RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1608
Loc: Cayce, SC
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I'm asking. Looking for good eye relief and fairly wide AFOV. Preferably with a large eye lens. Any suggestions? 
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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J_D_Metzger
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/13/04
Posts: 1301
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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They are $120 retail, but I think the Baader Hyperions are worth the extra $20...
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Clear skies,
J.D.
32°15'16.96"N 110°47'39.24"W
Celestron C9.25 & C6, TeleVue TV-76,
Vixen Sphinx SXD, iOptron MiniTower
TeleVue Naglers, TeleVue Panoptics
Canon 10x30 IS Binoculars
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Phillip Creed
Idiot Seeking Village
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 1033
Loc: NE Ohio
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I agree. What you're describing in a desired eyepiece is what a Baader Hyperion represents. All except the 24mm have 20mm of eye relief, eye placement is quite forgiving, 68-deg AFOV and edge correction that'll hold up well until you get down below f/5.
Clear Skies,
Phil
--------------------
"Why suffer from insanity when you can revel in it?"
Wilderness Center Astronomy Club member since 1995
ICQ Comet Observer Code: CRE01
*****
16" f/4.5 Truss Dobsonian (FOR SALE!!)
Orion 120mm ST Refractor
23mm Axiom LX
13mm Nagler Type 6
9mm Nagler Type 6
1.75X Siebert Barlow
*****
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Granger
member
Reged: 03/25/07
Posts: 19
Loc: SE Missouri
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You didn't say what focal length you are interested in.
High-power the Burgess Optical planetaries are very nice. 20mm eye-relief, adjustable eye-cup, 60 AFOV, very comfortable to use.
At low-power the Knight Owl 30mm 80deg is a steal at around $80. (Similar EP available under different brand names). You will have to pay 3x the price for a step up.
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C8 F/10 on Super Polaris
80mm ED F/6.8 on Porta
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Brooklyn
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 870
Loc: Central New Jersey
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ill second that opinion....
Get some baader hyperion 68 degree modular eyepieces. 119 dollars, but they're really worth like 200-300 compared to what they perform against.
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Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)
Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”
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Lew Zealand
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/28/04
Posts: 768
Loc: Pasadena, CA
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My list of good EPs for $120 (that extra $20 really is necessary) or less which I own and use:
8-24mm Baader Hyperions (24mm is the runt but still decent in f/6 and above). I have no reason to believe that the 3.5 and 5mm are any different.
2.5, 3.2, 6, 9mm BO/TMB planetaries. Again, I have no reason to believe that the others in the series are any different.
40mm WO SWAN (best above f/6). Based on reviews here at CN, the 33mm is as good, some others in the series are not as good.
30mm 1rpd and it's many clones (best above f/6). No others in this series.
9 and 6mm Expanse and it's many clones. The 15 and 20mm of the series are not as well-corrected. The 9mm is very much like the BO/TMB 9mm but with 10° wider FOV and no convenient twist-up eyeguard. 6mm reported by some not to be quite as sharp as the 9mm (though I don't see the difference) but still very good.
Hon. mention: 20mm GSO Superview (best above f/6)
Commonalities between these EPs:
All have excellent eye relief and I can use all with my glasses on
All have at least 60° FOV:
BO/TMBs - 60°
GSO SV - 65°
Expanse - 66° (really ~70° for the 9mm)
Hyperions - 68°
SWANs - 70-72°
1rpd - 80°
other <$120 EPs I don't own but which I know are good to keep an eye out for:
used 10mm or lower Speers-WALERs. I have the 1st gen. 5-8mm Zoom and other reports for these shorter FL Speers confirm their *excellent* edge correction, especially for an 80° EP in fast scopes. IMO, these are the best "inexpensive" EPs I never tried out.
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8" LX90, StarBlast 6", 100mm f/6 achro, 60mm f/5.8 achro, 60mm f/11.7 achro, 10x50s, 15x70s
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2005
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Without an question, Baader Hyperions...
Fred
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River Cam - Cambridge England
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Brooklyn
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 870
Loc: Central New Jersey
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Quote:
8-24mm Baader Hyperions (24mm is the runt but still decent in f/6 and above). I have no reason to believe that the 3.5 and 5mm are any different.
http://www.alpineastro.com/Hyperion-Eyepieces_com/Images_and_Docs/HyperionandZoomInstructions-Version2.pdf
It would appear that all of the baader hyperion eyepieces are of the same modular construction EXCEPT for the 24mm as a different setup was required for this focal length.
The 3.5 and 5mm and the same exact construction as the all the others.
Notice on the table of possible modifications using the 2 different Fine tuning rings, ALL of the eyepiece focal lengths are listed except the 24mm.
