Meade MA Modified Achromat 5x 1.25" Eyepiece Set

[Ghost66]

some on ebay are they any good?

http://tinyurl.com/cvjvso

[FLO]

....... No

[Ghost66]

thanks dont want to spend money on kit thats not any good

[FLO]

Keep your eye open for secondhand Meade Series 4000 Super Plossls. The 15, 20, 26 and 32mm are particularly good. Though do watch out for fakes being sold on ebay.

[Ghost66]

is there any way to spot fakes?

[FLO]

I've not seen one myself but about a year or two ago there were a number being offered on ebay.

Try posting a 'wanted' ad in the buy/sell section here on SGL, you are far more likely to be offered the real thing. There are a number of other good-quality secondhand eyepieces that should interest you, if you have questions or concerns just ask for opinions.

HTH

[Merlin66]

For telescopes with a focal ratio above f7, the Kellners or Modified Achromats will work reasonably well. Bang per buck for beginners they can be very cost effective. Upgrade comes with experience.

[FLO]

One of my first eyepieces was a 2" Tal Kellner, I wish I had never sold it! The GSO 26mm Kellner is also good. The centre of both are bright, sharp and contrasty.

[John]

If you come across any of the Meade 3000 series plossls (green writing) they are worth considering - Japanese optics and, often, low used prices.

John

[StarMan1701]

I agree with John.

I used to have three of the Series 3000 Plossls and I thought they were pretty good. I let them go with a telescope I sold a few years ago, but sometimes wish I'd kept hold of them.

Lee.

[FLO]

Not all the 3000 series were made in Japan, a few years ago they switched manufacture to China.

[John]

Not all the 3000 series were made in Japan, a few years ago they switched manufacture to China.

Thanks for that clarification Steve

It's the Japanese ones that I've used and found nice for their cost.

John

[FLO]

Yes, pre-FLO I bought four series 3000 Plossls for myself. The shop had a mix - some Japan and some Chinese - so I asked for Japanese ones. In all honesty I doubt there was much if, any, difference but knowing they were Japanese was somehow reassuring.

Eyepieces can be addictive and I have owned and used allsorts over the years. It really isn't difficult to find good, cheap, secondhand eyepieces.

[kniclander]

is there any way to spot fakes?

I bought a set of 4 on ebay about a year ago and I actually had a genuine meade 4000 e/p to compare. There was definitely something dodgy about them eg -

1) the 12 mm e/p had no threading for the filter

2/ the boxes they came in were not the "Meade" blue - they were a sort of more generic royal blue. Also, the Meade logo was a bit rubbish - sort of like a bad forgery. And all the boxes were the same size.

3) I think they only cost about £40 for 4

having said that, the quality seemd ok and I could do a direct compare with the genuine one I had and no obvious difference (to my eyes). in fact, the 12mm is one of my fave eyepieces - it just seems incredibly sharp.

Also, if you were going to go to the hassle of making a half decent fake e/p wouldn't you fake something more expensive?

So my guess is that they're probably seconds not fakes

having said that, my experience is that you're much better off buying one good e/p rather than 5 or 6 mediocre ones (whether they're fakes, seconds or genuine)