Eyepiece Kits

[dazza1639]

I have read some good revues about the Revelation Eyepiece kit

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=revelationepset

But I can't seem to find any opinions of the Celestron Eyeopener Kit

http://www.celestron.uk.com/catalogues/view_item.asp?ItemID=30963&CatalogueID=272&CategoryID=3873

I just wondered how these to kits compare and if it was your money which would you buy.

Darren

[Merlin]

Hi Darren, I had a Revelation 26mm widefield eyepiece supplied with my Rev. 8 Dobsonian.

Yes,the eyepiece is widefield, except that only about 50% of the total field is usable, the rest of the field being plagued by comatic images. I gave this eyepiece to someone to use as a paper-wieght.

Personally, I think it's a mistake to go in for cheap eyepiece sets. It's best to have a couple of quality eyepieces (and Barlow?) for starters and build on them as you can afford.

It's often forgotten that eyepieces are as essential to good image performance in a 'scope as the primary mirror or objective. Premium eyepieces can be had cheaply,if you don't mind putting up with a reduced field of view. I bought the following for the Rev.8, but not all at the same time: 25mm and 15mm TELEVUE Plossls, 12.5mm, 9mm and 6mm BAADER orthoscopics. These types of eyepieces don't give super-duper wide fields like the monster NAGLERS, etc, but they do give brighter,sharper,images than any of those pricey multi-element eyepieces. Field-of-view isn't everything: I find my eyepieces good for the Moon,planets, double stars,planetary nebulae,globulars and galaxies.

You can get BAADER orthos from seeviewo.org at £55 each + £2p&p. Not bad at all for premium eyepieces.

[FLO]

I had a Revelation 26mm widefield eyepiece supplied with my Rev. 8 Dobsonian.

Yes,the eyepiece is widefield, except that only about 50% of the total field is usable, the rest of the field being plagued by comatic images.

I had the same eyepiece with a Revelation Dobsonian and agree, it wasn't particularly good. (Worth noting that the Revelation 26mm wide-field sold seperately is a different design and is remarkably good for its price).

Regarding the Revelation eyepiece set: I know the man who commissioned the plossls from the GSO factory and have used the set myself. Considering the price (£99) they are excellent. I'd go as far to say that they are the best eyepiece set on the market - for the price.

If you have more to spend and still like the idea/convenience of an eyepiece set, consider the Meade Series 5000 Super Plossl eyepiece set. Quality glass and construction with 60 degree FOV:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=ms5000spset&cat=81

I have just bought a set for myself 8)

<EDIT> http://stargazerslounge.com/index.php/topic,17977.0.html

[dazza1639]

Cheers Steve I like the look of the meade set but theres a 2" eyepiece in there and I'd never use that.

Darren

[FLO]

Good point.

[jammin63]

I have been wanting to buy the Celestron Kit you mention for a while, and watched the price go from $99 to $134, and back to $99, then today when I was going to order (I'm visiting me mum in a few weeks and will pick it up there), it went back to the $134. Still a decent price when compared to the 108 quid on amazon.uk.

If you want a good number of reviews from people who supposedly bought these (although the users are likely not as serious as the quality users like on this forum), try this link on amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-94303-Accessory-Kit/dp/B00006RH5I/sr=8-1/qid=1172700392/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6995853-1713664?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

Steve quoted the Revelation kit to me some time back, but I didn't have the dough back then, plus sorry it doesn't come with a Barlow, nor is there seemingly room in the case to put one if I bought it separately.

[FLO]

...sorry it doesn't come with a Barlow

It isn't possible to include a good barlow at the price.

nor is there seemingly room in the case to put one if I bought it separately.

Take the coloured filters out and put it there (lets face it, coloured filters are of limited use).