Cheap EP's, Ostara, Obinar etc.

[Bazz]

Just purchased a couple of these 8mm & 30mm for my Skywatcher 150p Dob. Has anyone actually used them and how were they?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I think many of these are regular Plossl EPs. Nothing special, but certainly not bad. My kids have an unbranded 20mm Plossl which performs nicely, especially if you remember it cost 15 euro

[Highburymark]

Have seen these advertised in a couple of astronomy magazines - interested to hear how they perform.

[Chris]

Your scope is f8 and has plenty of focal length so they should be reasonably sharp towards the edge. The eye relief on the 8mm might will be quite tight, but they will perform better than the 10 & 25mm modified achromat eyepieces supplied with you scope

[Bazz]

What differences might I see compared to the stock EP's supplied with my scope. Also what differences would there compared to more expensive EP's?

[bomberbaz]

I had the 30mm a few years back before I upgraded it. Quite liked it although the lack of an eyeguard meant positioning felt a little awkward. As for seeing more, well you will get more into the FOV so should be good for the larger star fields, nice to use on the moon for full views and as mentioned will be fairly forgiving in your scope at F8. 

If you had a 2" expensive more eyepiece's then you would see larger views but again at F8, the actual views would not be immensely different than what you already have. What you may get from the higher end eyepieces is crisper views right to the edge of the eyepiece with more contrast but there is nothing wrong with the ones you just got to get you going at all. 

Where a 2"  eyepiece may come in for your scope is for extra widefield views. Something like revelation superview at 30mm would do you well without busting thew bank (about £30 I think). With a 68degree FOV would open things up nicely. The ostara 30 will give you 1.25 tfov whereas the Revalation would be around 1/2 a degree more. Again though there is nothing the matter with the Ostara.

I don't have a really expensive widefield EP now and simply have a moonfish (£70 I think i paid) which does for my widefield views but it really is a matter of preference.

Steve

[Bazz]

Thanks Steve, looking forward to trying these out.

PS

Also picked up the Ostara Moon/Skyglow filter after reading good reviews.

[Bazz]

Tried the 30mm Ostara last night.............very impressed. I did not have much time before the clouds rolled back in but just looking at Albireo the pair were pin sharp and beautiful well defined colours.

The filter worked extremely well in my awful light polluted back garden. All in all very happy.

[Bazz]

Another little update.

I received my Obinar 10mm Plossl yesterday and gave it a go last night viewing the moon..........wow superb.

[LukeSkywatcher]

Ive heard the names of these EP's and some members have bought some. I dont recall any of the people who bought them reporting back any negative comments,so thats proof enough that they are good enough.

All that matters is that you are happy with them and enjoy the views they give.

[Bazz]

Thanks Paul, can't wait to try it out on some planetary observation. 

[LukeSkywatcher]

The 8mm should be good with planets. Im not sure, but i think you have to be up early these days to catch the planets. I know i saw a couple last week from my window at about 6am in the south. Venus and jupiter i think.

[bomberbaz]

it will be showing more in a couple of months will Jupiter, however if you really want to see some planets and dont moind getting up early, try this http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/252345-4-planetary-observation-opportunity-conjunction-times-2/ 

Steve