*Eyepieces Finalizing*

[Astro_Rob]

Hi guys,

I am about to purchase my first telescope (the Orion xt10 Classic Donsonian) and I was just hoping to get some advice on some eyepieces and Barlow lenses. Eyepiece and Barlow should be around £120 together please.

This was the eyepiece I am thinking of buying, the SWA 70 degree 24mm. 

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/clearance/sky-watcher-swa-70-eyepieces.html

The Barlow lens I am thinking of is this one. It's takes 1.25" and 2" EPs.

http://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-x2-super-deluxe-ed-barlow-lens-2.html

I am wanting to observe DSOs and planets but more to the side of DSOs.

If you have any good suggestions of good eyepieces or Barlow lenses I would love to hear your reviews and experiences with your equipment.

Any help is much apprexiated.

Clear skies,

Rob

[Louis D]

Avoid that 2" barlow.  It is Chinese made is reported to be inferior to the Taiwanese GSO made one according to CN contributors.  I have the latter, and it is indeed excellent.  Adding a Televue Panoptic Barlow Interface makes it near perfect for use with longer 2" eyepieces.

I have the 22mm AstroTech AF70 version of that line of eyepieces, and it is the best of the line.  Excellent out to about 90% of the field.  The 17mm is good to about 80% while the 13mm is only good out to about 65%.  After that, stars start to show some astigmatism and lots of chromatic aberrations (think rainbow comets).  I don't have the shorter ones to compare.  That's a 2" only eyepiece, so keep that in mind.  I don't know where you got the 24mm from.