Swapping between eyepieces

[rockystar]

Hi all,

I wanted to get peoples opinions on swapping between eyepieces during a session.

I was out last night for a reasonable session, moving through a variety of targets, and found that I was constantly swapping between my eyepieces, my 18mm to find/zero in on a target, and then swapping it out for my 7mm for greater magnification, and then back out to my 18 to find the next target. Every time I did this, I was replacing the caps on the eyepiece - I think I'd read somewhere else that this was good practice in order to fend off dew - placing it in the tray on my tripod and then swapping in the other eyepiece. This seemed to take ages to do and was wondering if there was a better way, or different practice, to make this process a bit smoother. At the moment I'm only using 2 eyepieces, but got a couple more on the way soon (looking at something like a 30 & 12 - but that's an aside), so if I've then got 4 eyepieces and trying to find which one suits best for the object I'm viewing, I would like to make this process as slick as possible. And then I was sometimes putting a barlow in the middle as well.

Any thoughts, comments or ideas?

Thanks

Lee

[Moonshane]

hi Lee

You can of course, hold the two eyepieces, one in each hand and decide which provides the better view? Then place the one in the eyepiece tray - although I tend to put them in a foam lined flight case myself and leave the caps off.

If using a non tracking mount (i.e. one you move yourself) place the object at the far side of the field where it first appears and you then have quite a bit of time to allow a change of eyepieces and for it to still be visible. You'll soon get used to it.

[Vox45]

I don't do a lot of visual but this EP swapping got on my nerves real fast so I bought a Baader Zoom I like it a lot and no more swapping for me.

[John]

I've had session where I've used all 9 of my eyepieces and others where just one has been in the focuser all night. It all depends what my targets are.

When not in use I keep my eyepieces in their foam lined case with their end caps on. I find keeping them just a little warmer than the outside temperature stops them misting up, especially on cold nights.

A zoom is convenient in this respect and for testing the seeing conditions but personally I tend to prefer fixed focal length eyepieces these days.

[scarp15]

I use a collapsible IKEA garden table when at home (or similar when on the allotment) and a camping table when away at a dark site, which I use for my eyepiece / filter flight case. Some sessions may involve using three or four eyepieces whilst others five / six or even more . The caps are kept in the case when not in use (they are so easy to loose when at a dark and breezy car park) and eyepieces -in-between use - are kept either securely on the table (beware of frost forming) or returned loosely back into the case - with caps on to prevent dew etc. Sometimes I might place an eyepiece on the platform of the dob base for quick access. I also set the dobsonian up on a mat, for extra a stability and if anything should drop (also good for feet insulation). For this I used to use a square off-cut foam kitchen lino, I now use the old heavy duty rubber boot mat from my former (probably now scrapped) Skoda Fabia.

[rl]

A heated eyepiece box helps...keeps all the ones you're not using dew-free.

RL

[Nike]

What i have done recently that works for me i just keep them in my deep jacket pocket and swop over with no issues and it has been quite `dewy` at night...................

[bob9039]

funny you mentioned that about swapping eye pieces. i was out last night with 200mm newt/dobs.

I was using a 2" 30mm to locate objects and then pop in the 1.25 25mm. i was just putting them in my jacket pocket when not in use. they stayed dew free and clean.  

[LukeSkywatcher]

Hyperion 8-24mm solved all my swapping isues.

[rockystar]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I think some kind of case is definitely required when I get more eyepieces. Most of my viewing is dove at home, so I've got a garden table, may look at a small collapsible one for when I'm out and about and then keep one in the pocket.

Not sure how I feel about zooms yet, think I need to try one.

[darthvader]

I was recently getting frustrated with all the swapping about then had a brainwave... (doesn't happen very often for me)

I decided to cut out some circles of stiff foam rubber and attached them to the side of my scope with double-sided tape to pop the eyepiece caps/bottoms and finderscope caps onto whilst the EP/Finder is in use. If you make them slightly too large the caps stay on nicely even when the scope is moved about and I can easily find them instead of hunting around in the dark. I will post a picture when i next pop out to the observatory (shed !)

Obviously, this still means you have to keep the actual EPs somewhere, and like others I keep them in a foamed flight case but at least whilst in use you don't have to fiddle around swapping the caps etc. over

[rockystar]

Nice idea.

I'm going to have to throw all these ideas around and see what works for me.