RGM
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 766
Loc: Burks Falls, Ontario, Canada
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I currently use 19Pans and 13T6s for my binoviewing. They give me between 60 and 260 magnifications. I am interested if anyone has purchased eyepieces specifically for planetary viewing. In mono viewing, planetary eyepieces are common and many find them useful in seeing that last bit of detail. Is it the same for binoviewing? If so, what eyepieces have you purchased and do you see a difference?
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Bob
Tak FS78 & Istar 127 f12 R30 on a Losmandy G11
C8 XLT
10" LightBridge
Lunt 60THa B1200
Denk Standards
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Teal'c
Indeed
Reged: 08/02/05
Posts: 4268
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Yes, I use multiple pairs of Ortho's for binoviewing with very good results. Less strain than mono.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I use Celestron Ultima EP's for both planetary and deep sky, in the appropriate focal length. I have every one of them from 7.5mm to 30mm. The 7.5mm and 10mm were purchased for planetary viewing. They knocked the short Plossl's out of my EP case. More FOV than an Ortho, and every bit as sharp and contrasty with a bit more eye relief than a Plossl. The 12.5mm and 18mm Ultimas are probably the most comfortable EP's to look through that I own (which is why I immediately bought an extra one of each after I bought my binoviewer), and with an OCA of 1.8X or more they qualify as planetary EP's on large aperture or long focal length scopes. Take a look at colorful binary stars through them in a reflector or APO of high quality, and you'll want a pair also.
I love my Axioms, but the Ultimas are certainly better planetary EP's.
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Stephonon
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/28/05
Posts: 1873
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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I too have binoviewers with a pair of 19mm Pans.  I used to own a 13mm T6 as well. 
For planetary viewing it's HD orthos and TV plossls for me ATM. These are definitely way better than Naglers and Panoptics for this purpose. Add a top-notch barlow and they are hard to beat. (I'm yet try Pentax XFs and XWs though...)
The simpler EPs are also better at faint fuzzies: galaxies, planetaries etc.
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Steve H --- Dobs: Saxon/SW 10" f/4.7, GSO 8" f/6, custom truss 8" f/4 | Intes MK-65 (6" Mak) + EQ | binos: Pentax PCF 8x40, AOE 10x50MX Ultra, AOE 12x60.
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RGM
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 766
Loc: Burks Falls, Ontario, Canada
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If I bought just one set, they would be the 15mm Ultrascopics or TV 15mm plossls. The other option is UO 18mm and 12.5 Orthos. Using the Denk S2 diagonal and bino, the 15mms give 79x, 146x and 226x on my 8" SCT. This is fairly good considering my seeing conditions. I guess the question is do I get the Ultrascopics or TVs.
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Bob
Tak FS78 & Istar 127 f12 R30 on a Losmandy G11
C8 XLT
10" LightBridge
Lunt 60THa B1200
Denk Standards
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Stephonon
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/28/05
Posts: 1873
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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Sorry, guilty of what I just accused others of doing: Not reading the question properly!
I use my orthos and plossls in mono. I'm happy to stick with 19mm Pans for the binos for now, with UO 2" barlow if I want hig magnifcation (combined with OCA for very high power). But I have limited experience with binoviewers (thanks to skies around my place of residence since I got the BVs).
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Steve H --- Dobs: Saxon/SW 10" f/4.7, GSO 8" f/6, custom truss 8" f/4 | Intes MK-65 (6" Mak) + EQ | binos: Pentax PCF 8x40, AOE 10x50MX Ultra, AOE 12x60.
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Derwin Skotch
super member
Reged: 03/11/05
Posts: 157
Loc: PA, USA
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I have 15 mm Axiom's, 12 mm RKE's, and 9.7 mm Japanese Meade Series 4000's that get used the most for planetary. My favorites (when the seeing allows) are the RKE's. They are bright, contrasty and very comfortable in the binoviewer.
However! I have heard that some have seen quality control issues with these at times and my experience seems to support this. I bought one of these a few years ago and it immediately became a favorite on planets. When I started binoviewing I bought another one on Astromart which had a problem. The inside surface of the eye lens had a film of some sort on it which cleaned up easily. Meanwhile I contacted the person I purchased it from and he had another so he immediately exchanged it. I don't see how the the lens could have gotten this way by use.
