Delite: 9mm or 4mm

[Moonlit Night]

After some unexpected eyepiece changes my current minimalist set of eyepieces now consists of 3 Delites, a 5mm (x176) a 7mm (x126) a 13mm (x67) and a 32mm TV Plossl (x27).

I was going to buy a 5th eyepiece, do I buy a 4mm (x224)  or a 9mm  Delite (x97)? 
 

 

Edited February 16 by Moonlit Night

[runway77]

None of them, get the 18.2mm, the best one  would nicely fill the gap between your 13 and 32mm eyepieces as well.

Edited February 16 by runway77

[Mr Spock]

You say a 4mm is x224 - what scope is it for?

[Moonlit Night]

A Tele Vue 102. 8.6fl. 

[Moonlit Night]

37 minutes ago, runway77 said:

None of them, get the 18.2mm, the best one  would nicely fill the gap between your 13 and 32mm eyepieces as well.

I had one before and never used it. x27 and x67 is a x40 difference. Not worth spending £265.00 on the 18mm (x50) it doesn’t add anything. Others may disagree of course. 

Edited February 16 by Moonlit Night

[Mr Spock]

I'd definitely want x224. I use x224 a lot with my 100mm Tak (3.3mm TOE).

[rl]

Nagler 3-6 zoom?

[Moonlit Night]

Just now, Mr Spock said:

I'd definitely want x224. I use x224 a lot with my 100mm Tak (3.3mm TOE).

I was coming to the same conclusion. Be a nice eyepiece for Mars wouldn’t it. 

[Mr Spock]

Just now, Moonlit Night said:

I was coming to the same conclusion. Be a nice eyepiece for Mars wouldn’t it. 

Yes - great for lunar too. I do prefer (on mine) x185 for Jupiter though.

[Moonlit Night]

Just now, rl said:

Nagler 3-6 zoom?

50 degree field of view doesn’t really work with an un-driven mount.

[Moonlit Night]

The 5mm gives me x176 which is lovely with Saturn but the seeing here rarely supports that magnification for Jupiter sadly. x224 is well within its capabilities (my scope that is) and could probably do a lot more. 

[John]

11 minutes ago, Moonlit Night said:

50 degree field of view doesn’t really work with an un-driven mount.

I find my 2-4mm nagler zoom works fine for me with my un-driven alt-azimuth mounts but it's not an approach that everybody would enjoy, I appreciate.

On the eyepiece choice, I'd go for a 4mm as well. I find 225x and more very often in use with my refractors. I tend to prefer 1mm or less increments in the short focal lengths to increase the choices at high powers.

Edited February 16 by John

[Mr Spock]

Agreed. I think a 4mm + 5mm at that focal length is perfect.

[Moonlit Night]

Thanks for the input folks.
 

I think that just about clears that up then, I will order the 4mm in the morning. 

[Highburymark]

If you don’t mind the shorter eye relief and narrower AfOV (though both are still very comfortable), 4mm TOE will reveal intricate detail that the excellent Delite cannot. I recently sold my 4mm Delite for that reason, and I’m a huge Delite fan.

[IB20]

Get the 4mm TOE. My favourite eyepiece. 

[scarp15]

The 4mm DeLite is lovely and will complement your 5mm (I use a 4, 5 and 7mm also 18.2mm in this line).

[mikeDnight]

4 hours ago, Moonlit Night said:

50 degree field of view doesn’t really work with an un-driven mount.

I've managed to have some very enjoyable times observing Mars through a 100mm F7.4 refractor, using a 2.5mm Vixen LV eyepiece, with the scope mounted on an AZ4. I really can't remember it being difficult despite the eyepiece having a apparent field of ~45° and giving a magnification of 296X.

[John]

If you are not keen on a 50 degree AFoV the 4mm TOE will not help much at 52 degrees.

I owned one for a while and found it very good but not exceptional.

Others will differ from my findings though - that's the way of things 🙂

[Moonlit Night]

I won’t be deviating away from Delites. I absolutely trust them to be comfortable and just do what they are supposed to. I can just use them and forget about them, the entire line is predictable in its excellence. 

Edited February 17 by Moonlit Night
Auto correct hell

[Moonlit Night]

9 hours ago, Highburymark said:

If you don’t mind the shorter eye relief and narrower AfOV (though both are still very comfortable), 4mm TOE will reveal intricate detail that the excellent Delite cannot. I recently sold my 4mm Delite for that reason, and I’m a huge Delite fan.

Not my personal experience, but certainly an interesting perspective. I didn’t find them very comfortable to use to be honest. Very personal things aren’t they, eyepieces. 

Edited February 17 by Moonlit Night
Auto correct hell.

[Moonlit Night]

4mm Delite on order, should be here Monday with any luck. 

[RT65CB-SWL]

15 hours ago, John said:

I find my 2-4mm nagler zoom works fine for me with my un-driven alt-azimuth mounts but it's not an approach that everybody would enjoy, I appreciate.

On the eyepiece choice, I'd go for a 4mm as well. I find 225x and more very often in use with my refractors. I tend to prefer 1mm or less increments in the short focal lengths to increase the choices at high powers.

As per the above comment/reply.

To add, I have the TeleVue 3-6mm zoom and the Svbony 3-8mm zoom. I don’t regret buying either… and I too use alt-az mounts.

Edited February 17 by RT65CB-SWL

[Mr Spock]

1 hour ago, Moonlit Night said:

4mm Delite on order, should be here Monday with any luck. 

👍I'm sure you'll enjoy it. TV make excellent eyepieces.

 

1 hour ago, Moonlit Night said:

Very personal things aren’t they, eyepieces. 

Yes, and, there are one who two who take it personally if you don't like their favourite!  If you have an eyepiece you enjoy, go for it - what others use doesn't matter 

[runway77]

I had the 4mm TOE, was not very impressed as well and I sold it. I do have the 4mm Delite now but it's used only rarely due to atmospheric conditions. Such eyepiece usually requires a tracking mount as well.

Edited February 17 by runway77