Planning your ideal eyepiece collection

[John]

2 hours ago, Louis D said:

.... There are exceptions for experienced folks who do know how much curvature or other aberrations to expect and can detect when more exists, but that's uncommon here on SGL.

Well thats put us in our place !

[Louis D]

4 hours ago, Piero said:

Maybe it's just me, but when I read statements as those reported in your first two sentences (coma, field curvature), I interpret that the eyepiece shows a clean field of view and that the known aberrations in the optical train (before eyepiece) become easily detectable. 

Which is how it should be.  But all too often it's the eyepiece that's being denigrated through no fault of its own in later sentences.

[25585]

Neither black or white. Different focal lengths and designs have their own pros and cons. 

Those eps made by and for S/C/M/T (and longish fl refractors) brands for example, and identified by brand, can be acceptable or enhance visual aspects of long focal length scopes generally. The cheapest bulk eps are aimed at that market. 

Eye pieces made for terrestial could be optimised for that, which may be less perfect for sky sweeps, and those for purely stargazing using fast Newtonians may be unsuitable for anything else. These are both more specialised. 

So IMO a F6 Newtonian, F8 refractor & any cassegrain will allow an easy collection of relatively inexpensive eye pieces. It's when people acquire faster Newtonians, and use eps designed for larger focal ratio scopes that dissatisfaction can set in.

 

[Littleguy80]

The quest had continued and another round of buying has taken place. I’ve added the 13mm APM HDC which gives me the suggested set of 3 100 Degree eyepieces. Initially I wasn’t sure I needed it but as time went on I often found myself wishing for something in between the 20mm and 9mm. I also added yet another Ortho. A 9mm BGO. I noticed that with bright targets like the planets, the 9mm Lunt would sometimes give some odd reflections. I also have a preference for Orthos when it comes to planetary viewing. The last of my recent purchases was a Baader VIP Barlow. I love that you easily vary the multiplying factor by adding or removing extension tubes on this Barlow. It’s reputation for being optically excellent was also a big factor in getting it. My only challenge with the Barlow has been getting enough back focus. I’m probably going to order an 80mm extension tube. I have a similar issue with the 9mm Lunt which will only focus in 1.25” mode with my current extension tube.

My one remaining target is an ES82 30mm. The 2 degree TFOV and large exit pupil will be very useful for some of my favourite and planned targets. Maybe not an eyepiece that will come out every session but a useful one none the less. When that arrives the Telrad and torch will leave the eyepiece case and I’ll buy a new foam insert. Then I’ll tell myself that my collection is complete  

[Geoff Barnes]

I think I dream of owning one or two of those Lunt/APM 100 degree EP's Neil.

Any chance of you doing a write up of your opinions of their performance in your Dob anytime soon please?

[Littleguy80]

10 minutes ago, Geoff Barnes said:

I think I dream of owning one or two of those Lunt/APM 100 degree EP's Neil.

Any chance of you doing a write up of your opinions of their performance in your Dob anytime soon please?

Hi Geoff. They’re fantastic eyepieces which seem to be gaining in popularity. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you decide to invest in them. I’ll have a few sessions with the 13mm and then do a write up for you

I’d encourage you to have a read of @jetstream‘s excellent thread on the 20mm. This was a big factor in my decision to go for the Lunt/APM eyepieces. 

 

 

[Mike_S]

I just want to say what a brilliant thread. This is helping me decide too. I’m now leaning towards Pentax XW or Myriad/ Lunt APM. 

[Littleguy80]

27 minutes ago, MSammon said:

I just want to say what a brilliant thread. This is helping me decide too. I’m now leaning towards Pentax XW or Myriad/ Lunt APM. 

I’ve been very happy with my APM/Lunts. @DRThas both the Pentax and APMs! I suspect a combination of the two would work best. APMs in the longer focal lengths. Pentax for the shorter focal lengths. 