So, if you can get a good set of these, they are excellent (and cheap!).
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Derwin
Celestron 9 1/4" SCT
Meade 6" Schmidt Newtonian
Edmund 4 1/4" Newtonian
Siebert Echelon 35 binoviewers
Denkmeier Dielectric S2 Power X Switch Diagonal
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2164
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Still waiting to try out my pair of 9mm T6...
Fred
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Trixie
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Paul G
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/08/03
Posts: 4063
Loc: Freedonia
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I use Zeiss Abbe orthos, mono and bino, for pulling out the last bit of low contrast detail on the planets (and deep sky). Still, the type 6 Naglers do a pretty good job on planets...
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Gus
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Buy your Ultimas now, as they are swiftly disappearing. Of course, Antares and Orion have their versions. The Baader Eudiascopic is probably the closest match to the Ultima, though none of them sell the 12.5mm or 18mm FL's (prevents duplication of FL's in most EP collections). The 25mm version of this series is the longest FL that the Chinese Kunming binov will fully illuminate. The Baader dealer I use is www.alpineastro.com , but the Antares line is the least expensive. Some people note a slight coating difference in the five different brands. Baader will definitely have the best coatings that the manufacturer produces....at a higher price. Also, Scope City sells the Parks Gold version of the Ultima. So many companies wouldn't have this line as their premium EP's if they didn't live up to the claims. They are just plain comfortable to view through compared to every other EP I own. The 52* AFOV is their only shortcoming, and it isn't a shortcoming on planetary viewing with a driven mount.
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Manuel Reyes
member
Reged: 08/05/05
Posts: 70
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I use the 15mm Siebert Ultra's and my Multi mag for all planet/Lunar viewing.
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M.R.
36mm 2" Observatoy EP
Pan 27mm 2"
Nagler 13mm T6
Nagler 7mm T6
10 Meade SCT.
8" Orion Dob
80ED APO
BN 22mm binoviewer w/24mm ep's(45mm Elite on order)
Siebert Ultra 15mm's ep's x2 and
1.5x-7x MM OCA
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blandp11
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/19/05
Posts: 1963
Loc: Glen Ridge, NJ USA
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I use a pair of 13T6's for planetary viewing - they are very, very good at it. Any difference between them and the simpler design eyepieces will be very, very subtle on-axis. Off axis the T6's will be better.
I also have a pair on TV 11mm and 8mm Plossls - they are extremely sharp on axis.
Quote:
13T6s for my binoviewing.
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Mostly refractors
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Gaz O'C
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 1343
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Ulimas are Orion Ultrascopics/Antares Elites, is that right?
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14" f4.5 Dob
10" Meade SCT
180mm f15 Mak/Cass
127mm f12 Mak/Cass
150mm f5 refractor
ED100
EQ6 Skyscan
HEQ5
EQ2
http://stargazerslounge.co.uk/
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MagniFried
member
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 19
Loc: the last best place
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Yeah, you can't miss them. They look like little black cans with cylindrical shape and raised metal top edges that act as light shields. One of the great EP designs of all time. They are made in Japan and said to be based on the famous Masuyama that hasn't been made in many years.
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LOMO Astele 150 Mak-Cass
Meade LXD75
Intes-Micro Alter MN86
Orion Atlas
Ultimas, Orthos, Axioms
Siebert BN22
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LittleDob
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/10/04
Posts: 1444
Loc: Here or there
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What about the TMB/Burgess planetary series. I'd imagine that they would make fine performers for binoviewing planets. While they don't have the field of view of a T6, the light throughput and contrast should make them winners.
Jason
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Jason
"Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice." Will Durant
NexStar 11 GPS
WO 132 FLT
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Teal'c
Indeed
Reged: 08/02/05
Posts: 4268
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I use the B/TMB for binoviewing and they're excellent. 60 degrees is still pretty good.
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Mike B
Starstruck
Reged: 04/06/05
Posts: 8169
Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA
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Hi Bob-
Most "planetary" EPs are in the shorter FL range, and so produce too much mag for my 10" f10 scope! However, using the Denk "Power-X-Switch" on their BV allows me to use longer FL EPs to achieve good results, which also affords me more eye-relief for my astigmatic eyeballs  & eyeglasses.
