What is the most used EP in your collection?

[TechnoViking (James)]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to know what is the most used EP in your collection, and why?
Im asking this because i have a set of cheap celestron EP's that i was using with my old EQ114 scope, which just dont cut the mustard with my new scope (CGEM925) and i would like to purchase a premium EP to start my collection. I was thinking of a 20mm or 26mm to start out with. Thoughts?

[ourkind (Carlos)]

My glasses first and foremost

I too only have cheapo Celestron EP's.

I wrote to Santa this year and asked that he bring me either a 21mm televue Ethos and/or a 8mm televue Ethos.

To be honest I do most of my observing via my DLSR and PC connection, I haven't used an EP for months!

I believe from what I've read that the scope in use also influences the quality capabilities of the eye piece i.e. Aperture, F/L etc ...

when comparing these to what I currently own, I'm sure I won't be disapointed with my picks.

[vaztr (Andrew)]

James,

I have only 10mm and 25mm SPs and find the 25mm is the one I prefer but I try to do deep sky stuff and the 10mm just doesn't cut it.

Being cheap I've asked santa for a 8-24mm zoom ep so I can get a feel for the best mm for my viewing and then maybe I'll splurge on a decent ep

VAZ

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

Some where between my ES 9mm and 14mm 100 degree eyepieces. Trying to use my Pentax more to justify its purchase though.

But its so difficult to go from 100 degrees of the ES to the 70 degrees of the Pentax and be... satisfied with the view. Especially when sharpness wise there is barely a difference. I mean its definitely there. Just not the incredible and magical views that people here would have you believe.

The 9mm-14mm in 12" dob give magnifications between ~160x and ~110x. Which, thanks to the apparent field are very useable magnifications.

In my AR102 the 10mm Pentax throws up a very nice low powered but very contrasty view at 66x. My 9mm and 14mm all of a sudden become lower powered searcher eyepieces. My ES 30mm 82 degree provides a staggering 3.5 degree view. Superb at cruising through the Milky Way star fields.

The point of all this is that these eyepieces are in a useable range all the time. When you choose your eyepieces. Try for 3 eyepieces that give you exit pupils of ~1mm, 2mm and 5 mm. With a distribution like that you will be set.

In your C9.25 that's no less then:
10mm @ 235x at 1mm.
20mm @ ~110x at 2mm
40MM @ ~60x at 4mm

Explore Scientific have a range 68 degree eyepieces that will cover your longer focal length eyepieces perfectly at a very reasonable price. Alternatively you can go in swinging with a ES 100 degree 20mm for that 2mm exit pupil. It will be without a doubt your most used eyepiece.

Hope I helped.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

My 19mm TV Panoptic , is the 1st eyepiece I grab every time , no matter what scope I have out , from 60mm f/355, to my 210mm f2415 as it is just an awsome eyepiece , just lets me get on with observing , nice .
I love it .
Brian.

[LewisM]

I use 2 eyepieces exclusively - a 20mm Pentax for ALL observing, and a 6mm illuminated reticle for alignment. I use NOTHING else.

I have a bunch of eyepieces, none of which get used, EVER. I put them for sale recently, cheap, and no one wanted them, so back into storage they went.

I, like Caros, do most of my observing after an exposure appears on screen I have visually observed twice in the last 3 months, and that was to try new scopes out.

Having said that, my newly acquired Vixen Fl102 refractor BEGS to be used visually, as it is stunning on ANY object you point it at.

[BlackWidow (Mardy)]

I lover my Baader Zoom mk2 lense. It's all I use now as it is simple and the images is clear. Never use my singles anymore. I would purchase another in a flash if I ever lost it



Mardy

[Varangian (John)]

Probably my 13mm Orion Stratus 68 to be honest.

[Kunama]

Vixen LVW 13 and LVW 17 equally.

[Colin_Fraser]

Vixen LVW 22 and LVW 13 get swapped in and out most of the night for looking at clusters and nebula.
Use a Vixen LVW 5 for studying craters on our moon. I don't have an outright favourite.

[omegacrux (David)]

Hi James
For me its
17 mm
21mm
25mm
30mm
In both my scopes
the mak is double the mag for each of the ep's

David

[MattT]

ES all the way with me My most used is 20mm 68 degree closely followed by 6.7mm 82 degree.
Matt

[TechnoViking (James)]

Thanks for the info guys, its just nice to know what people use, and then make my decision based on it. I wish astro shops had try before you buy, sort of like taking home tiles to see if they suit your vanity unit we can live in hope!
The hardest thing with buying a $200+ EP is explaining to my wife what the difference between a cheap 20mm plossl, and a premium 20mm is. im sure im going to get the "Dont you already have all the eye pieces, why would you buy another 20mm one!!" ...sigh

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

Originally Posted by TechnoViking

Thanks for the info guys, its just nice to know what people use, and then make my decision based on it. I wish astro shops had try before you buy, sort of like taking home tiles to see if they suit your vanity unit we can live in hope!
The hardest thing with buying a $200+ EP is explaining to my wife what the difference between a cheap 20mm plossl, and a premium 20mm is. im sure im going to get the "Dont you already have all the eye pieces, why would you buy another 20mm one!!" ...sigh

Ask her how many pairs of shoes and hand bangs she has. Surely you only need 1 hand bag and 1 pair of shoes for going out with an extra pair of sneakers for exercise or around the house type stuff.

[allan gould]

Vixen LVW 13 or 8 mm

[Tom Hancock (Tom)]

Mine would be Pentax XF12 and ES 18...luv them both!

[casstony]

A 30mm ES 82 degree would be good to start with for DSO observing at around 80x magnification. The eyepiece has comfortable eye relief and it's easy to take in the whole field.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Brave man ....better you ask that than me .. .
Brian.

Originally Posted by AG Hybrid

Ask her how many pairs of shoes and hand bangs she has. Surely you only need 1 hand bag and 1 pair of shoes for going out with an extra pair of sneakers for exercise or around the house type stuff.

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

Originally Posted by brian nordstrom

Brave man ....better you ask that than me .. .
Brian.

With pleasure. She's your wife at the end of the day.

[Wavytone]

My 50mm LV followed by 13mm LVW, though bear in mind my main scope is f/15.

My 15 and 25 LV's also for digiscoping, as the lens on my LX5 is a neat fit in the rubber eyecups on these.