Incoming: New book on eyepieces

[John]

I'd be interested in reading this. I think there is a niche for a good book on the subject as the eyepiece is "half the scope" as they say

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I'd be interested in reading this. I think there is a niche for a good book on the subject as the eyepiece is "half the scope" as they say

More than half, I find. In terms of sheer numbers of optical surfaces that have to be figured and matched to each other, certainly more than half, unless you have a Petzval-type quintuplet scope, and a Plossl, ortho or (super)monocentric EP. Those that still use Huygens, Huygens-Mittenzwey, or symmetric Ramsden EPs are in dire need of this book (or more funds).

[emadmoussa]

but is a 32mm Plossl the right eyepiece for you? maybe you need the book

Good one :D

[fondofchips]

Good reference books enhance the pleasure of any hobby.

Another way to look at the cost of this book is: - How much would you lose if you bought the wrong eyepiece?

Then the book looks good value, nothing more disappointing than a bad purchase.

The gaps between the clouds are small enough as it is!

[Moonshane]

I do agree but if you buy used the answer is probably almost nothing; it's only when buying new that you take the depreciation hit. unlike cars there seems to be little secondary depreciation with good quality eyepieces.

[great_bear]

Very true - the only eyepiece purchases I've regretted have been brand new ones...

[endure]

but is a 32mm Plossl the right eyepiece for you? maybe you need the book

it sounds an interesting read from someone who knows the subject as well as most of not all.

£40 is relatively cheap for a book which is for such a relatively small market. when I was seriously into moth recording I had many volumes over £50 and quite a few over £100. like many things of quality if you change your hobby you can sell them to fund the next hobby which is what I did.

It has the same small market as other astronomy books most of which seem to cost less than £40. "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide" mentioned on this thread is available for ~£20 from Amazon. I'm wondering whether it will stay at that price for long after it's p[published? If not I shall do as you recommend and buy it second-hand

[John]

I always buy eyepieces used. That way I've been able to experiment with owning what must amount to dozens over the years, find out what works for me and then sell those that don't on with little or no loss

[emadmoussa]

OK, this puts me in the front category as I never bought second hand eyepieces -- usually the one who sells them second hand I usually buy accessories like dovetails and stuff second-hand but not optics unless I k now the person and trust their upkeep skills.

[John]

Generally I find astronomers look after their kit and are pretty honest about describing it's condition when selling. There are the very occasional exceptions but, thankfully those are rare. Buying from other SGL members is extremely safe I reckon

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Generally I find astronomers look after their kit and are pretty honest about describing it's condition when selling. There are the very occasional exceptions but, thankfully those are rare. Buying from other SGL members is extremely safe I reckon

+1 for that. I do occasionally buy new, especially when certain EPs are well within the hen's teeth category second hand.

[E621Keith]

Some eyepieces are rare and a few can only be found second hand. Some of these costs far more used than when they were new. Personally I don't have any problem buying second hard eyepiece, in fact that's my prefers method of purchase. The only eyepieces I bought new were my Nikon NAVs, Pentax XOs and 2 LVWs purchased during a sale.

OK, good one! But... £40?!!! It's not a multi-coated book, is it?

£40 for a specialist book isn't that expensive. Richard Berry's Handbook for Astronomcial image processing costs over £90. This eyepieces book has not been released yet, so the price may not be final. I'd expect some discount when it finally hit the shelves.

The description mentioned the history of eyepieces evolution. If it contains something similar to EJ Hysom's Evolution of the Astronomical Eyepieces, then £40 will be well worth it.

[Naemeth]

Generally I find astronomers look after their kit and are pretty honest about describing it's condition when selling. There are the very occasional exceptions but, thankfully those are rare. Buying from other SGL members is extremely safe I reckon

I agree. I've bought a lot 2nd hand, and a few from SGL members - it's generally pretty safe.

If the book has the history of the evolution of eyepieces and eyepiece designs in it, then I agree with Keith here - it will be worth it for that. £40 isn't that much, best not to dwell on the price so as to ignore the contents of the book.

[rwilkey]

Some eyepieces are rare and a few can only be found second hand. Some of these costs far more used than when they were new. Personally I don't have any problem buying second hard eyepiece, in fact that's my prefers method of purchase. The only eyepieces I bought new were my Nikon NAVs, Pentax XOs and 2 LVWs purchased during a sale.

