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Bill Fischer
super member
Reged: 11/13/08
Posts: 163
Loc: Magnolia, TX and South America
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I observe from the suburbs with my 8"SCT. I use a Celestron .63 FR. I am currently using an Orion Q70 as a low power EP. I would like to obtain a better EP to replace the Q70. I calculate that a Pan 35, 28 UWAN and a 31 Baader Hyperion will all give me the max FOV available. With my light polluted skies which one will give me the best view. Are all three pretty close at quality views? Thanks
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Nexstar 8 GPS w/Clestron FR/FF
Telrad
TV Pan 35mm
WO UWAN 16mm
TV 11mm, 8mm
Meade 2x Telenegative
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 2704
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Well, I owned a Meade 26mm QX 70 Wideview (or something like that) and it was one nasty eyepiece in terms of edge correction. I have never seen worse, so ANY of these other eyepieces will likely be a much bettter choice.
I personally consider the 35mm Pan to be the best low power eyepiece made for the C8. And is it COINCIDENCE that the 38mm field stop perfectly matches the inner baffle of the C8? My personal opinion is that Al Nagler is one of smartest men in the business when it comes to marketing, and if anyone wonders why it is such an odd focal length, I would bet that it was intentionally done to satisfy the needs of the thousands of C8 users out there to get he best widefield experience possible out of the C8.
35mm Pan is itself incredibly sharp off axis.. I used mine in my 6" AP and in my Vixen 140, and in both of those scopes, stars were pinpoint at the edge of the field. In the C8, you may detect some coma, but this is coming from the scope and not the eyepiece.
The shorter focal lenght eyepieces may offer a bit darker sky background in light polluted skies, but the difference will be minimal.
I have no experience with these others though, so I can only speak for the Panoptic. I personally think it is unbeatale as being the perfect low power eyepiece for the C8. In fact, I think it was quite literally MADE for the C8.
Can you do better for less? Maybe. My own experiences have not idicated that it is possible though.
I sold my C8 about a year ago, and I stupidly sold my 35mm Pan later because I got a 41mm for Christmas last year. Now, I find myself missing my C8. The 4" refractor is such a non starter. The pain though is now not only do I have to try to find ANOTHER almost perfect C8, but I will also have to find another 35mm Pan (though finding a perfect one of those is pretty trivial.. LOL).
These other choices may be excellent too.. I simply don't know. But I know the 35mm Pan in the C8 is a GREAT combination.. It is the perfect eyepiece for the perfect all around small telescope.
Good luck!
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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Brian Schmidt
sage
Reged: 01/25/09
Posts: 204
Loc: Roswell, GA
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I do have a 35 Pan and it's a great finder ep. Just be aware that anything in that focal range is going to be lit up like a Christmas tree when your observing in the burbs from all the light polution. 
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Brian
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JimmyK
super member
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 125
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Greetings,
I can't speak to the direct question but I can confirm the light pollution. I live just South of you in NW Spring.
Regards
JimmyK
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Z10" Dob
Orion 150mm Mak-Cas on a CG-5 Advanced Go To
25x70 Binos
"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
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Bill Fischer
super member
Reged: 11/13/08
Posts: 163
Loc: Magnolia, TX and South America
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Thanks guys, for the Pan 35 info. JummyK glad to know I have a close astronomy neighbor. Eddgie I have followed your advice in the past, it has always been dead on. I have been watching some other similar threads and suspected the Pan 35 would be the correct choice. I wanted to phrase the question for my specific circumstances.
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Nexstar 8 GPS w/Clestron FR/FF
Telrad
TV Pan 35mm
WO UWAN 16mm
TV 11mm, 8mm
Meade 2x Telenegative
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chuckscap
sage
Reged: 07/18/09
Posts: 229
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO USA
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Won't a 35mm Pan vignette with a .63 focal reducer? The 41mm Pan is max FOV, I would use the 35mm Pan without the reducer. I'm in the suburbs of Colorado Springs (mag 4 skies) and the 35mm Pan is a great eyepiece. I think a 21mm Ethos would be better though, more magnification and similar FOV to help fight through the light pollution. If you're going to use .63 fr a 24mm Pan, 21mm Nagler or 17mm Ethos might be your best widefield eyepiece.