[Mike_S]

Why Pentax for the shorter?

[Littleguy80]

2 minutes ago, MSammon said:

Why Pentax for the shorter?

It depends on your targets but I tend to think of the higher magnifications being for smaller targets like planets, double stars, planetary nebulae. I personally find that I pick up more detail with a narrower field of view. That’s why I use orthos plus they give a really nice sharp image. My 9mm Baader Genuine Ortho outperforms my 9mm Lunt XWA in terms of contrast and sharpness. However, I can fit the whole of NGC 457 (Owl cluster) in the FOV with the Lunt but not the BGO. The 100 degree FOV is nice with the manual DOB as it means less nudging. 

I guess the conclusion would be that it’s down to what your priority/preference is! 

[Mike_S]

Nudging is a real issue for me at the moment as I’ve only used my 10 inch dob a few times and mostly been focusing on Saturn. By the time I’ve focused it’s moved. Currently only using 50 degree eyepieces. I didn’t realise narrower field of view could be sharper but I’m sure it would be relatively sharp with APM still. Pentax corrected to F4. I don’t know what APM are corrected to? Eye relief longer on Pentax but I don’t wear glasses anyway. I like the sound of the twist up design too as one of my soft cups has torn. Twist up seems an advancement.

[Littleguy80]

11 minutes ago, MSammon said:

Nudging is a real issue for me at the moment as I’ve only used my 10 inch dob a few times and mostly been focusing on Saturn. By the time I’ve focused it’s moved. Currently only using 50 degree eyepieces. I didn’t realise narrower field of view could be sharper but I’m sure it would be relatively sharp with APM still. Pentax corrected to F4. I don’t know what APM are corrected to? Eye relief longer on Pentax but I don’t wear glasses anyway. I like the sound of the twist up design too as one of my soft cups has torn. Twist up seems an advancement.

I’m no eyepiece expert but I think it’s simply easier to design a sharp eyepiece with a narrow AFOV. The wider it gets the more correction is required for the various aberrations that occur. I’m not sure what the APM’s are tested down to but I know of people using them below F4. Nudging gets easier with practise. My orthos are 40 Degree and I can manage them with my 10” dob fairly easily now. There are plenty of dob owners who very happily only use widefield eyepieces. Whether you go Pentax, APM or both, I think you’re gonna be very happy with your choice  

[Littleguy80]

I’ve added an ES82 30mm to the collection and with that it’s time to bring this thread to a close. I’m not so foolish as to say that I’m done but I now having everything I want. The addition of the Baader VIP gives a lot of flexibility with the existing eyepieces. I’m very happy with my eyepiece case. Eyepiece fever has, for now, passed  

[rwilkey]

The ES82 30mm is a lovely eyepiece, I couldn't believe the amazing view when I first looked through it.

[kerrylewis]

13 minutes ago, rwilkey said:

The ES82 30mm is a lovely eyepiece, I couldn't believe the amazing view when I first looked through it.

Agreed. I have a set of the big ES eyepieces from 14mm to 40mm and love the views they give especially in the Dob. I then have various TVs for the shorter focal lengths. I feel no need for any more eyepieces . Ha! ?

[Paz]

1 hour ago, Littleguy80 said:

I’ve added an ES82 30mm to the collection and with that it’s time to bring this thread to a close. I’m not so foolish as to say that I’m done but I now having everything I want. The addition of the Baader VIP gives a lot of flexibility with the existing eyepieces. I’m very happy with my eyepiece case. Eyepiece fever has, for now, passed  

Very nice set up!

[Mike_S]

Very interesting. How are you getting on with this set up now? I am still a beginner and learning what I need. Have bought Myriad 20mm, Myriad 5mm, Pentax XW5mm. Next planning on a lunt 13mm, possibly more Pentax om 7 or 10. Also keep considering ES 82 degrees as they seem such good value and do the full range required, parfocul as well. I'm not considering others as these are what I want to try first after hours and hours of reading and some star gazing lol. My scope is a 10" F4.7 dob. 

