BST Starguider EPs?

[nevermore67]

Hi everyone.

My wife and I are beginners and I am looking for a new EP for her Celestron Nexstar 130 SLT to get a better view of planets than the stock Celestron 9mm EP which came with the scope.

Our scope has a 650mm focal length and I have been advised that the max EP we could hope to use in good conditions is a 6mm (the highest magnification set up we can get to at the moment is 3.6mm using the 9mm and a 2.5x Barlow which we cannot get in to focus).

I was considering a Baader Classic Ortho 6mm but have decided instead to upgrade our Barlow to a Celestron X-Cel LX 2x and expand our EP range with a 12mm which we can Barlow to 6. As far as I know this should work comfortably within the range of our scope.

I have a couple of questions and would really appreciate a little guidance:

1. Will we noticeably lose any light or image quality using a 12mm and a Barlow rather than going for a 6mm?

2. I have found a 12mm EP - a BST Starguider which only seems to be available on ebay. Are these EPs well rated?

If anyone has any views on the Celestron Barlow I have suggested or alternative EP options I'd be grateful.

Thanks everyone

Tom

[triton1]

Yes the bsts are very good for the price £49 from Alan at skies the limit on eBay.I still have the 8 mm.They have 60* fov with screw up eye guards and work well down to f5 scopes.A lot of people will recommend them on here.

[triton1]

Sorry forgot,revelation barlows are well thought of on here and I haven't noticed any difference when using mine as you can see in my sig.I think they can actually improve views on bright planets.

[nightfisher]

I would say your plan is a good one, the BST is a very good ep and the 12mm is very sharp

[ronl]

I use BST Starguiders and find they suit me perfectly, but they may not suit

everyone,  most people who use them say they are very good, I find the

Revelation Astro Barlow to be well suited to my Starguiders, the 12mm

Starguider should be ok for your needs, I use my 15mm plus my Barlow

to view Jupiter, and get great detailed views, the Starguiders have a good

wide field view, which I like, also the screw up eye cup makes observing

very comfortable and stops blackouts too. 

[Ally8446]

+1 for the BST. For the price you can't go wrong. I have three and I love them, sharp and contrasty.

[ScottS]

I too use the Starguiders and Revelation 2.5x Barlow. They work very well with my Dob. The 18mm EP is excellent.