£40 for a specialist book isn't that expensive. Richard Berry's Handbook for Astronomcial image processing costs over £90. This eyepieces book has not been released yet, so the price may not be final. I'd expect some discount when it finally hit the shelves.

The description mentioned the history of eyepieces evolution. If it contains something similar to EJ Hysom's Evolution of the Astronomical Eyepieces, then £40 will be well worth it.

And Chris Lord's 'Evolution' is another good paper - a classic in my view here: http://www.astrosurf.com/re/evolution_of_eyepieces.pdf

[great_bear]

I've bought a lot of second hand eyepieces and never once received damaged optics.

[E621Keith]

And Chris Lord's 'Evolution' is another good paper - a classic in my view here: http://www.astrosurf...f_eyepieces.pdf

Actually I was referring to the same paper. The title page was unreadable and I incorrectly credited Hysom, who wrote the Preface. You are right, the author was Chris Lord.

That paper was published in 1997 and a lot has changed in the last 16 years. We saw proliferation of widefield, long eye relief negative-positive designs, which was an exotic product in the 90's but pretty much standard in today's amateur's eyepiece case (includes eyepieces from BST to Ethos). These designs have replaced plossl in the intermediate and experienced astronomer's eyepiece case, and pushed orthoscopic into the niche product category. Kellner has completely disappeared from the market. The only Kellner you are likely to find today are ones that comes with beginner scopes.

Lord only wrote one and a half page on this eyepiece category, and all four designs described was discontinued years ago. I'd love to see an updated article covering modern designs such as BST, XW, Naglar 4,5,6, and Ethos as well as modern zoom eyepieces. Zoom has also came a long way since the 90's. Nowadays it is possible to buy zoom eyepiece that is every bit as good as their fixed counterpart.

[emadmoussa]

Oh, we're still talking about this?!

[great_bear]

I'd love to see an updated article covering modern designs such as BST, XW, Naglar 4,5,6, and Ethos

Chris Lord's latest viewpoints about modern widefields can be found here <click>

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Oh, we're still talking about this?!

We are finally talking about the content, not the price

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Chris Lord's latest viewpoints about modern widefields can be found here <click>

Interesting read

[RikM]

Chris Lord's latest viewpoints about modern widefields can be found here <click>

So I feel quite happy with my choice of XW's over Ethos

very interesting read, thanks for posting.

[emadmoussa]

We are finally talking about the content, not the price

Yes, this is exactly what kept me on this thread. Interesting thoughts sometimes.

[rwilkey]

Actually I was referring to the same paper. The title page was unreadable and I incorrectly credited Hysom, who wrote the Preface. You are right, the author was Chris Lord.

That paper was published in 1997 and a lot has changed in the last 16 years. We saw proliferation of widefield, long eye relief negative-positive designs, which was an exotic product in the 90's but pretty much standard in today's amateur's eyepiece case (includes eyepieces from BST to Ethos). These designs have replaced plossl in the intermediate and experienced astronomer's eyepiece case, and pushed orthoscopic into the niche product category. Kellner has completely disappeared from the market. The only Kellner you are likely to find today are ones that comes with beginner scopes.

Lord only wrote one and a half page on this eyepiece category, and all four designs described was discontinued years ago. I'd love to see an updated article covering modern designs such as BST, XW, Naglar 4,5,6, and Ethos as well as modern zoom eyepieces. Zoom has also came a long way since the 90's. Nowadays it is possible to buy zoom eyepiece that is every bit as good as their fixed counterpart.

Hi Keith, I wondered if it was the same paper, as I noticed Hysom's name in the preface, however the article is very good and the only decent historical paper I know of. This is why I am looking forward to Bill's book. I was actually writing a book on the same subject as I noted there was very little on the subject, but I have now shelved it as I am writing a novel as well. I have two in print at the moment. I am sure Bill's book will be extremely good and more academic than I could have written.

[rwilkey]

Chris Lord's latest viewpoints about modern widefields can be found here <click>

Hi Jeremy, thanks for posting - a very interesting read!

[John]

Interesting though Chris Lord's pieces no doubt are, I hope the forthcoming book is written in a more accessible way for those of us (like me !) easily confused by statistics, formulae and graphs