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Floppy top or solid top

happy-kat

By happy-kat
in Discussions - Eyepieces

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happy-kat

happy-kat

Posted
Posted

Hi

I have been looking at getting a new smaller eyepeice for out Heritage 130P f5 scope such as say an 8mm. I have not gone down the barlow route and so far have the stock 10mm and 25mm a 16mm Maixvision and have put a pressie request in for a 32mm GSO.

Out of using the eyepeices currently have there is a preference for the floppy rubber top ones over the solid top design of the Maxvision.

I see a lot of posts that indicate that the 8mm BST would be a good reasonable priced eyepeice for my scope, but it has the solid top design.

Images from the web to illustrate post.

What I like as a floppy top design.

GSO32mm%201%2013%20261.jpg

What I prefer not to repeat, though the eyepeice is great.

image_0215216_1.jpg

So my quandary is the BST is a design like the Maxvision, what other 8mm could I consider that had a top design like the GSO please?

Greatful for any ideas, or even I should just on with liking both designs.

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John

John

Posted
Posted

The solid top (which is usually rubber) designs generally have a twist up top section that acts as an eye cup. Once you have found the right position for you you can find it again and again by leaving the top twisted up at that point. The ones with the soft rubber eye cups are generally, but not always, fixed in that position. There are some designs such as Tele Vue Radian's and the TMB Planetary type eyepieces which have both a soft rubber eye cup and a twist up top section. The latter ones can be bought for around £40-£50 apiece and do come in the 8mm focal length amongst others. Tele Vue Radians are on the used market for around £100-£120 each and there is an 8mm in that range too.

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happy-kat

happy-kat

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Thank you.

Perhaps it is my experience with the MAxvision that has put me off, I find with the stock floppy tops I can easy see everything in the view with no peering round edges. I just find with the Maxvision regardless of position of the rubber flat top (and twist up sleeve) I am peering into the edges to see everything. Maybe it is the wider field of view I dislike in an eyepeice. The view is great in it just the whole experience does not feel right.

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stelios_t

stelios_t

Posted
Posted

Thank you.

Perhaps it is my experience with the MAxvision that has put me off, I find with the stock floppy tops I can easy see everything in the view with no peering round edges. I just find with the Maxvision regardless of position of the rubber flat top (and twist up sleeve) I am peering into the edges to see everything. Maybe it is the wider field of view I dislike in an eyepeice. The view is great in it just the whole experience does not feel right.

I think it's a combination of large eye-relief and wide-field that you find alienating. I have a 28mm UWAN (82 degree) that requires very precise positioning of the eye to enjoy (whereas my 17mm Nagler, also an 82 degree, does NOT, and is much easier to enjoy). 

The "floppy top" EP's are, IMO, only preferable if you will be watching from severely light-polluted areas (and if so, a hood is better). I'd advise against making this your sole criterion. 

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John

John

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Posted

I am very light polluted as have more than one street lamp and an outside light neighbour

I agree with you - I prefer soft eye cups too. I find I can snuggle my eye socket into them and more effectively cut out stray light from the eye lens. Some of the flat topped designs have surprisingly shiny tops as well, when light plays on them. Any light getting in and around the eye lens reduces contrast and can create ghosting. Not good.

All the Tele Vue eyepieces have had soft eye cups for years now - they know what they are doing when it comes to eyepieces :wink:  

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Stargazer_00

Stargazer_00

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Posted

I am very light polluted as have more than one street lamp and an outside light neighbour

On nights when the neighbours have lights on or whatever, I put a jacket or towel over my head and the eyepiece to get really dark experience at the telescope.  Helps cut down stray light coming on from the sides and can allow you to view both eyes open so long as you ensure no light reaches your other eye.

On cold nights your breath can fog the eyepiece if you sit under the cover too long, so breath long and slow through your nose and try to direct the air down and out.   

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John

John

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On cold nights your breath can fog the eyepiece if you sit under the cover too long, so breath long and slow through your nose and try to direct the air down and out.   

Would a snorkel help ?  :smiley:

It would confirm my reputation for madness with my family though  :rolleyes2:

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Stargazer_00

Stargazer_00

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Another option would be to get some eyeprotectors that snug up to your face. spray them black so they are 100% opaque.  Then on the right eye, remove the glass and replace it with a piece of think black lycra with a slit cut in it.

Then you don the item, effectively as a blindfold, and push the eyepiece through the slit in the lycra which then seals itself to the side of the eyepiece creating an eyepiece through the blindfold.  Bingo, a million pound idea!

EDIT:

Glasses: http://www.screwfix.com/p/jsp-anti-mist-pro-safety-goggles/11964 £5

Paint: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_173967_langId_-1_categoryId_165495      - is flexible so can paint the part of the glasses that touches your face without it cracking off after a week  £10

Stretch fabric: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plain-Black-Thick-Polyester-Bi-Stretch-Suit-Fabric-P-mt-/250796089355    £4

Superglue (to fix fabric to frame):  £1.50

So about £20 all in....tempted just to have a go for a laugh.

Further edit:

Even these for a better starting point:

http://www.blindfoldgoggles.co.uk/

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bingevader

bingevader

Posted
Posted

Another option would be to get some eyeprotectors that snug up to your face. spray them black so they are 100% opaque.  Then on the right eye, remove the glass and replace it with a piece of think black lycra with a slit cut in it.

Then you don the item, effectively as a blindfold, and push the eyepiece through the slit in the lycra which then seals itself to the side of the eyepiece creating an eyepiece through the blindfold.  Bingo, a million pound idea!

EDIT:

Glasses: http://www.screwfix.com/p/jsp-anti-mist-pro-safety-goggles/11964 £5

Paint: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_173967_langId_-1_categoryId_165495      - is flexible so can paint the part of the glasses that touches your face without it cracking off after a week  £10

Stretch fabric: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plain-Black-Thick-Polyester-Bi-Stretch-Suit-Fabric-P-mt-/250796089355    £4

Superglue (to fix fabric to frame):  £1.50

So about £20 all in....tempted just to have a go for a laugh.

Further edit:

Even these for a better starting point:

http://www.blindfoldgoggles.co.uk/

Far too much trouble. Buy the blindfold goggles and then cut out and stick images from the HST on the inside. No more expensive EPs!

happykat, I hope your search is fruitful, sorry we couldn't be of more help.

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