Planetary eyepiece

[26Left]

Hi all,

I was observing Jupiter a couple of weeks ago using my 8mm Baader Hyperion, using the fine tuning rings to bring it down to 5mm F/L. I had been convinced that this EP gives me better view of planets than my Televue eyepieces. But, as an experiment, I swapped it for my 25mm TV Plossl and x5 PowerMate, giving me the same magnification.

I was surprised by the result. The Hyperion was unquestionanbly brighter, perhaps due to the coatings Baader use. But, the contrast seemed better with the Televue combination and I think I could see more detail in the tropical regions of the planet. Strange that I had never noticed this before, but perhaps I am learning to observe better.

This got me thinking about planetary eyepieces and I have almost decided to buy a Baader Orthoscopic and see how I get on with it, because I have read good things.

Baader make a 5mm version, which would give me x190 magnification with my 5" 'frac. But, they also make a 12.5mm, which would give me the same magnification when used with my x2.5 PowerMate.

The 12.5mm would probably be more comfortable to use, because of the longer eye relief. But, since the purpose of the purchase would be to squeeze the best view out of my scope, maybe it would be best to go with the 5mm so that there is as little glass as possible and get used to the eye relief.

Perhaps I have answered my own question! But, does anyone have any views or experiences on orthos and their use with Barlows/Powermates? 5mm or 12.5mm? Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Tom.

[nightfisher]

I love the view from an orthoscopic eyepiece, but the eye relief is really tight on them, i sold my 9mm as i dont like having my eye so close to the glass, maybe you might want the 7mm, reason being a 5mm is only going to be used on the very best of nights

[Capricorn]

But, since the purpose of the purchase would be to squeeze the best view out of my scope, maybe it would be best to go with the 5mm

Why do you equate the best view with the highest magnification ?

The 2 do not go together otherwise we would all simply get a 5mm eyepiece and a 5x barlow and really go to town.

I have a 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm plossl amongst a host of others. The 6mm gives the best view when it is used on the same scope as the other 2 eyepieces but that is the least of all 3 magnifications.

[26Left]

It's not about more magnification. When I say "squeeze the best", I mean I want to achieve the best light transmission and contrast. Basically, I would like to see as much detail as I can.

I am trying to compare like for like. I generally find that a magnification of between x150 and x200 works best for me on planets, and it's very rare for me to push things higher. I often settle at 5mm (x190), so I'm trying to compare the 5mm options I have now and consider other options that would give me the same magnification, but deliver more detail.

The eye relief of a 5mm EP is certainly a concern for me, which is why I bought my PowerMates in the first place. So, perhaps a 12.5mm ortho and a x2.5PM would be my answer. But, having spent £70 ish on the ortho, I'd hate to think I missed out on something by not going for the 5mm without using my PM.

Cheers,

Tom.

[John]

5mm gives me 180x with my ED120 refractor and has been my most used magnification on Jupiter thus year. My current 5mm options are a TMB Supermonocentric which is a highly specialised planetary eyepiece or my 8mm Ethos with the Antares 2" 1.6x barlow lens. Both options deliver superb views albeit in very different ways of course. I have recently also compared a University 5mm HD ortho to these and it compared almost identically. The Baader Genuine Ortho performs just the same as the University HD ortho.