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Zoom vs BST set


szymon

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I've been trialling some BST Starfinders. They're good quality, a big step up from basic eyepieces. Ideally I would like the 25mm, 18mm, 12mm and 8mm. That comes to £200, and they are more or less parfocal.

I could go to FLO and buy a Hyperion zoom lens 8-24mm for £189. This seems like it would cover the range without having to swap eyepieces. It also gets me anything in between.

How do the two compare? Especially at the far ends of the range (8mm and 24/5mm)?

I currently use a small refractor but plan on a reflector 8-12" (depending on what I can get 2nd hand, dobsonian or on a gem). Would that influence the decision?

Thanks,

-simon

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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The BST Explorers have been re-named as BST Starfinders fairly recently so that's probably where you got the name from. I've owned a couple of the Baader zooms but no BST's I'm afraid so I can't offer a comparison.

I thought the zooms pretty good (the Mk III better than the Mk II for me) between 20mm and 8mm but the FoV narrowed a lot at 24mm and the field stop became fuzzy on the ones I had so I preferred other options at 20mm plus.

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They say Starguider on them so I guess thats what you were thinking of. I just got the 12mm and am happy with it even in my f/4.7 orion xt10. But a lot of people say they are not so good in a fast scope like that so take that into consideration.

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if you are planning to upgrade your scope,then i would suggest not to get any of these eye pieces until you actually get the scope.A lot of things can change by time you get your scope,also if you do get the 12" as you mentioned,then neither Zoom,neither BST will perform well on that scope.You will have to look for something else,but that can be discussed,when you get your new scope.

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Between the two, Baader Mark III zoom for me every time.

I agree with John about the useful range of the Zoom as 8-20mm(it's about 70deg in 8mm and 50 deg in 20mm), I would add a Maxvision 24mm to the zoom for widest field of view in 1.25" focuser.

As to possible concern in bigger dobs, it does require you to pay more attention to get a slower dob (e.g.slower than f5), also the narrower field of view of the zoom in wide end is actually positive for minimizing the effects of coma.

There're some more interesting ideas in this thread:

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/217907-first-eyepiece-upgrade-what-you-wish-you-had-done/

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Interesting, in that thread most people are recommending the zoom :-)

The scopes I am looking at range from a 12" revelation dobsonian (am bidding for it, will see tomorrow if I win!) through to an 8" newtonian on an EQ5 or better mount.  Not sure yet which I'll end up with, goto would be nice (either via a hand controller or a computer) and I'd like a steady mount, but I'd probably take four extra inches and not have goto!

Ok, I'm going to return the BSTs for now then and wait until I have the new scope.  Thanks folks.

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I have the 12" Revelation Dob and also the Baader MKlll Zoom.

The Zoom works really well with this scope but I had to get a low profile adapter in order to achieve sharp focus on the 8mm end of the Zoom.

Avtar

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szymon,having a strategy when purchasing eyepieces may be  good idea,ie a good widefield (for object finding,large objects,filter use) a good galaxy EP (about 2mm exit pupil) and then planetary lunar EP's ( low scatter,no ghosting,high contrast).

An EP like the 24mm ES 82 and then the Baader zoom would be a nice combo.The 10mm BCO + the Baade QT barlow might be a good option too.

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I have the 12" Revelation Dob and also the Baader MKlll Zoom.

The Zoom works really well with this scope but I had to get a low profile adapter in order to achieve sharp focus on the 8mm end of the Zoom.

Avtar

Nice to get it confirmed by first hand experiences :smiley:

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The MkIII is a great EP. The only complaint i have with it is that the 8mm on it is a tad blurry. I use 8mm for observing planets, so i have to swap the zoom out for my 8mm Vixen NPL to observe planets. No worries really as the NPL are amazing EP's.

I used to think the 8mm end of the Baader was a bit on the soft side until I realised it needed a bit more infocus travel which was solved by using a low profile adapter, now the view is really sharp.

Avtar

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Ok, so now I have the Revelation 12" (coming on Tuesday)...

Are the BST's and the Hyperion zoom of similar "quality"? In particular, does the zoom have a similar sized final lens? One of the things I really like on the BSTs is the big lens you actually get to look through, compared to eg plossl's which in the smaller sizes especially have a tiny dot!

Also would the 25mm BST be a good "wide" EP for the revelation 12? If not, what else at a similar price range?

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The eye lenses are similar, if not a little bigger on the zoom. As for the wide option, i wouldnt go for the bst, try and find a second hand panaview, though it may not fare well in your scope. The best option would be to save a little more and opt for an aero or hyperion aspheric, both just over £100...

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I've just sold a Hyperion Aspheric 31mm. Nice eyepiece at F/7.5 and slower scopes but showed more astigmatism than I expected in my F/5.3 12" dob.

I bought the above together with the Hyperion Mk III 8-24mm zoom plus a 6mm Vixen Lanthanum to use with my 6" F/12 refractor. They all work really well at that focal ratio but the Aspheric really did not like scopes faster than around F/7. That's a trait that it has in common with the standard Hyperions. 

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Oh I've just realised that the scope will have a wide angle eyepiece with it -- I think it's a Revelation 30mm Widefield Eyepiece 2"

Seems like it's a £33 eyepiece from here http://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/Revelation_30mm_Widefield_Eyepiece_2_.html

68 degree field of view.  I guess I'll see how it performs; I'm guessing not as well as a £100 maxvision, but will a newbie like me notice the difference? :-)

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68 degree field of view.  I guess I'll see how it performs; I'm guessing not as well as a £100 maxvision, but will a newbie like me notice the difference? :-)

I agree it's sound to see how it performs first. I'm kind of sure that you'll see the astigmatism in the edge, espeicially with a bright star there. but you may find it acceptable as our eyes and brains have all difference tolerence to aberations.

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