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Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)
Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”
Edited by Brooklyn (08/08/08 01:36 AM)
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Wmacky
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/24/07
Posts: 547
Loc: Middleburg Fl US
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For under $100 you can't forget these jewels:
http://www.garrettoptical.com/product-p/gswa2.0ep.htm
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William
C-11 SCT
EON 80ED
CGE
Canon 40D
Phillips SPC900
SS Autoguider
Scopebuggy
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Lamb0
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/25/07
Posts: 668
Loc: Fairbury, Nebraska
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 Yes, I like the 5 element 2" SuperWide ~70° AFoV designs, (mine is a 32mm Burgess). Hyperions are quite happy above f/7, perhaps a used one can be had - if you can wrest it loose. 
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KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
Posts: 7634
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
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How much eye relief is "good"? Do you wear glasses? Is there going to be a specific telescope that will be the main recipient of the particular eyepiece? Are you after a 1.25 or 2 inch diameter eyepiece?
Sometimes matching the telescope to the selection creates more leeway. A long focal ratio telescope is a lot more forgiving when it comes to using cheap widefields.
There is no way for anyone to prove whatever selection is "best".
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Kenny
"When dealing with a mystery,choose the most unlikely of the likely possibilities"-Sherlock Holmes
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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 2165
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
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This is one spot where listing one's equipment would be helpful. Best at f/4 is a lot different than at f/10...
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-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular
Meade 2080 LX10
5" Celestron SCT
Skywatcher Equinox 66
Starblast OTA
EQ6 Pro mount (spiffed up with ADM stuff)
8X42 Bushnell binos (pretty decent for 25$)
Canon Rebel XT (AKA 350D)
Starshoot autoguider
Tolerant Spousal Unit (AKA The Lovely Mrs. RogerRZ)
----------AJP Observatory----------
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KWB
Postmaster
Reged: 09/30/06
Posts: 7634
Loc: Westminster,Co Elev.1646Meters
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I don't list my equipment. I believe it helps a lot to ask a better question,that way we don't have to be mind readers.
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Kenny
"When dealing with a mystery,choose the most unlikely of the likely possibilities"-Sherlock Holmes
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Nick Lloyd
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 1641
Loc: cincinnati
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Baader Hyperions for higher power.
Agena Astro 2" for lower power.
http://tinyurl.com/63mqve
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"The best scope is the one you use." -rcg
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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 2165
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
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Quote:
I don't list my equipment. I believe it helps a lot to ask a better question,that way we don't have to be mind readers.
Either way, I don't think we have been provided with enough info to be helpful to the OP...
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-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular
Meade 2080 LX10
5" Celestron SCT
Skywatcher Equinox 66
Starblast OTA
EQ6 Pro mount (spiffed up with ADM stuff)
8X42 Bushnell binos (pretty decent for 25$)
Canon Rebel XT (AKA 350D)
Starshoot autoguider
Tolerant Spousal Unit (AKA The Lovely Mrs. RogerRZ)
----------AJP Observatory----------
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chuck56
super member
Reged: 01/21/07
Posts: 174
Loc: Chicago, Illinois
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Ditto on the Baader Hyperions.
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Lawrence Sayre
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/16/04
Posts: 3704
Loc: N.E. Ohio
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Sorry, but it's TeleVue Plossl's and Orion Ultrascopics that represent the best optics available for (on average) about $100 per without going over. 50-52 degrees is a fairly wide field of view. Plus, I still stand by Don Pensak's famous truism:
optical quality, wide-field, affordable (choose any two)
I'll admit that in the 68 degree AFOV range the Hyperion at $120 (formerly $99) stands tall, but is the power of a 68 degree AFOV field sufficient inducement to sacrifice any level of optical quality?
If the best in class is desired for 68 degree AFOV, then the Panoptic would be my choice, followed by Pentax XW in the shorter FL's which are not available in the Panoptic line.
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My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a moral being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.
Ayn Rand (in the appendix to 'Atlas Shrugged')
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1608
Loc: Cayce, SC
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To All,
Thanks for trying to answer my vague question. Should've known better to not list my equipment. Right now, I'm very diverse in that my main scope is an 8" SCT (f10) and my second scope is an ST80 achro (f5). Perhaps no eyepiece is going to be perfect for both simultaneously. And yes, I do wear glasses when I observe. I'm just beginning to really study eyepieces in depth, so really all of your replies have taught me a lot already even if the info doesn't necessarily apply to my equipment and situation.
