Explore Scientific 30mm 80 degree eyepiece.

[Guest]

I have just come in from a brief observing session using my 100mm F9 ED refractor. I have been testing my recently aquired 30 mm Explore Scientific 80 degree eyepiece. I bought it as a direct replacement for my 35mm Televue Panoptic. Here in South Hertfordshire the skies are light affected.The 35mm did not as a result give dark sky background.This may be the case for other longer focal length widefield eyepieces.I am delighted with the ES 30mm.It gives dark sky background and a view that is full of contrast.The Perseus Double Cluster was within the field of view and splendid.Stars are pretty much as expected with a premium eyepiece, well rounded/points all the way to the edges. This is my opinion as I saw things at about 11.30 p.m.

[rwilkey]

Hi Grumpy, I love this ep too, great views!

[Piero]

It's a very nice, comfortable, and affordable eyepiece.  I don't think it is much behind the N31 as far as optical quality concerns. 

Glad that you enjoy yours! I like mine on my Dobson. 

[Buzzard75]

I've actually been looking at the ES 82 30, the TV Panoptic 35, and the TV Nagler 31, in addition to some others, for like the last hour and a half trying to narrow down to a low power eye piece. I think the Nagler's out just due to the price tag.

[alan potts]

I can't speak directly about the ExSc version, however I did own the Meade 30mm UWA which to all intents and purposes is the same eyepiece, element wise at least. This was a very good eyepiece that I had at the same time as the 31mm Nagler, it heald its  own very well. I even read a CN review where the writer prefered the Meade.  I feel I only got rid because the Meade was Blue and black, don't they say say Blue and Green should not be seen.

Alan

[TheLookingGlass]

I've owned the 30mm ES 82 as well. Great EP if you don't wear glasses. Sometimes I sketch, and I need reading glasses to do this, so I chose the 28mm ES 68 and got rid of the 30mm ES 82.

I find the 28mm ES 68 a lot more comfy even when I am not sketching and observing w/o glasses. 

Congrats on your new eyepiece mate!

Cheers!

[Richard Hather]

I may consider picking one of these up over the next few months nice report ?

[Paul73]

Nice writup. Getting the right contrast can be tricky. I'm not good with big exit pupils. But, I did enjoy this eyepiece. To be fair, It starts to struggle at much faster than F5. But from then on it really flies.?. Realistically, making a better corrected eyepiece for double the price would be a big ask.

Paradoxically my most memorable views were wide fields as Astro dark was failing with the coming dawn.

Enjoy the monster eyepiece.

Paul