Impressions of a BST StarGuider

[KevUU]

There are some very good technical reviews on here, giving in depth details and comparisons. Well, this won't be one of those, sorry

I've realised that, although I'm a fairly geeky nerdy engineer type doing a technical engineering job, I'm absolutely nothing like that about my astronomy. Oh, I spend far too long looking at all the options before I make the smallest kit purchase, but when I'm outside it's not about the details and the specs, it's just about the experience. It's about staring at amazing things and just enjoying the view and being at one with the universe. I guess it's an antidote to the work side of my life: I'm a hippy sort of a stargazer.

So, back to the point. I recently bought my first BST eyepiece. I had 30mm and 8mm Vixen NPLs for my ST80, but they give x40 and x150 in my new 8" dob so I wanted something in between.

The BSTs get uniformly good reviews on here so I got the 12mm to fill the gap, giving me x100.

The price was great at £47 delivered, the purchase from Sky's the Limit was straightforward and it arrived next day. First impressions were good, it just felt comfortable and looked well made.

I got it in the scope last Friday evening, and wow!

The view is clean and well defined, and the 60* afov makes for a very nice view. But the thing just feels nice. It's easy to handle and feels very natural to look through. It really just falls into the background of your consciousness, like any good tool should, so you can concentrate on what you're looking at.

After using this ep for a while I dropped the 8mm NPL in for some more power, but it didn't feel pleasant, it felt like I was working around its shortcomings. It's hard for me to say why that is (I did warn you this was 'impressions of' not a detailed technical analysis); I guess eye relief and afov play a part but in practice I find the small peep hole offered by the vixen to be hard work, squinting in close to it, whereas the BST has a nice wide front lens and you do need to use the twist-up eyecup to get the best view, it's so much more comfortable and satisfying.

I really like this eyepiece, and am going to replace my 8mm vixen with the 8mm BST.

I'm tempted to replace the 30mm vixen with the 25mm BST too, but that move feels harder to justify and I know it's just because I like the BSTs, not due to any shortcoming in the 30mm vixen.

If anyone has any doubts, don't. Optically the views were better than I'm used to, and the experience was far improved too.

Of course the more advanced members will have moved onto better (more expensive) brands but if you're not at that stage yet, I don't think the BSTs would ever be a bad choice. I wish I'd spent the extra £20 when I bought my two vixens to get these instead, it would have been far better in the long run.

I hope this has been of interest or benefit to someone, as I say apologies for the somewhat abstract approach.

[bod00]

Great review on the BST there, i also use them and agree with everything that you say especially the comfort side even using the 8mm is really pleasant!

The build quality does seem good and like you say the views are crisp and clear, i caught the moon tonight about 7pm so was still daylight and it just looked stunning mainly down to the EP as my telescope is rubbish but on your dob it must be awesome!!

If you like the BST then stick with them as they are parfocal which means you dont have to refocus as much when changing EP (just incase you needed and excuse for the 25mm )

I bought the BST after the recommendations from the SGL users and i am really happy i did!!

[rory]

i had 8,12,18 bst explorers ,which i eventually moved on for x-cel lx eyepieces. now like all eyepiece discussions,its only my opinion,but i honestly could not see any difference in sharpness,contrast or distortion. there was nothing wrong with the x-cels ,but the bst's felt more comfortable to use . combine that with the fact they are cheaper ,quite alot cheaper to what some suppliers are asking for x-cel lx's, id recomend them all day long. ive never been satisfied since selling them .

[Stargazer_00]

Good review. Thanks I agree they are a very comfortable eyepiece to use. Some good advice regarding buying which may help others with their choices. There are a great many choices at this price point and is often difficult to know what is good.

[andrew63]

That's a good summing up of the BST experience. Don't be too harsh on those vixens - they are very nice - to be honest an 8mm plossl is not ideal and i think some feel that under about 10mm for a plossl starts to get a bit uncomfortable. I would not change the 30 vixen for the BST, but the 8mm BST could be a good choice .

I recently started to used a BST 8mm again, and can honestly say the overall image was 'cleaner' than the Meade 8.8mm UWA in my refractor at F7 - which was a bit of a surprise. The 12mm BST also gives up a great clean view - but that could not match my 13mm TV plossl. But agree with rory, they are a match for anything under £100.

andrew

Edited April 15, 2013 by andrew63

[bod00]

I am planning on buying the full set as they work really well fit my budget and with my new scope offer a really good range of mags not sure about the 5mm @ 240x though but all the others at least, so its another top review off me

[Special K]

Good review and totally agree. BST offers comfort, quality, a good range of sizes and great value for money. I was influenced by so many positive reviews on this forum.

