Opinions on Vixen PL eyepieces

[Olli]

I was wondering if any of you have used Vixen PL eyepieces before? When I buy my new scope ( either a 130p/150p dob) I was looking to purchase some of these eyepieces to use instead of the stock ones as people tend to say they aren’t great at best. The eyepieces looking to get are the 25mm ones and 10mm. Is there a big difference using these then using the stock ones. Or if not the vixen eyepieces any alternatives that are in that price range. Or is it worth just keeping the stock EPs for a while. Just want to get the best possible views from the get go.

Many Thanks

[parallaxerr]

If you mean Vixen NPL Plossls, then yes, I would say they are definitely a step up from kit eyepieces. They are well regarded Plossls with the general consensus being that they are bright and crisp with very little edge distortion. The only issue I see is a little astigmatism (I think) right next to the field stop in the 30mm NPL in my 120ED, but I have to look for it, it doesn't bother me otherwise.

The only common criticism is the twist up eyecup. I can feel a bit plastic, especially when extended, but personally I use mine without extending it as it makes the eye relief too tight to see the field stop.

FYI - best price I can find currently is at Tring Astronomy, £37 each

[Olli]

8 minutes ago, parallaxerr said:

If you mean Vixen NPL Plossls, then yes, I would say they are definitely a step up from kit eyepieces. They are well regarded Plossls with the general consensus being that they are bright and crisp with very little edge distortion. The only issue I see is a little astigmatism (I think) right next to the field stop in the 30mm NPL in my 120ED, but I have to look for it, it doesn't bother me otherwise.

The only common criticism is the twist up eyecup. I can feel a bit plastic, especially when extended, but personally I use mine without extending it as it makes the eye relief too tight to see the field stop.

FYI - best price I can find currently is at Tring Astronomy, £37 each

Great thanks, was going to get them off flo when I order my scope an everything else which they sell them   for £41. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/vixen-eyepieces/Vixen_NPL-4.html

[teoria_del_big_bang]

Might be worth ringing FLO if you are getting your scope from them as they may well do some sort of deal, perhaps ask if you can swap the stock EPs for a better price as you don't really need them. Just a thought and worst case they will probably price match the EP's. 

Steve

[LukeSkywatcher]

Yes the Vixen NPL are great quality EP's. Very sharp views right to the edge and very contrasty (make hunting down galaxies very easy). As mentioned above.........many people who try them all say the same thing: "very short eye relief". I dont find this an issue. 

The twist up eye cup does feel a bit plastic and cheap. I never have them twisted up, so not an issue with me.

I LOVE my NPL's. I have: 8,15 and 30mm.

I also have a 25mm Vixen SLV (much more expensive than the NPL's) and to be honest, i dont find it as good.

John (the SGL eyepiece guru) has compared all sorts of eyepieces with each other and i believe his conclusion about the NPL when compared to a VERY popular brand (BST) is that they are very similar. Not much difference in the price of both, but the BST offer longer eye relief.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/vixen-eyepieces/vixen-npl-eyepieces.html

The NPL have a field of view (FOV) of 50 degrees. The BST have a FOV of 60 degrees.

[LukeSkywatcher]

In other words:

For the sake of a few pound more.........i'd go for the BST. You get a wider FOV and better eye relief.

[Olli]

On 2/9/2018 at 23:25, LukeSkywatcher said:

In other words:

For the sake of a few pound more.........i'd go for the BST. You get a wider FOV and better eye relief.

Sorry to bring up an old thread have just seen your reply my apologies. I’ve decided to go for this scope https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az5-deluxe/sky-watcher-explorer-130ps-az5-deluxe.html and reading more would prefer a wider FOV .when I order it  I was going to get maybe a 8 and 15  (and probably stick with the 25mm stock one for a while) eps from this set https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces/bst-starguider-60-8mm-ed-eyepiece.html would these be a good choice think they’re the ones you were talking about?

[alanjgreen]

15 minutes ago, Dinoco said:

Sorry to bring up an old thread have just seen your reply my apologies. I’ve decided to go for this scope https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az5-deluxe/sky-watcher-explorer-130ps-az5-deluxe.html and reading more would prefer a wider FOV .when I order it  I was going to get maybe a 8 and 15  (and probably stick with the 25mm stock one for a while) eps from this set https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces/bst-starguider-60-8mm-ed-eyepiece.html would these be a good choice think they’re the ones you were talking about?

The 130ps is 650mm

BSTs are good EPs and come in 3.2, 5,8,12,15,18 &25. You will be okay with them.

The 130 should be okay up to x175 magnification

if you divide the 650 by the eyepiece size then you get the magnification for that Eyepiece in that scope.

650/25= x26

650/18=x36

650/15=x43

650/12=x54

650/8=x81

650/5=x130

if you try to get spreads of x40 then you get good value at the eyepiece

so, x26 then x54 then x81 then x130

which is 25mm then 12mm then 8mm then 5mm

if you keep the supplied 25mm (for low power) then I would get the 5mm for high power and the 12mm for mid power. You could add the 8mm later... or get the 8mm instead of the 12mm and then the 12mm later?

Check the second hand pages then maybe you can get 3 for price of 2!

Alan

[Olli]

6 minutes ago, alanjgreen said:

The 130ps is 650mm

BSTs are good EPs and come in 3.2, 5,8,12,15,18 &25. You will be okay with them.

The 130 should be okay up to x175 magnification

if you divide the 650 by the eyepiece size then you get the magnification for that Eyepiece in that scope.

650/25= x26

650/18=x36

650/15=x43

650/12=x54

650/8=x81

650/5=x130

if you try to get spreads of x40 then you get good value at the eyepiece

so, x26 then x54 then x81 then x130

which is 25mm then 12mm then 8mm then 5mm

if you the supplied 25mm then I would get the 5mm for high power and the 12mm for mid power. You could add the 8mm later...

Alan

Thank you Alan for that helpful info, I knew there was a rule but forgot what it was  just want something better then the stock eps and not overkill at the same time. FLO are doing a good discount on the BST eps if you order two or more. Not sure how long it will last though have to wait a couple of months before I can order.

[Ricochet]

I would suggest saving up for a 24mm ES68° over the 25mm Starguider, which is the odd one out in the range and does not cope with fast scopes as well as the rest.

[Olli]

5 hours ago, Ricochet said:

I would suggest saving up for a 24mm ES68° over the 25mm Starguider, which is the odd one out in the range and does not cope with fast scopes as well as the rest.

Those are quite expensive bit out my budget if your talking about these https://www.firstlightoptics.com/explore-scientific-eyepieces/explore-scientific-68-degree-series-eyepieces.html

[Ricochet]

Yes, those are the ones. I have to admit I had forgotten the scale of the price increase, they used to be £100. It would still be worth watching out for a second hand one though I feel.

[Olli]

4 hours ago, Ricochet said:

Yes, those are the ones. I have to admit I had forgotten the scale of the price increase, they used to be £100. It would still be worth watching out for a second hand one though I feel.

Thanks I’ll keep it in mind, would the 130p benefit from any type of filters ? Was thinking of this https://www.firstlightoptics.com/uhc-oiii-visual-filters/explore-scientific-uhc-nebula-filter-1-25-2-inch.html

[Ricochet]

2 minutes ago, Dinoco said:

Thanks I’ll keep it in mind, would the 130p benefit from any type of filters? Going to mainly be using it on nebulae/ clusters and galaxy’s if I can get good views 

The right filters can be used with any size telescope. For nebulae you want UHC and OIII filters. These are the only filters you might ever need. Galaxies really need dark skies, while clusters are the least affected by light pollution and your best filter will be to increase the magnification.