Like Derwin, i have a pair of RKEs (21.5mm = 71x, 136x, 236x) that work superbly on Saturn, but have minor ghost-issues on brighter objects like Jupiter (i use them for Jupe anyway, & just ignore the ghosts... they don't scare me none  ). Their 45* AFOV doesn't seem quite so restrictive with both eyes in the game! Also a winner on Saturn is a pair of University Optics "SuperErfles" (20mm = 76x, 146x, 254x), where the same minor ghosting (& ignoring ) occurs with Jupiter. The SEs, however, are graced with ~60* of AFOV which makes them really nice for ALL types of viewing  These are both quite affordable & available, & they get a decent amount of action in my rig!... at 2x in the Denk, they yield ~1mm exit-pupil... SWEET!
Also used are a pair of U.O. HD Orthos (18mm = 85x, 162x, 282x) which are fantastic on Jupiter, as well as anything else you'd ever wanna look at... being hindered only by their 45* AFOV. Complimenting them are some real gems- Russian made "Tal Super-Ploessls" (17mm = 90x, 172x, 299x), which actually are my go-to Jupiter EPs, the HD Orthos being a retreat point if the seeing won't support the Tals. The Tals were obtained from a Canadian dealer who has since folded up operations, so i don't know where you'd find these EPs now... but they are very nice indeed, & much worthy of seeking!
Recently i acquired a pair of (used, no longer retailed) Pentax XLs (14mm = 109x, 209x, 363x). These are truly "premium" EPs, & their price reflects that! But i've been stunned at the gorgeous 363x views of Saturn they've reeled in! That "premium" does appear to deliver the goods... when the atmospherics cooperate  At their lower mag settings, the XLs have been great on clusters & galaxies. Some nights they never come out of the BV! These go clenched in my cold, dead hands to the grave  ... which, if i buy too many more EPs, may be arranged quite soon 
Steady air-
 mike b
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"I have been paddling in the shallows of a great ocean of knowledge." - Sir Isaac Newton
* * 15" F4.55 Starsplitter Dob & a Denk II binoviewer * *
http://peaceofsky.wordpress.com/
 Pacheco State Park
 Fremont Peak
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RGM
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 09/15/03
Posts: 766
Loc: Burks Falls, Ontario, Canada
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Mike, I agree with your comments about the Pentaxs. I had a pair of 10mm XWs, but just could not get a comfortable view due to the large diameter of the EP. The 19Pans and 13T6 were so much easier to view with that I sold one the 10XWs. I just wish that UO sold an ortho in the 15mm range. The 18 is a little too low in power and the 12 is too high, for planetary viewing. What would you suggest in the 15mm range?
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Bob
Tak FS78 & Istar 127 f12 R30 on a Losmandy G11
C8 XLT
10" LightBridge
Lunt 60THa B1200
Denk Standards
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Teal'c
Indeed
Reged: 08/02/05
Posts: 4268
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The Televue 15mm Plossl.
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Mike B
Starstruck
Reged: 04/06/05
Posts: 8169
Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA
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Hi Bob-
Well, i hear Orion's "Ultrascopic" is a fine EP. Seems like Antares has the same unit of their own label in the 15mm slot. In addition, check out the University Optics website... they have a Super Erfle (like the ones i use) in a 16mm that, i believe, has a 65* AFOV (as opposed to my 20mm SE's with a 60*) but a bit tighter eye-relief (or i would be usin' it myself ). They also have a 16mm "Konig"- i hear they are verrrry nice, but i've not actually seen for myself. Your longer FL scopes should do really well with these UO goodies, as that's what they were designed for- as opposed to F5 scopes.
These are ALL sub-$100 EPs, so you'd not be taking a HUGE risk. In fact, last i checked UO had theirs ON SALE! Sounds like a respectable reason to "go shopping", eh?
Best to you in your quest!
mike b
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"I have been paddling in the shallows of a great ocean of knowledge." - Sir Isaac Newton
* * 15" F4.55 Starsplitter Dob & a Denk II binoviewer * *
http://peaceofsky.wordpress.com/
Pacheco State Park
Fremont Peak
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