[Littleguy80]

6 hours ago, MSammon said:

Very interesting. How are you getting on with this set up now? I am still a beginner and learning what I need. Have bought Myriad 20mm, Myriad 5mm, Pentax XW5mm. Next planning on a lunt 13mm, possibly more Pentax om 7 or 10. Also keep considering ES 82 degrees as they seem such good value and do the full range required, parfocul as well. I'm not considering others as these are what I want to try first after hours and hours of reading and some star gazing lol. My scope is a 10" F4.7 dob. 

Thank you. It’s proved a great set up with my dob. The ES82 30mm is superb. I mainly use it with filters to observe large diffuse Nebula such as the Veil, North American Nebula and the California. I’ve also seen the Horsehead with it but this is not the best eyepiece for this. I just recently purchased a 25mm Televue Plossl for this. The 13mm Lunt/APM is a great eyepiece and gets plenty of use. If you like your 20mm Myriad then you’ll like that.  

I’m currently thinking over my high power eyepiece options and am considering a 5mm/7mm Pentax XW as well as a Televue Nagler Zoom 3-6mm. 

[Mike_S]

My head is battered over it. So annoying that many great eye pieces fall short in the range of focul lengths so have to mix and match. I’m just working out if I can live with twist up eye cups for now and wether I prefer 70 or 100 degrees field of views. Also seeing if 13-15m eye relief is okay or if I want more 20mm. I definitely want more than 50 degrees as I thought the nudging to keep Saturn in view was over the top with a plossl.

[Littleguy80]

23 minutes ago, MSammon said:

My head is battered over it. So annoying that many great eye pieces fall short in the range of focul lengths so have to mix and match. I’m just working out if I can live with twist up eye cups for now and wether I prefer 70 or 100 degrees field of views. Also seeing if 13-15m eye relief is okay or if I want more 20mm. I definitely want more than 50 degrees as I thought the nudging to keep Saturn in view was over the top with a plossl.

I agree. There’s so much choice and quite often the biggest differentiation can be simply your personal preference. Do you have a local astronomical society? You may well find the members would be willing to let you take a look through their eyepieces to help you get a feel for what works best for you. The secondhand market is a good way to go too. You can normally buy an eyepiece, try it and sell it for pretty much what you paid for it. It gives you time for some extended testing too. 

[Mike_S]

Yes I keep meaning to go to a local event. There are two clubs I’m following. It’s just having time as it means getting away from family. I’m not interested in anything that costs over £300, I just find it won’t be worth it to a beginner with a relatively untrained eye as there are so many good ones for less than that. It’s looking like Pentax XW for planetary and Myriad/APM Lunt for DSO for me. I will keep buying one by one as I learn what focul lengths I really need. 

[Littleguy80]

10 minutes ago, MSammon said:

Yes I keep meaning to go to a local event. There are two clubs I’m following. It’s just having time as it means getting away from family. I’m not interested in anything that costs over £300, I just find it won’t be worth it to a beginner with a relatively untrained eye as there are so many good ones for less than that. It’s looking like Pentax XW for planetary and Myriad/APM Lunt for DSO for me. I will keep buying one by one as I learn what focul lengths I really need. 

There are plenty of experienced observers who don’t have eyepieces as nice as that. I think they’ll serve you very well!

[estwing]

20 minutes ago, Littleguy80 said:

There are plenty of experienced observers who don’t have eyepieces as nice as that. I think they’ll serve you very well!

Old Nicks eps have served him well and aren't the most expensive ones...I'm sure one of them is an old whisky glass!!!

[niallk]

On 16/03/2019 at 09:36, estwing said:

Old Nicks eps have served him well and aren't the most expensive ones...I'm sure one of them is an old whisky glass!!!

I heard they are good for seeing doubles...