Chuck
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Bill Fischer
super member
Reged: 11/13/08
Posts: 163
Loc: Magnolia, TX and South America
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Chuck, I figure that 1.7 degrees is the max FOV on the 8"SCT with a 2" diagonal. 1280fl/35mm=37x 68degrees/37x=1.8degreesFOV will .1 degree of vignette look very bad?
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Nexstar 8 GPS w/Clestron FR/FF
Telrad
TV Pan 35mm
WO UWAN 16mm
TV 11mm, 8mm
Meade 2x Telenegative
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chuckscap
sage
Reged: 07/18/09
Posts: 229
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO USA
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I don't think you'll notice it, but you might check on the yahoo SCT user group. Rod Mollise (group owner) has always been a big and long lasting fan of visual observing with Celestron SCTs using the f/.63 reducer. I'm sure he'll know. Probably a quick search will on the yahoo group will pull stuff up.
Here's a quick link:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/sct-user/message/103971
Seems like a 21mm Ethos (expensive!) will get you 1.66 degree FOV with lots more magnification (good for the suburbs).
I'm kind of in the same boat with my Mewlon 250. I've heard rumors (I hope they're true) that Tak may come out with a reducer/flattener for we poor underrepresented visual observers, making it an f/12 corrected Dall Kirkham with a 29% Central Obstruction and 1/20th wave optics.
I want one Santa!
Chuck
Edited by chuckscap (11/02/09 10:28 PM)
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dscarpa
sage
Reged: 03/15/08
Posts: 257
Loc: San Diego Ca.
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The 35 Pan did vignette in my C 9.25 with a focal reducer, for me it was quite apparent. In addition the views in my suburban location were were washed out even without one. A 27 Pan was better in this reguard but not nearly as good as the eyepiece I ended up getting. I got a Nagler 22 T 4 and have been very happy with it. Neither the 27 Pan nor the 22 Nagler vignetted with the reducer. I have a WO ZS 110 refractor for wide field, it seems to be much less effected by light pollution. David
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NewAstronomer
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 3020
Loc: Scranton, PA U.S.A
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If you have direct light pollution (street lights/neighbors) that shines in your eyes, calculate exit pupil. I use a 27mm Pan as my Dob's finder, and 40mm Titan II for C11's finder (without reducer) for this reason.
You will rarely get to 7mm, unless you have special eyes, so I tend to get better views that are a little darker with 6mm-ish exit pupil.
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Chris
279mm f/10 C11 SCT
250mm f/4.8 GSO Dob
70mm f/6 SV70ED
Atlas EQ-G + EQMOD
SVP Intelliscope & ST-4 Autoguide Mod
Vixen Portamount on the way!
DBK 21AU04
Olympus e-500 DSLR
Meade DSI-C
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coutleef
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/21/08
Posts: 1733
Loc: Montréal and Saint-Donat, Québ...
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I am often observing from the city and i am using a C8 with the 35 Pan.
As Edgie wrote, the 35 pan was made for the C8. At a dark site, it is fabulous.
Be aware however:
1) in the city, without the reducer, the background will be gray. I need to jump to 80x to see a dark background.
2) i almost always use the pan 35 without the reducer. It will vignette with the focal reducer on and will be very noticeable. WIthout the reducer it does not vignette. If you want to use a pan with the reducer on a C8, my advice would be to use the 24. You will obtain the equivalent of the 35 without the reducer. I had a 22 pan that i often used with the reducer and just loved it.
3) If you use a 35, it may be interesting to get an accessory, the eyeguard extender that reduces the long ER of the EP and facilitates viewing through it.
The 35 is a keeper for C8 owners. I like as much my 35 pan that i like my 17 Ethos.
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François
Scopes: Nexstar 8 SE with Ron's rail and Denk S1 Powerswitch. EPs list is on my Bio.
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