Right now I have a very meager selection of eyepieces: 40mm Sirius plossl, 25mm Celestron SMA Wide, and a 7.5mm Sirius plossl. I also have an ancient set of Criterion eyepieces: 18mm, 12.7mm, and 7mm. While the Sirius plossls perform ok, the peephole in the 7.5 is bothersome. The Celestron isn't bad and easy to look into, but does have a good deal of curvature around the edge. The Criterions actually work pretty good in the SCT, but have a very narrow AFOV and, of course, small eye lenses. I need to fill in the gaps on focal lengths (not considering the Criterions) and would like to retain as much eye relief and AFOV as is practical without sacrificing optical quality (especially when it comes to curvature around the edge). I can't afford an Ethos and many high-priced Televues and the like.
Now, by golly, if I had only said all that at the beginning, this thread would be a bit more coherent perhaps. Sorry. Still learning here. 
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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deSitter
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 778
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No doubts:
University Optics Orthoscopics - two families, $60 and $80 each. There is no sharper eyepiece for planets and the Moon, and they are utterly distortion and color free. My favorite ever eyepieces because they "just do it", lack any sort of holy relic effect, and are a perfcct fit of form and function.
Meade Series 4000 Plossls - $299 for a set of six with case, $199 if purchased with any scope at all - $50 each up to 26mm, $70 for the 32mm and 40mm, $100 for the 2" 56mm Plossl. The latter is an impressive eyepiece in its brutal simplicity and utter solidity. They make great choices for binoviewers because of their low price. solid build, great eye relief, light weight, and excellent optical quality.
For some reason it is fashionable to look down on Meade accessories. Don't be fooled. These are the best buy around in eyepieces, along with their spiritual brothers from Japan, the UO Orthos.
-drl
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Lew Zealand
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/28/04
Posts: 768
Loc: Pasadena, CA
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The Ultrascopics, Orthos and Plossls suggested here, while all very good to excellent EPs, all also have peephole eye lenses below 15mm or so. This leaves the Hyperions and other similar long eye relief EPs as better options for avoiding the short focal length peepholes.
Lawrence said:
"I'll admit that in the 68 degree AFOV range the Hyperion at $120 (formerly $99) stands tall, but is the power of a 68 degree AFOV field sufficient inducement to sacrifice any level of optical quality?"
Yes, this is everyone's choice. So far, I've made the inexpensive widefield compromise and enjoy my views though now that I have an f/5 scope, I only use my BO/TMBs, Hyps, and WO UWANs (which I got for $130/ea on sale).
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8" LX90, StarBlast 6", 100mm f/6 achro, 60mm f/5.8 achro, 60mm f/11.7 achro, 10x50s, 15x70s
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1608
Loc: Cayce, SC
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Thanks, Lew.
--------------------
--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2301
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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I use my 30mm Owl (82° fov) in an f5 Dob, and it works out pretty good. The edges do suffer a little bit, but with the wide field you don't spend a lot of time at the edges. I've used that eyepiece in a lot of scopes, from f5 to f10, and it does work better in slower focal lengths, but I never discount it for use in a faster scope. The view is good enough at f5, and wide enough, that you won't really notice the edges unless you look at them. I use it quite a bit in my Megrez at f5.9 with good results.
The thing that I like the most about the Owl is that you can unscrew the Barlow cell form the bottom and you have a 20mm eyepiece. Two for the price of one is a winner to me, especially if it gives good results in both modes. If you want to get into photography, it has threads at the top for a camera ring.
Besides, at the prices that you can find them, it can't hurt to test it out.
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The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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rathbaster
sage
Reged: 03/21/08
Posts: 209
Loc: East Bridgewater, MA
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I run a college observatory which is open to the public often. We have a couple of 8" F/10 SCTs and use Meade "Super" Plossls with them and have not have issues with eye relief. These are not the masuyama clone early super plossls but the ordinary plossls meade markets now as 4000 Series.
Sky conditions generally limit us to no more than 125x to 150x so we don't normally drop below 20mm on the EPs (except for one of my assistants who's caught the magnification bug and likes to use the 8mm and 11mm TV Plossls to make nebula and galaxies BIG  )
Plossls in long focal lengths have rather good eye relief.
If I were seeking shorter focal lengths with good eye relief I'd get televue barlows or the Planetary EPs (Teton and APM still have them in stock right now)
-Joe
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Bridgewater State College Observatory
TV-76
Current Eyepiece Count: 26
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bcuddihee
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/04/06
Posts: 934
Loc: Cincinnati Ohio
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For your c8 might I recommend the Smart Astronomy 19EF with 65 degree FOV. Its an excellent EP, 17mm ER, nice coatings, and adjustable eyecup. Very sharp in an f10 and goes for 74.95. Orion sells them as Edge-On Flat fields for 99.00.
BC
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B Cuddihee
On the quest to find the best for the least!
