What next from Skywatcher LER/LET 9mm?

[LittleSkink]

Because my 9yo and I observe with glasses we upgraded the standard SW 10mm MA to the bulbous SW 9mm LER (as opposed to the slender SW LER model - no idea if they are different / same optically)

http://www.pulsar-optical.co.uk/prod/9mm/ler/exdemo.html

It seems to work ok in our f4 100p but because of the rubber cover design some of the eye relief is lost/wasted and I would really like to upgrade again to something in the 8/9mm range with decent eye relief and workable performance at f4 - though I am already hoping the scope with find a bigger companion soon

Mostly we use the 9mm for Jupiter and splitting doubles, sometimes with a 1.5x adaptor in the filter thread - so fully accept we will struggle with quality at the edge of the field of view

[great_bear]

The bulbous 9mm LER eyepiece was the bottom-performing eyepiece out of all that I've owned, so whatever you upgrade to it will be a treat! :-)

You've got lots of good options for reasonably-priced performers with generous eye-relief within this focal length:

- BST Starguider (8mm)

- Celestron X-CEL LX (9mm)

- SPLER (9mm)

- Sky-Watcher UWA (9mm)

The UWAs do have some ghosting issues and so should probably not be your first choice.

[rwilkey]

Hi there, I have always found that the SW LER eyepieces you refer to always perform very well, and as a result I have a full set that the wife has half-inched.  However, I have a full set of BST Explorers/StarGuiders and these are also exceptional performers with good eye-relief and I would highly recommend these, as indeed Jeremy does above.  I have not tried the others mentioned.

[damnut]

Another vote for the BST Starguiders that are excellent value for money. Also Robin (above) has written an  excellent guide here :--

http://www.swindonstargazers.com/beginners/eyepieces.htm

[LittleSkink]

thanks folks

the SW LER seems decent enough quality - given it is in a 100mm f4 scope - but the eye relief isn't enough (even pressing my glasses up against it doesn't really work) and I suspect eye relief isn't as much as claimed

The only EP I have that seems adequate in this respect is the 25mm SW Plossl (the 20mm is tight) so my guess is 18mm+ is what works for me

BST do look interesting but my understanding is eye relief isn't a lot - is that right? 

[russ.will]

Stupid question; what are your glasses correcting for? If it is predominantly long/short sight, try taking them offand open up EP choice. If it's significant amounts of something else, try the BSTs.

Russell

[rwilkey]

The BST Explorers/StarGuiders claim 13mm eye-relief, and largely I have found this to be around the correct mark.  Agree with Russell's comment above, if you do not suffer from astigmatism, take your spectacles off to view and adjust the focuser accordingly.

[LittleSkink]

 if you do not suffer from astigmatism, take your spectacles off . . . .

alas, I have marked cylindrical astigmatism, so I cant even go down the contact lens route