I know there have been some people here recently thinking about upgrading to a 2" diagonal to allow them to use the wider view EPs. Here's a deal from Meade as one of it's new weekly deals. A 2" dielectric diagonal, and a 24mm 82° AFOV eyepiece for $159! That's pretty much the price of a diagonal with the EP thrown in for free! The diagonal has adapters so it can be used for a refractor or an SCT.
http://store.meade.com/weeklydeals
-Dan
2" Diagonal and wide eyepiece - great deal!
Started by
Midnight Dan
, Jan 25 2013 07:38 AM
21 replies to this topic
#1
Midnight Dan
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James Webb Space Telescope
Posted 25 January 2013 - 07:38 AM
#2
Tim J K
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Mariner 2
Posted 25 January 2013 - 09:48 AM
Thanks for the heads-up Dan. Looks like a great deal!
Tim
Tim
#3
mitaccio
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Posted 25 January 2013 - 09:53 AM
Thanks Midnight Dan. I couldn't pass the chance to save $200 over getting a WO 2" and an ES 82* 24mm!
#4
belgrade
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Posted 25 January 2013 - 10:03 AM
They will sell 'em like hotcakes...
#5
paolotto
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Posted 27 January 2013 - 12:37 AM
Very tempting indeed... two questions, though, for all the wise men and women who read this:
- Would I need a different visual back than the stock one for my 8Se?
- Would I get the full 82 degree field of view, or would it get "cropped" on an 8se (I heard this would happen with large-FOV 2" eyepieces on 6SE or smaller-aperture scopes).
Thanks!
- Would I need a different visual back than the stock one for my 8Se?
- Would I get the full 82 degree field of view, or would it get "cropped" on an 8se (I heard this would happen with large-FOV 2" eyepieces on 6SE or smaller-aperture scopes).
Thanks!
#6
Peter9
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Fly Me to the Moon
Posted 27 January 2013 - 07:50 AM
Hi Paolotto,
In answer to your first question, if the diagonal is a SCT type, as against the "push in" type, then the visual back can be removed and the diagonal screwed on in its place.
I will leave your second question to the lads who do the maths on these things.
Regards. Peter.
In answer to your first question, if the diagonal is a SCT type, as against the "push in" type, then the visual back can be removed and the diagonal screwed on in its place.
I will leave your second question to the lads who do the maths on these things.
Regards. Peter.
#7
hopskipson
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Posted 27 January 2013 - 08:39 AM
Hi Paolotto
I own the 24mm 82* Explore scientific EP and have not experienced any vignetting. I don't own the 6SE so I can't comment on its use.
I own the 24mm 82* Explore scientific EP and have not experienced any vignetting. I don't own the 6SE so I can't comment on its use.
#8
Arctic_Eddie
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Posted 27 January 2013 - 09:52 AM
A 24mm-82° on the 6SE with 2" hardware will produce a FOV of c.a. 1.16°. This is safely below the measured upper limit of 1.32° using 68° EPs. The 6SE with 2" hardware has an apparent FL of about 1700mm.
http://www.cloudynig...3619392/page...
http://www.cloudynig...3619392/page...
#9
paolotto
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Posted 27 January 2013 - 11:19 AM
OK, thanks guys. So If I have this straight, the Meade diagonal looks like a "push-in" type, but it says it has an SC adapter, so I should be able to use it without the visual back. And probably without wasting too much if any back-of-scope clearance, since I'm gaining and adapter but losing a visual back. Can anyone (possibly someone who has one or knows this diagonal) confirm this?
Thanks again, I'm still more of a newbie than I should be after 15 months with my beloved 8se
Thanks again, I'm still more of a newbie than I should be after 15 months with my beloved 8se
#10
Arctic_Eddie
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Soyuz
Posted 27 January 2013 - 12:24 PM
The photo is not clear as to whether the SCT adapter replaces the diagonal snout or adds to it. If the later, the adapter is just a 2" visual back. It would likely accumulate too much length and interfere at zenith, even with one of the rail adapters.
#11
Midnight Dan
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Posted 27 January 2013 - 01:25 PM
The adapter is the piece in the rear of the photo behind the other items. It's unclear as to how it attaches to the diagonal, but it does seem to be longer than most SCT-diagonal connectors so you will probably have interference at zenith with the stock setup on an 8SE.
But adding a "Ron's Rail" extension is easy to do and will allow your 8SE to use this diagonal in addition to many other large accessories that won't work on a stock 8SE.
-Dan
But adding a "Ron's Rail" extension is easy to do and will allow your 8SE to use this diagonal in addition to many other large accessories that won't work on a stock 8SE.