--------------------------
1968 Jason Empire 60X700mm refractor (my buddy from way back)
Celestron Nexstar8SE(a remarkable 8" grab and go)
Feathertouch Microfocuser
Stellarvue 50mm "Sparrowhawk" finder
Denk bino's with Power x switch
Pair of 26m Celestron Silvertop Plossls
Pair of Smart Astronomy 19 EF's
Pair of Smart Astronomy 16 EF's
Agena 38 SWA
Agena 26 SWA
Garrett 2" 2x ED Barlow
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Phillip Creed
Idiot Seeking Village
Reged: 07/25/06
Posts: 1033
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
The thing that I like the most about the Owl is that you can unscrew the Barlow cell form the bottom and you have a 20mm eyepiece.
Just out of curiosity, what happens to the FOV, edge correction and eye relief when you do that?
Clear Skies,
Phil
--------------------
"Why suffer from insanity when you can revel in it?"
Wilderness Center Astronomy Club member since 1995
ICQ Comet Observer Code: CRE01
*****
16" f/4.5 Truss Dobsonian (FOR SALE!!)
Orion 120mm ST Refractor
23mm Axiom LX
13mm Nagler Type 6
9mm Nagler Type 6
1.75X Siebert Barlow
*****
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Mr. Mike
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/08/05
Posts: 858
Loc: Churchville, NY
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Quote:
The Ultrascopics, Orthos and Plossls suggested here, while all very good to excellent EPs, all also have peephole eye lenses below 15mm or so. This leaves the Hyperions and other similar long eye relief EPs as better options for avoiding the short focal length peepholes.
True, but the peephole might not matter to everyone equally. I like big eye relief too, but my 4mm UO ortho is a great planetary EP. Sure, the peephole takes some getting used to, but for sharpness and detail you cant beat it regardless of price. So being $60 bucks makes them even more amazing.
As has been discussed, for high-power planetary viewing many people are using simpler designs with less light elements. I am now appreciating the performance of simple EP desings for *certain* situations.
Just saying....
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Stellarvue NG 80mm ED
Meade 7x50 Binos
Pentax XW 5mm
Meade 5K UWA 8.8mm
Vixen LVW 13mm
Vixen LVW 22mm
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1608
Loc: Cayce, SC
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Quote:
Orion sells them as Edge-On Flat fields for 99.00
I've been looking at those. I like 'em, I think.
--------------------
--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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jrbarnett
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/28/06
Posts: 2702
Loc: Petaluma, CA
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One of the mistakes folks make when starting out (guilty as charged - I now have about 80 eyepieces assembled over thirty plus years) is to go eyepiece wild. The reality is, you can have awesome sessions with just two or three eyepieces. In fact, I rarely use more than 3 eyepieces during a session these days. I find that by limiting my eyepiece options, I spend more time observing rather than switching.
If you keep your eyepiece count down, then perhaps you can lift the price-per-eyepiece threshold. With the XT10i in my signature I use only two eyepieces - a 32mm 2" Baader Hyperion Aspheric and an 8mm Baader Hyperion. This gives me a large true field, low power finder eyepiece and a moderately high power eyepiece for close up views of DSOs and also works reasonably well for planets and double stars.
While I like Baader Hyperions, they are not even close to being up to snuff (especially in fast scopes) compared to Panoptics, Pentax XLs, Naglers or Vixen LVWs.
If you can swing the cost a bit fancier two eyepiece set, a set consisting of a 22mm and 8mm LVW would be absolutely awesome. I have 17mm, 13mm and 22mm Vixen LVWs and they are among my very favorite eyepieces in all kinds of scopes. They are better corrected in fast systems than the Hyperions, a bit better built, and a bit sharper. The Baader's, however, have a bit better throughput evidenced by the slightly brighter images at a given focal length. The Vixens sometimes can be had for under $200 new. I would gladly take two LVWs over any four $100 eyepieces.
Good luck, but remember - sometimes less is more when it comes to eyepiece collections.
Regards,
Jim
--------------------
"The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us — there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, of falling from a height. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries." - Carl Sagan
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katodog
Supreme Grandmaster
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 2301
Loc: Carol Stream, Illinois
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Quote:
Quote:
The thing that I like the most about the Owl is that you can unscrew the Barlow cell form the bottom and you have a 20mm eyepiece.
Just out of curiosity, what happens to the FOV, edge correction and eye relief when you do that?
Clear Skies,
Phil
Unless others wish this info, I'll PM it to you. I don't want to hijack the thread.
--------------------
The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked
12" Starhopper / Coronado PST
Stellarvue 20x85mm Binocular / LXD75 Mount
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
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