Eyepiece Dilemma

[Bryan196]

I while back I posted a topic regarding eyepieces and had settled on the 5mm X-Cel LX for the odd night that high magnification could be used. Now that I've been out a lot more, I've been thinking about the other focal lengths in the range. Here are the reason for each one that I might possibly purchase.

12mm - I can get really good views with a 25mm and a 2x barlow, so this would be to improve the views even more. Of course if the improvement is less than noticeable, I won't bother.

7mm - Would be used to get the highest useable magnification, to squeeze every bit of detail out of those planets. But it might be too close a gap between it and the 9mm.

5mm - As stated above, for those rare nights that high magnification could be used.

I was thinking of the 18mm for DSOs, but when out on Friday night, I realised that I would be better spending my money on a longer focal length in the future. Any comments on the selection above and which one I should go for would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[perrin6]

If I was sticking with the X-cel's I'd get the 7mm & 5mm and the 12mm for later as you probably wouldn't notice much difference between that and the 25mm plus barlow. However if I had your scope I'd look for a 6mm (200x) for general planetary viewing and a 4mm (300X) for times of steady atmosphere and because I like looking for very close double stars. Oh and I'd probably get a 12mm(100x) for most of my general viewing of clusters & galaxies. My preference for slightly higher magnifications for planets & other small objects might be due to my middle-aged eyes which tend to have less acuity than younger people's.

[rory]

with the barlow, as long as you like using it, youve got 25 / 12.5mm , and 9/4.5mm. so the 12 mm and 5mm might be abit wasted unless your moving away from the barlow.

so that leaves the 18mm or 7mm. from those its a case of decideding what you'll use more or want to keep it for. general viewing of galaxies,o/c,and globs ect then id say 18mm (my favourite x-cel by the way) or the 7mm if its lunar/planets and doubles.

[Bryan196]

So thats the 12mm and the 5mm out of the equation. I find the barlow really comfortable to use, so they would wasted. I think I will go for the 7mm now and maybe the 18mm in the future, hopefully in time for the spring galaxies. Thanks guys

[alan potts]

I agree with Rory, if barlowing why double up on the eyepieces, buy something that you can't get with what you already have. 18mm barlowed down to 9mm would be my choice.

Alan.