iPeace

With thanks to all for looking, now withdrawn, at least for a while. May be archived at mod's convenience, with thanks.

Final bump.

Item is now sold and may be archived at mod's convenience, with grateful thanks.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Clear skies.

Will consider offers for these and will sell separately. Thanks again for looking.

Withdrawn due to lack of interest at this time. Thanks to all for looking. Mods, please archive at your convenience, with grateful thanks.

Will leave this up 'till Monday. All queries welcome until then.

Soon to be advertised on other local sites.

Just to be totally clear, it's not my recommendation, I respect that others are attentive enough to mention it as an option. I'll leave off now.

Well, @alex_stars , it's a very compelling option at the price: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/ovl-eyepieces/hyperflex-72mm-215mm-eyepiece.html I really like the Hyperflex and Baader zooms. They work very well indeed. Admittedly, they didn't come to my mind for someone specifically seeking planetary performance at 12mm. I admire the way you're going about determining what it is you seek, very methodical. Good luck and hope to read about it.

As this seems to me to be in response to my own remarks, I happily and wholeheartedly defer to your judgement on the matter. Let it be so, that the Hyperflex is an improvement over the Seben. In the interest of our original poster Alex, and his quest for improved planetary performance at 12mm, I personally wouldn't recommend the Hyperflex (which I did like very much, myself) as a significant upgrade to his Seben. However, if you would, I would be happy and interested to know. Specifically, has the unbarlowed performance of the Hyperflex grown on you?

Thoughts: I urge you to read the following, as it thoroughly explains @John's zoom-barlow-combo: https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/317641-happy-coincidence/ It would seem that this barlow enhances the performance of this particular zoom, giving excellent views at (barlowed) focal lengths ranging from 9.55mm to 3.2mm. (I tried this combo myself, and was impressed as well.) This does not cover your desired focal length of 12mm. It's in my mind that the (unbarlowed) Hyperflex zoom at 12mm would not be much of an improvement (if at all) in any way over your current zoom. Unbarlowed, the Hyperflex is a good zoom, very good value, but to me, not exceptional. It's also in my mind that it's (still) a question of what you're seeking to gain with a new eyepiece. You've very carefully determined that 12mm is the focal length you like to hang around at when observing planets; so what is it about your current zoom eyepiece at the 12mm stop that you'd like to improve? How will you know that the upgrade is a success, what will give you more enjoyment? Bigger eye lens? Plenty of options. More eye relief? Plenty of options. Wider field of view? Plenty of options. Sharper, more contrast? Also plenty of options, probably the absolute most to be gained here with an ortho (compromising on eye lens size, eye relief and field of view). A bit more of everything? It's to be had - you have my own input on this. But it's true, the diminishing returns start where you are now. If you're happy with the view as it is, then perhaps seek to try something new to see if it impresses, before a purchase. Not always possible, I realise.

Right. No pressure, then. From my own experience, close to 12mm (I won't spoil the web-window-shopping by putting in all the specs here): A little too long... 13mm Tele Vue Ethos: Fantastic. Very wide view. Very expensive. Probably the last 13mm you'll ever acquire, a keeper, unless the size and weight eventually put you off (it happens... ). 13mm Tele Vue Nagler Type 6: I use the Type 6's exclusively now, my personal compromise. Wide and sharp, compact and light. Not cheap. Just about there... 12.5mm Baader Morpheus: Very nice eyepiece; view certainly wide enough, lovely big eye lens, not too big or too heavy. Excellent value for dosh. Recommended. 12mm Tele Vue Delos: Again, very nice, not cheap. Beautiful big eye lens. My own experience was a feeling that it was a bit too chunky and heavy for the view I was getting - but this is a very personal observation and probably an injustice; these have a solid following. For the size and weight, I preferred Ethos. 11mm Tele Vue Nagler Type 6: See above; this focal length is no longer in production. Getting a bit short, now... 10mm Tele Vue Ethos: See above. 10mm Pentax XW: Goodness, these are nice. Premium build quality, huge lovely eye lens, fantastic views. To me, it's the ultra-posh version of the Baader Morpheus. If only they made a 12mm for you... Special mention for: 11 or 13mm Tele Vue DeLite: I never tried these; did own and enjoy the 3, 4, 5 and 18.2mm versions. The least wide, but very sharp, lightweight and the most compact but for the Type 6 Naglers. So... what to do? Well, you can't go wrong with any of the above IMHO. You decide how large and how heavy you'll allow your eyepiece to be - and how expensive. Putting myself in your shoes (as best I can), I reckon the 12.5mm Baader Morpheus, while being the cheapest, may well hit a sweet spot for you. I really like its ergonomics and its price-to-performance ratio, and would live very happily with its performance for the budget (diminishing returns, etc.). Looking forward to reading how you get on.

Imagine arriving...only to have to quarantine.

It does! I use an optics blower - you know, one of those rubber syringes used for blowing dust off lenses, etc.