problems. All up about $220 Oz dollars.

[MortonH]

Originally Posted by MattT

Agree on Agena Astro. If you do the cheapest post US$20 or so it takes about three days longer to get here, and you save USD$40 in the process. I have done the cheap thing a few times no problems. All up about $220 Oz dollars.

It's a bit more than that. The ES82 range cost US$159.99. Add US$20 for shipping then current exchange rate translates to A$250.

[N1 (Mirko)]

Makes the 7mm Pentax XL on the classies look like a reasonable proposition me thinks. Pentax appears make good EPs. Got an 8.5 XF which is incredibly good for its price, and a 2.5 XO which is incredibly good full stop. Conditions permitting, the XO does things that by rights (read: according to what you read on many forums) shouldn't even be possible. OK a bit off topic...

[zumka (Daniel)]

Which Barlow works best with ES EPs ?

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

Originally Posted by zumka

Which Barlow works best with ES EPs ?

Any 1.25 inch and 2 inch barlows with an adapter.

[SkyWatch (Dean)]

Originally Posted by AG Hybrid

Any 1.25 inch and 2 inch barlows with an adapter.

They will all work OK, but some of the cheaper ones will introduce some CA. GSO, Meade, Celestron, Orion, Bintel brand... should all be OK, but to respect the ES optics you might be better off stepping up a bit to an ED version (eg. Bintel 2" ED). The optical chain is only as good as its weakest link. If your pockets are a bit deeper, the Televue 2x is very nice: and I have seen them on the ISS classies.

All the best,

Dean

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

The Bintel ED is the same as GSO ED 2x barlow. 2" right? Its excellent. Optically excellent and does not introduce extra light scatter as far as I can tell. You can even unscrew the lens housing and thread it onto the end of a 2" eyepiece like a light filter for variable magnification. I think its about 1.6x in that configuration. Also, when the lens are removed you can use the body of the barlow as an extension tube for when you need more back-focus than what your focuser would normally allow.

[SkyWatch (Dean)]

Originally Posted by AG Hybrid

The Bintel ED is the same as GSO ED 2x barlow. 2" right? Its excellent. Optically excellent and does not introduce extra light scatter as far as I can tell. You can even unscrew the lens housing and thread it onto the end of a 2" eyepiece like a light filter for variable magnification. I think its about 1.6x in that configuration. Also, when the lens are removed you can use the body of the barlow as an extension tube for when you need more back-focus than what your focuser would normally allow.

Yes, as far as I know Bintel just re-brand the GSO eyepieces and barlows.