Recommendations for the biggest useable wide field EP for Heritage 130p

[Big_Daz]

Hi all, I would like a cheap, big, wide field EP for my Heritage 130p to use as a magnified finder, any suggestions?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

MaxVision 24mm 68 deg should be good. If you want to splash out, you could go for a 24mm Pamoptic. A cheaper option is  a 32mm Plossl. All give the maximum field stop for a 1.25" EP.

[Big_Daz]

Thanks Michael, just read up on field stops and the maximum field stop diameter seems to be 27mm for a 1.25" ep and 46mm for a 2" ep, as the Heritage 130p only has a 1.25" focuser I will look for a magnified finder instead.

[rory]

Does the heritage take 2" barrels ?

[Big_Daz]

Does the heritage take 2" barrels ?

Only 1.25" EP's rory.

[rory]

Ah, okay . Well cheap then would be a straight 32mm plossl. I had a simple Meade 4000 series 32mm . It was my first. ( proper) eyepiece and I found it excellent for wider views and a useful finder. I paid less than £20 from a well known auction site.

[Stargazer_00]

Thanks Michael, just read up on field stops and the maximum field stop diameter seems to be 27mm for a 1.25" ep and 46mm for a 2" ep, as the Heritage 130p only has a 1.25" focuser I will look for a magnified finder instead.

Hi Daz,

I ws wondering what you mean by magnified finder?  In a 130p, at F5 you have a focal length in the scope of 650mm I think?

with a 32mm Plossl that is 20x magnification.  Very low magnification indeed.  most finders are around 6x-10x so a step up from these in your scope is 32mm plossl.    It's worth pointing out that although a 24mm 68 degree eyepiece gives 27x magnification it also shows more or less an indentical true field as a 32mm plossl only it's spread over a much more eye pleasing wide apparent field of view.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

24 mm in an F/5 scope gives a 4.8 mm exit pupil, which gives darker backgrounds than the 32 mm at 6.4 mm exit pupil. This is particularly useful in case of LP. The 24 MaxVision is an absolute steal at the moment.

[Naemeth]

I used a 26mm EP (plossl) with the Heritage the most, although now I tend to use a 32mm TV plossl. You don't really need more than the 2.08 degrees [the 26mm] gives.

[Big_Daz]

Thanks for the replies guys, will I see much difference than the super 25 that I have now?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Most "Super" 25 mm EPs I have seen are either "super Plössl" designs or "super RK" designs. Apparent field of view (AFOV) 50 to 55° or 60° at most. The MaxVision has 68° AFOV, so considerably more. The quality is a huge step up. The 32mm Plössl gives the same true FOV, at a lower magnification.

[Big_Daz]

According to the Sky-Watcher web site the Super 10 and Super 25 EP's that came with the scope are based on a modified achromat design (25mm has 50^o AFoV)

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

In that case the difference is more than 70% in terms of area inthe sky (or 36% linearly)

[astronymonkey]

The stock eyepieces that come with the scope are real shame as they dont really get the most from what the scope has to offer. Id agree with the 24mm maxvision suggestion as the exit pupil is below 5mm and as has already been mentioned the wider field scoops up a nice chunk of sky.

[Pig]

+1 for the Maxivision