Telescope Reviews: New Scope - 2" Craford

For planetary viewing a 2" eyepiece will not give you any real optical advantage. The 2" format only makes a difference in the image if the image being created by the eyepeice is too large for the 1.25" format. Think of it this way, if a 1.25" eyepiece will give a maximum true field of view of 1.5 degrees in your scope then any eyepiece that gives a true field of view smaller than 1.5 degrees will not benefit optically from being made in a 2" format. With eyepieces that have a wider true field of view, greater than 1.5 degrees, then you will benefit from using a 2" focuser.

Now, there are a few benefits to 2" eyepieces, however it has nothing to do with the view.

First, for really heavy eyepieces the 2" format provides a better grip on the eyepiece making it less likely the heavy eyepieces (or bino viewers, or other heavy accessories) will fall out.

Second, by using 2" accessories, such as barlows, you can use them with any of your eyepieces, negating the need to own or change out to the other sizes.

Third, by getting a 2" to 1.25" adapter that has filter screws you can use 2" filters for all your eyepieces negating the need to buy both 2" and 1.25" filters.

And last, by getting 2" eyepieces only you don't need to use the adapter at all which some people find to be a hassle.

If you were going to go all 2" then perhaps the best way to do so would be to get the Baader Hyperion Zoom to cover you from 24mm - 8mm's. It comes with a 2" barrel extension so you can use it directly in a 2" focuser and would cover quite a bit of eyepiece realestate in a single eyepiece. It is also an excellent eyepiece so should make you quite happy.

A 2" barlow will give you the ability to cover all the way up to 4mm FL with the above eyepiece. The GSO version is reported to be excellent. This should get you the very highest magnification you will likely want to use in that scope.

For wide angle above that there are numerous very good options depending on your budget. You can go as expensive as a 21mm Ethos, some of the larger Naglers, Pentax, Meade UWA, Celestron Axiom LX, Explore Scientific 100 degree series or 82 degree series, Meade SWA's, Badder Hyperion Aspherics, Sieberts, etc... It is very hard to recommend anything with out budget information (how much are you willing to spend) and the Focal Ratio of the new scope. Is the new scope an F4.5, F5, F6? Give us more information and we will be able to give you some good recommendations.

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Daren
Covington, GA