There certainly is. I have a set of Ethos 8", 13" and 21". Using them feels like an IMAX experience, and I feel privileged and lucky to have had the chance to own them.
I have quite a few to choose from and asking for 3 favourites is liking asking someone to name their favourite child. While most of what I own has now been around for a long time, and I've owned for a long time, I haven't used too many eyepieces that I like better, apart from a couple mentioned below. I'm happy with what I have and have no intention to change eyepieces, or telescopes.
As part of our 3RF eyepiece kit, I also have access to all of the ETHOS focal lengths, but I rarely use an ETHOS eyepiece, because I prefer long eye relief and to observe with my glasses on. Pre COVID we had a lot of overseas people attending OZSKY. They always bring a collection of high class eyepieces with them, which I also get to try out.
Of the eyepieces I own my 3 favourites and most used eyepieces are:-
17mm Nagler T4 (critical to use a paracorr with this one)
10mm Pentax XW
7mm Pentax XW
Of the eyepieces I have used but don't own, the best eyepiece I have used is without question the 17mm Nikon NAV HW. It gets no better. The 2nd best would be the 12.5mm Docter Optics. The Leica Zoom is also very nice but zoom eyepieces just aren't for me.
Most used magnifications?
130x, 166x, 228x.
I have a 12.5" scope with excellent optics.
The Favorite eyepieces yield 83x, 166x, 304x.
Where I observe, 304x is almost always nice and sharp. It's a good eyepiece for planetaries.
To clarify the above, I'll modify the post as follows:
Most used magnifications:
130x (14mmMorpheus), 166x (11mm Apollo), 228x (8mm Ethos)
Favorite eyepieces:
83x (22mm Nagler), 166x (11mm Apollo), 304x (6mm Ethos)
There is something special about each of those 3 eyepieces.
But since the thread is about your BEST 3 eyepieces, I'd have to say:
11mm Apollo, 9mm Morpheus, 6mm Ethos, with honorable mention APM 30mm UltraFlatField.
I think for me, definitely the ES 30mm 82*. I use this more than any other EP because it's *both my widefield EP and my finder EP, so even if I intend to go to higher power later on, I still use this one to find the object. I prefer it to my XW30 and XW40.
I like the entire 1.25" Pentax XW range, especially the 14, 10 and 7mm EPS
For Binoviewing, I'm really enjoying the Baader Zooms. They're a gift if you don't have the Denk powershifter thingy
The 24mm Panoptics are pretty good, but have a bit of rectilinear distortion, which I guess doesn't matter too much on stars which have no straight edges, but you notice it when panning over a star field. But they give you the widest possible view in my BV, so there's that.
Only got 3 eyepieces and haven't had a reason to get any more.
1. Baader Hyperion Mark IV Zoom 8-24mm
2. Baader Hyperion 36mm
3. Baader Hyperion 5mm
I probably use the 36mm and the Zoom at 24mm the most. I have a Celestron C8, so the 36mm is great to go wider field without having to pull out the focal reducer.
I got a 3x Visionking focal extender as well. Which covers all the planets. Works great with the 36mm and the Zoom.
I got the 5mm just in case, but to be honest, I rarely use it. Its relatively quick to throw in the focal extender, so I use that a lot more often if I need a big boost to magnification.
I have had a few eyepieces over the years but then I got these 3 in a package deal and I found that I started to use them more and more until I mainly just use them :Tele Vue 7mm Nagler 6, 13mm Nagler 6 and 27mm Panoptic in a 8" F10 Meade SCT. I also got a Tele Vue big Barlow in the deal.
Eyepiece? Ah! so that's what those small lenses are kicking around the
bottom of my imaging accessory drawer
You should be using those to prevent dust entering the OTA when not imaging. Some have 8 or 9 elements giving no chance for any dust to get through. Much better than a plastic dust cap.
1. >> 12mm Nagler only came in Type 2 and Type 4
2. >> 20mm Nagler only came in Type 2 and Type 5
3. >> 31mm Type 5 Nagler generally referred to as The Pineapple
My three best depend on which telescope I use, e.g. longer reflector or shorter refractor.
O yes look at that. I swapped the types! And previously to the holy hand granade🤔😉 the 35mm Pan ( no type) 🤪 was the fav and still is a mighty fine view whether it be in the 10” or the 20” 👍🏻✅🙂
My three best and favourites,
The little Nikon CFIUW 10x25 , cracking little eyepiece, and yes it’s a microscope eyepiece that I use for astronomy. Super sharp and crystal clear.
Second would be my old faithful the 22Nagler type 4 , just a beautiful eyepiece, a pleasure to use.
And last the old Masuyama 20mm, superb with my scopes from f5.6-f10 for a 5 element eyepiece. One to set the standard by.