[ismangil]

I only sold my 12mm BST to move to 82 deg :-)

[ben_e71]

I have a 12mm and an 18mm with my 4SE. I think they are great (but then have little to compare them to) but I also think they look really good. I love the shape and the different colours for each strength. Plus Alan is a top bloke to deal with.

[Andy_E]

The 15mm BST is still my favourite EP for globs in my collection

[KevUU]

Wow, I seem to have struck a chord here Thanks for the comments all.

i had 8,12,18 bst explorers ,which i eventually moved on for x-cel lx eyepieces. [...] i honestly could not see any difference in sharpness,contrast or distortion. [...] the bst's felt more comfortable to use .

id recomend them all day long. ive never been satisfied since selling them .

Okay that's interesting, sounds like BSTs all the way until a 'serious' upgrade (if ever), rather than creeping up gradually through the ranks. Cheers rory

Don't be too harsh on those vixens - they are very nice [...] I would not change the 30 vixen for the BST, but the 8mm BST could be a good choice .

Thanks andrew, I'll bear that in mind.

I'm looking forward to a clear sky to try the 8mm in, once it arrives

[spektrumdx8]

Brilliant review there and like most,i thoroughly endorse the BST Starguider- work extremely well on the 200P and seems to also work well with the SW 127 Mak,but and its only a personal thing,I found that the 25mm gives a slightly softer view-especially towards the edges, noticeably more in the 127,,,otherwise,top product and highly recommended for the price.

[KevUU]

The 8mm BST arrived last week, and I had a brief look at M3 with it in between clouds a couple of nights ago.

My impression was the same as for the 12mm before it: well made, easy to use, you quickly forget it's there.

In my earlier post I commented that I found the change from the 12mm BST to the 8mm Vixen NPL to be jarring. This time going to the 8mm BST was just ... fine. I wanted more power so I changed eps and got more power, no trade-off involved, it felt just as nice and comfortable to use as the 12mm which is exactly what I'd hoped for

Edited April 28, 2013 by KevUU

[alro]

These reviews have reallyhelped me,

just got my first scope, meade lx90 acf 8inch,, looking at getting a few ep. And reading all this is strongly steering me to bst, think i will go for 8, 12,15.

al

[ronin]

On an LX90 the 8 and 12 fit to my thinking, one just below and one just above the f number, I assume yours if f/10.

I would have gone for the 18mm over the 12mm for a little less magnification and wider view, even the 25mm. You are going to have the problem of keeping the magnification down on an LX90

[JG777]

I have the 8, 12 , 18 and 25 and all good performers, really like the 18 though.

[alro]

Might end up getting 4 of them, cant decide!

thanks

[alro]

These would be a better choice than meade 4000 sp ep and filter set???

[nightfisher]

Might end up getting 4 of them, cant decide!

thanks

I found the 18mm BST was a match for my 18mm baader genuine ortho, but with a larger field of view

[Saganite]

I completely echo the views so far expressed on Starguider eyepieces. I did have , for a couple of years, the 8mm 12mm and 18mm.

I decided to upgrade, spending more money for specific eyepieces, but I do not feel that I have significantly improved things.

I certainly regret selling the 18mm BST and probably the 12 mm.

BST'S are very good value.

[Sirius Starwatcher]

Hello Kev great first post on the BSTs which I have just found. I have a number of BSTs and totally agree with your statements. Have you used the BST in your ST80'yet ? And if so how did you find the viewing

[KevUU]

Thanks Garry. I don't think I've used them in the ST80 at all, I've only used it once since I got the dob. Still love 'em in the dob though

Thanks to everyone else for your recent round of comments too. Quite a surprise to see this thread spring back into life

[Sirius Starwatcher]

Just remember Kev. You can't keep a good thread down !

[alro]

Thanks.

i ended up ordering

8, 12, 15 and 18!

looking forward to using them.

al

[Geospacial]

Kevin,

This is a good review and just what I needed.

I have just got back into using my scope (a Sky Watcher Explorer 150P) after an summer absence (start work too early to wait for the skies to get dark!!) and the distraction of a baby!! I bought a 12mm Celestron X-cel which I really like earlier in the year. I still have the stock EP's as well but I want to upgrade them.

I have read a lot of technical stuff about the BST, but your review is just what I needed to compare!!

Thanks.

Al