-Dan
#12
paolotto
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Posted 27 January 2013 - 02:29 PM
Thanks, Eddie and Dan. Based on some googling it sounds like it would add to the snout (there's a Meade 07085 universal 2" adapter that adds extra length, so it's probably similar). I've considered doing a Ron's Rail but for now I want to keep the scope as slim and portable as I can (and still fit it into my Beato bag).
So I think I'll keep my ears up for a good deal on a screw-on 2" diagonal I can use directly without a visual back or adapter. Does anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably affordable one?
So I think I'll keep my ears up for a good deal on a screw-on 2" diagonal I can use directly without a visual back or adapter. Does anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably affordable one?
#13
Midnight Dan
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Posted 27 January 2013 - 02:45 PM
This is probably the least expensive option in a dielectric coated 2" diagonal. You want to be sure to get dielectric coatings because they are very hard and resist scratching from repeated cleanings.
Probably the best deal is on the GSO from Agena astro. Keep in mind that Agena includes shipping in the $100 price: http://agenaastro.co...r-diagonal.html
-Dan
Probably the best deal is on the GSO from Agena astro. Keep in mind that Agena includes shipping in the $100 price: http://agenaastro.co...r-diagonal.html
-Dan
#14
Madratter
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Hubble
Posted 27 January 2013 - 03:59 PM
Wish I had waited. I just recently got the diagonal. I will say I have been very happy with it. It would have been interesting comparing the UWA with my Tele Vue 24mm Widefield. That is one of my favorite eyepieces.
Effectively, the eyepiece would have cost me only 20$,
Effectively, the eyepiece would have cost me only 20$,
#15
Arctic_Eddie
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Soyuz
Posted 27 January 2013 - 05:00 PM
Look at the accessories tab on that page just under the photo and you'll see an adapter(left side) for use on a refractor. The SCT snout unscrews and the other goes in it's place. That's a better way of designing the diagonal.
#16
Widespread
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Posted 30 January 2013 - 09:49 AM
That's a great deal! Of course, I just bought a new 2" diagonal from Stellarvue to go with my new scope. 
#17
Chuck Hastorf
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Mariner 2
Posted 30 January 2013 - 10:36 AM
Wow! I'm going loopy. I've read conflicting statements about 2" diagonals and UWA eyepieces. Has any member used an 82 degree on a Nexstar 6SE successfully?
#18
mitaccio
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Posted 31 January 2013 - 07:52 PM
This is so much bigger than I expected. Makes my 8SE look like a 6SE! Everything looks fine, no sign of blemishes or seconds.
Attached Thumbnails
#19
hopskipson
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Posted 31 January 2013 - 08:12 PM
Looking gooood mitaccio! 
How is the clearence at zenith?
How is the clearence at zenith?
#20
mitaccio
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Posted 31 January 2013 - 09:18 PM
It touches at around 90-92 degrees. But this is with the rail all the way forward. I have balance issues that will require the Ron's rail.
There isn't any flex in the eyepiece, It's just the angle I took the picture.
There isn't any flex in the eyepiece, It's just the angle I took the picture.
Attached Thumbnails
#21
Midnight Dan
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James Webb Space Telescope
Posted 01 February 2013 - 07:25 AM
Wow! That eyepiece is a whopper! Looks pretty cool though.
If it touches near 90, I would just use the filter and slew limits to keep it from hitting. With an alt/az mount, you really want to avoid the area within a few degrees of 90 anyway.
But Ron's rail will take care of the potential interference too. And with that big of an eyepiece, I'm not surprised that you'll need it for balance!
-Dan
If it touches near 90, I would just use the filter and slew limits to keep it from hitting. With an alt/az mount, you really want to avoid the area within a few degrees of 90 anyway.
But Ron's rail will take care of the potential interference too. And with that big of an eyepiece, I'm not surprised that you'll need it for balance!
-Dan
#22
Thanatos78621
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Posted 13 February 2013 - 02:48 PM
I ordered one of the GSO 2 inch dielectrics on Monday and it arrived today. $100 shipped with 2 day USPS priority was not a bad deal. I'm rather pleased with the build quality and can't wait to give it a try later this week.
This is probably the least expensive option in a dielectric coated 2" diagonal. You want to be sure to get dielectric coatings because they are very hard and resist scratching from repeated cleanings.
Probably the best deal is on the GSO from Agena astro. Keep in mind that Agena includes shipping in the $100 price: http://agenaastro.co...r-diagonal.html
-Dan
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