Recommendations for best Eyepiece 'All-rounders'

[astro744]

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

Hi Susy,

I own 8 Televue Eyepieces and 6 Pentax eyepieces and have no bias to either. They each excel in different criteria.

I don't find the Pentax XW's finicky or difficult to use in any way. They have a screw up eyecup system which can be critically adjusted to suit each individuals preferred eye relief. Where people sometimes get an incorrect perception that they are difficult to use is if they use the eyepiece when it is adjusted to suit someone else, or if they do not know how to adjust it properly. This can happen because they have such long eye relief compared to some other eyepiece designs. This notably occurs when someone who doesn't wear eyeglasses, uses my eyepieces which are adjusted for me to use with glasses on. In fact, once you know how to adjust them and adjust them to suit yourself, they are about the most comfortable and easy to use eyepiece money can buy. However, if you don't adjust them properly they can be finicky and a pain in the A. However, this can happen with any eyepiece which has long eye relief. It is a notable issue with eyepieces like the 35mm and 41mm TV Panoptics, which unfortunately you cannot adjust the eye cup on.

Cheers,
John B

The 41mm Panoptic can be adjusted, see http://www.televue.com/pdf/literatur...20Panoptic.pdf

The following is listed in the Tele Vue manuals section but not in the product listing so I'm not sure if it is still available available for the 35mm Panoptic http://www.televue.com/pdf/literatur...20Extender.pdf

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by JethroB76

Thats true. Also I always found the hyperions in 2" mode were a little painful to put in and out of the focuser and prefered to use them in 1.25" mode anyway..in 2" mode I needed to wriggle em to get them to seat properly in the focuser whereas they just slid on in when in 1.25" mode

I have no experience in any tight fitting, but they are a snug fit, a distinct advantage which stops flop with thumbscrew fitting. I found mine to be very good and found another member with a similar scope also appreciating the hyperion as well.

I wouldn't say they are the best eyepiece but have many advantages for the use I intend for my scope.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by astro744

The 41mm Panoptic can be adjusted, see http://www.televue.com/pdf/literatur...20Panoptic.pdf

The following is listed in the Tele Vue manuals section but not in the product listing so I'm not sure if it is still available available for the 35mm Panoptic http://www.televue.com/pdf/literatur...20Extender.pdf

Didn't know you could adjust the 41mm Panoptic, I only used one once and it was clearly not adjusted to suit me, notwithstanding I wear glasses. The eye relief was horribly excessive and I have no doubt the eyepiece owner did not know it was adjustable because if he did, he clearly would not have had it adjusted how he did.

The eyeguard extender for the 35mm Panoptic whether available or not is academic because none of the people I know who own one, have the extender fitted. I can't see myself buying one to use with my friends eyepieces, when clearly my 31mm Nagler is a better eyepiece anyway. Consequently, I find the eye relief excessive and you really need to concentrate when using it to avoid blackouts. It is clearly IMO much harder to use than the Pentax XW's, which have a totally progressive eye relief adjustment that you don't have to buy as an afterthought and extra.

Cheers,
John B

[astro744]

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

Didn't know you could adjust the 41mm Panoptic, I only used one once and it was clearly not adjusted to suit me, notwithstanding I wear glasses. The eye relief was horribly excessive and I have no doubt the eyepiece owner did not know it was adjustable because if he did, he clearly would not have had it adjusted how he did.

The eyeguard extender for the 35mm Panoptic whether available or not is academic because none of the people I know who own one, have the extender fitted. I can't see myself buying one to use with my friends eyepieces, when clearly my 31mm Nagler is a better eyepiece anyway. Consequently, I find the eye relief excessive and you really need to concentrate when using it to avoid blackouts. It is clearly IMO much harder to use than the Pentax XW's, which have a totally progressive eye relief adjustment that you don't have to buy as an afterthought and extra.

Cheers,
John B

Simply making you aware of solutions.

Personally I have never had blackout or eye placement issues with either 35mm or 41mm Panoptics in their native form (no extension) and I do not wear glasses.