BST Explorer Eyepieces

[Stephen]

Any hints on where these can be purchased? So far I've only found Skys The Limit (who are closed atm) - unless they are sold under a different name?

Thanks in advance!

[onmehedson]

If you can wait I wouldn`t bother looking for these anywhere else..

I bought mine from Skys The Limit, great eyepeices and a great seller..

Good luck !!

[Moonshane]

I agree with everything said. they do come up used every now and again. maybe get to 50 posts and 1 month membership and then place a wanted ad? you won't get much discount on new though so if you can wait.....

[andrew63]

Yes they are good eyepieces, just got a 8mm from alan, a very good service and you see them on the for sale here from time to time.

[Stephen]

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep my plastic in the wallet for now then

[Midpoint]

I'll hopefully be getting one of these tomorrow along with a TMB so that I can compare them. Fingers crossed that we get as good a weekend as we did last weekend as I'm quite excited!

[Moonshane]

I have had both and preferred the BSTs. Both excellent VFM though.

[Midpoint]

I've heard a couple of people say that. What was it you preferred about the BSTs?

[Moonshane]

they just seemed a bit better quality wise and the eye placement felt better. optically I think they were pretty much the same.

[Midpoint]

Just a short follow up.

I had a clear sky last night so a managed to give both the TMB 9mm and the Explorer 8mm a quick go in my Nexstar 6SE. Unfortunately, I get home from work quite late so Jupiter was already quite low in the sky by the time I was set up and so they views weren't great generally.

Both eyepieces were very comfortable to use once the eye cups had been raised to the right position for me. On the whole, the Explorer produced the more pleasing picture on the night (slightly sharper) but as I mentioned, this is probably not a fair test due to the position of Jupiter.

I'm keeping my eye on the weather forecasts in the hope it might be clear this weekend and I can give them a bit more of a thorough test.

[russ]

Sounds like the BST is going to get the nod. I agree though, the BST is the better finished eyepiece and optically very good. They are amazing for the price.

[Midpoint]

Thought I'd bump this one rather than create a new thread...

I've had a couple of nights to try both eyepieces on Jupiter now and the BST Explorer wins it for me. The view seems clearer, the colours better defined and the eyepiece just feels nice in the hand and to adjust.

So a big thank you to Alan at Sky's the Limit for allowing me to try them both, it was a great help!

[angusb1]

Midpoint, what scope were you using?

[Midpoint]

A Nexstar 6SE, F/10.

[russ]

They are great eyepieces. I just won a couple of these on Ebay this evening. Reading this thread, i'm really looking forward to owning them again.

[Stephen]

russ I hate you, I forgot the auction finished tonight and I wanted the 18! They were the Paradigm branded ones yes?

I got a 15 and a 5 S/H, the 15 is sweet - the 5 is a little hard work for me (takes my scope to 240x,) might consider getting rid and going TMB 6mm

[russ]

Sorry about that. I wasn't expecting to win them to be honest because i put in the minimum bid but was surprised no one showed any interest.

Apparently they are the Paradigm labeled ones.

I had the 8mm, 12mm and 18mm before. Really liked them.

[Stephen]

Paradigm are the original and BST are the rebranded cheaper ones.

Fair play, I was going to try and ninja in at the end but the pizza came and once pizza is in the house ......

[CGolder]

I owned the whole set and was silly to sell them dont get me wrong the hyperions are great but those BST's were very close and half the cost

[russ]

Distracted by food.......easily done

[russ]

I owned the whole set and was silly to sell them dont get me wrong the hyperions are great but those BST's were very close and half the cost

That was my conclusion when i owned them first time round. Having just sold my Hyperions and 'downgrading', i was mighty impressed with the Paradigm.

[WayBig]

I tried a bst and a tmb, I only tested them both side by side once, I couldn't tell much difference in the view but preferred the build of the bst. I've got 3 now.

[spaceboy]

I'm very impressed with my TMB's but I have to agree they aren't much to look at. If some one offered me a Celestron X-cel or a TMB my eye would go for the X-cel. Having had both though I know the X-cel would have been the wrong choice. I would think if the build of the BST feels better and the views are equal to the TMB's, if I had to make the purchase again the BST would be the better option for the slightly larger FOV.

SPACEBOY

[thommo10]

I am looking for new EP's for my ETX 125, have just looked on Skys the Limit and couldn't believe the price the BST's. I am thinking 18mm and 12mm for my scope??

[russ]

Those two should be great with the ETX125.