Telescope Reviews: Need some ortho advice

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Equipment Discussions >> Eyepieces

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howard929
Member

Reged: 01/02/11

Loc: Low End of High Ground

Need some ortho advice new

#5363283 - 08/11/12 12:36 PM

I think I want a new (not used) 4mm ortho but which one to buy? Wait for the BCO's, UO or Baader (still available??) or a ???KKO?

Advice greatly welcomed.

Post Extras:

skypilgrim
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/25/06

Loc: PNW, US

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: howard929]
#5363293 - 08/11/12 12:42 PM

If shopping new, I believe your choices are limited to the UO classics or the KK's (available through Agena, a supplier listed on the right of the CN main page). They are virtually the same ortho.
Sam

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BillP
Postmaster

Reged: 11/26/06

Loc: Vienna, VA

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: howard929]
#5363332 - 08/11/12 01:11 PM

Baader has not advertised that they intend a 4mm BCO. Their new offering is 6, 10, 18 ABBEs and a 32 Plossl.

There are several brandings of 4mm ABBEs still actively made. However I believe they are all OEMed from the same source, Circle-T. So University Optics, KK, Edmunds Orthos, and now Agena Astro Orthos. All Circle-T make ABBEs. I would go with the least expensive of the bunch as they are all the same. So the Agena Astro I believe has the best price...or KK direct from Japan.

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brianb11213
Postmaster

Reged: 02/25/09

Loc: 55.215N 6.554W

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: BillP]
#5363369 - 08/11/12 01:43 PM

4mm orthos have approx. 3.2mm of eye relief. Many people find that little eye relief impossible to live with, even if they are ortho lovers.

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Mike B
Starstruck

Reged: 04/06/05

Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: brianb11213]
#5363494 - 08/11/12 03:25 PM

Quote:

Many people find that little eye relief impossible to live with...

Live with? I don't think i'd wanna even DIE with that little ER!

For folks like us, they make Barlows... and i have a few.

A 9mm Ortho in a typical "2x" Barlow (which generally produces ~2.2x effective, varying by the EP), will get ya purdy close to 4mm net.

You prob'ly knew that...

Post Extras:

Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: Mike B]
#5363731 - 08/11/12 06:20 PM

Eye relief is bad enough on the 5mm. I can't even imagine how bad it could be on the 4mm. For getting down that low I just use my 12mm UO HD ortho in a 3x Televue Barlow. I cannot see anything lost in that arrangement.

I have compared my 6mm HD to the 18mm HD + 3x barlow and saw no difference at all. In fact, the amount of glow around bright objects was equally small in both, which is really my main reason for using these kinds of eyepieces, they simply have less glow (light scatter) than other EPs I own. Now I very rarely even take my 5mm or 6mm with me when observing planets I just take the 7, 9, 12, 18, 25 and a 3x barlow. The barlow gives me 2.3, 3, 4, and 6. This lineup works great in all my refrators.

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MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: Lane]
#5363811 - 08/11/12 07:27 PM

What is the difference between an ABBE ortho, and HD ortho's? I have a bazzillion-orthos but no HD's... Yet.

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helpwanted
Post Laureate

Reged: 07/04/07

Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: MRNUTTY]
#5363815 - 08/11/12 07:31 PM

Be careful with a 4mm Ortho, you could poke your eye out!

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: MRNUTTY]
#5363819 - 08/11/12 07:34 PM

The HD has "Phantom MC-Coatings" and the body style is very similar to the ZAO-IIs. The classics have the volcano style with the slightly recessed eyelens.

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MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5363820 - 08/11/12 07:35 PM

Thanks johnny, any brand names for HD I could latch on to?

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Need some ortho advice [Re: MRNUTTY]
#5363824 - 08/11/12 07:38 PM

Baader Genuine Ortho (BGO) or UO HDs. They pop up regularly on Astromart, I'm tempted to get an 18mm pair. They really are beautiful eyepieces and an excellent value.

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MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5363964 - 08/11/12 09:45 PM

Thanks johnny, the used market takes more patience than I have at the moment. :-)

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Refractor6
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/20/04

Loc: Vancouver B.C. , Canada

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: MRNUTTY]
#5364821 - 08/12/12 02:27 PM

I've used the volcano top version of the 4mm for YEARS for high power lunar/planetary/tight doubles with great success...but hey i'm a born rebel anyway always going against the norm

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Kris.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/16/04

Loc: Belgium

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: Refractor6]
#5367695 - 08/14/12 02:51 AM

Quote:

I've used the volcano top version of the 4mm for YEARS for high power lunar/planetary/tight doubles with great success...but hey i'm a born rebel anyway always going against the norm

me too, it may be a little uncomfortable at first, but I adapted quickly. they're my workhorse ep's (including the 4mm UO volcano top Ortho) for planetary work.
only disadvantage is when viewing at subzero temperatures; your eyeball is so close to the glass that it will get fogged up!

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Jaimo!
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/11/07

Loc: Exit 135 / 40° North

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: Refractor6]
#5367868 - 08/14/12 08:14 AM

Quote:

I've used the volcano top version of the 4mm for YEARS for high power lunar/planetary/tight doubles with great success...but hey i'm a born rebel anyway always going against the norm

I must be a rebel too, I use either the Meade Series II or Research Grade 4mm Abbe. Once I start looking through it, I get lost in what I am observing & usually forget about how close it is...

Jaimo!

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tomcody
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/06/08

Loc: Titusville, Florida

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: howard929]
#5367892 - 08/14/12 08:32 AM

I have found the UO orthos to be very sharp and clear ( all mine are less than a year old) and recommend them, but as an alternative , I suggest the Televue 3-6 zoom Nagler, costs less than four UO's and is great to dial in exactly the power you need for any seeing conditions.
Rex

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nightfisher
super member

Reged: 11/06/11

Loc: Huddersfield UK

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: tomcody]
#5368381 - 08/14/12 01:35 PM

I love ortho`s but wont drop below a 7mm due to eye relief! would prefer to use a 9mm and Tal x2 barlow

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howard929
Member

Reged: 01/02/11

Loc: Low End of High Ground

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: nightfisher]
#5368519 - 08/14/12 03:03 PM

Thanks everyone for the advice and while I (now anyway) realize that ER and FOV might be a challenge, for $75 I'll give the 4mm KK a go for the money.

Howard

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Ain Soph Aur
sage

Reged: 08/11/11

Loc: Tennessee

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: nightfisher]
#5369263 - 08/14/12 10:57 PM

Quote:

I love ortho`s but wont drop below a 7mm due to eye relief! would prefer to use a 9mm and Tal x2 barlow

I finally got a chance to use my 5mm BGO last night, and was surprised to find that I could deal with the ER. If I can't find a Meade 4mm RG ortho, I will likely add a KK/UO 4mm Ortho to the collection.

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Need some ortho advice new

[Re: Lane]
#5369719 - 08/15/12 09:01 AM

Quote:

For getting down that low I just use my 12mm UO HD ortho in a 3x Televue Barlow. I cannot see anything lost in that arrangement.

I agree. My 2.5X Powermate is one of my favorite pieces of kit, it allows me to keep 10mm as my shortest focal length ortho and still get 4mm with nice eye relief - not to mention the Powermate cleans up the image quite nicely.

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