391 replies to this topic

[ibase]

Yes the link works, thanks! Now I remember, this was the the article where the Meade zoom edged out the Hyperion zoom 93% vs 91% respectively. Some were incredulous about the test result with valid questions raised. See comments posted in this recent CN thread about it:

Badder Hyperion V`s Meade 8-24mm zoom eyepieces

Where at the end my comment on why I would choose the Hyperion zoom was:

Two zooms; lets say of comparable sharpness and contrast; prices are within striking distance of @ other; one has a 70'is FOV, the other 50'is. In a hearbeat, I'd take the bigger FOV anytime any night, it's a no-brainer. Thanks for deciding likewise. You'll not regret it as the others above say, just stick with it. Enjoy!

Best,

[ibase]

Good priced Hyperion zoom:

LNIB Hyperion 8-24 Zoom

Best,

[ManuelJ]

Please get that song out of my head!!!

[ibase]

Manuel, welcome to the thread; wish I can help you out but I'm having the same problem as you with the catchy song stuck to my mind!

Best,

[ibase]

This thread has just reached a milestone - one month in running! 6,666 views. How time flies when talking all about the Hyperion zoom, seemed just like yesterday when Jim started this thread. Happy zooming to all!

Best,

[starrancher]

Well , I was out last night watching the Great Red Spot transit , & along comes IO & a cool shadow transit . I spent a couple hours out there viewing , & to be honest , I more frequently use my Meade 4000 series Plossls & break out the Hyperion zoom a lot less often . Now don't get me wrong because I do love my Hyperion zoom & believe it to be the best zoom on the market , but it seems that the Plossls just have a bit better light throughput . At any rate it sure seems to me that the Plossl was able to eek out just a bit more detail on this awesome pair of transits as well as the belt & zone details .
I can't get that song out of my head either !

[ibase]

Please get that song out of my head!!!

Akin to Sauron's Ring of Power, the song is evocative of a catchy (literally), siren/trance music, that kinda makes one sign the check/swipe the card for $215.

But one will be a happy camper after that. (More often than not). Clear skies.

Best,

[ibase]

Starrancher, thanks for the message, I've several EP's like the Brandon 16mm, Naglers 5/9/12, UO's volcano/flat top, Baader Genuine Ortho, BO/TMB Planetaries, Meade Research Grade ortho, Sieberts, TV plossls, Faworski ortho, Celestron/Meade/Stellavue plossls, William Optics, and I agree, there may be better EP's than the Hyperion zoom in certain circumstances. But that's true to all EP's because not one, without exception I will hazard, is perfect - there will always be something one offers that the other does not (like wide views) and not all eyes are created equal, or like reactive aversion in the value vs cost curve line. There will be exceptions but the norm will follow it's course. It's all about respect, each of us have our own peculiarities with regard to EP's and we are all for that as we are for our own EP's and the one's that we use. Thanks again. Clear skies to all.

(Oh, n gotta luv that song!!!)

Best,

[starrancher]

ibase , ...No disrespect intended whatsoever . As a proud owner of the Hyperion zoom myself , I was simply just posting the viewing experience that I had while making a comparison last night . I am happy with both my Hyperion zoom & my Meade 4000 series Plossl kit that I.ve used since the beginning of time . I wouldn't get rid of either . But I believe both were a good purchase & would not try to sway the decision of someone that would opt for a Plossl kit with filters , barlow & carry case for about the same price . The only bad thing about the Plossl kit is the pretty much worthless 40mm that it came with that was immediately sold & replaced with a 20mm unit that (IMO) would have made the kit mo betta !

[ibase]

Thanks much, and am assuring you that not at an instant was there ever any hint of disrespect notions whatsoever, it was good to hear a balanced view and experience shared, very thankful for that really.

Best,

[starrancher]

Now I'm a Believer ...Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah !!!
And it has been a GREAT thread !
I think there's one more Yeah !

[ibase]

YEAH, thanks to you too and all who contributed to this thread and made it possible!!!

Best,

[Tank]

AFOV - TV 20mm plossl vs Baader Hyperion zoom 20mm setting

The 20mm Plossl is 50 degree i would say the zoom 20mm setting is slightyly larger i would say 52 degree!
It kinda gives you the impression that the FOV is much larger!
Sorry for the misinforming earlier that the zoom had a much larger FOV!:bangbangbang:
Hernando you know your zoom!

[ibase]

AFOV - TV 20mm plossl vs Baader Hyperion zoom 20mm setting

The 20mm Plossl is 50 degree i would say the zoom 20mm setting is slightyly larger i would say 52 degree!
It kinda gives you the impression that the FOV is much larger!
Sorry for the misinforming earlier that the zoom had a much larger FOV!:bangbangbang:
Hernando you know your zoom!

Tony thanks! Actually, I was thinking of 52-degrees too, but opted for 51, lest readers think that I'm too biased in favor of the Hyperion zoom (am I?).

Best,

[ibase]

Need a bubble level for making sure your scope is properly leveled before aligning your GOTO scope?



It's a nifty accessory to have in the tool box, just a little smaller in diameter than the zoom and available for less than $8 inclusive of worldwide shipping (great for non-US residents where it may not always be easy to come by):

360° Tripod Telescope Bubble Level

Best,

[ebusinesstutor]

So has anyone tried to bino two Hyperion Zooms yet or is this too heavy and silly?

[ibase]

So has anyone tried to bino two Hyperion Zooms yet or is this too heavy and silly?

Interested to know a definitive answer to this question too; posted the same in the Binoviewers forum, hope we get a reply.

In relation to this, I got my Hyperion zoom "brand new" for $180 in the used mart because the seller said that he got a pair and that it did not work with his binoviewer (shipping and restocking fees prevented him from returning the pair). Dug up that ad from a year ago and this quote is what he said in the ad when he sold them:

"Unless you have a big head and a little nose, ignore the part where it says it may work in binoviewers- they won't. Maybe I have a big nose."

Still hoping that it does work, maybe in other binoviewers. I remember I read a post before in the Nexstar forum that talked of the Hyperion zoom working with his binoviewer, so there's still hope. Thanks.

Best,

[ibase]

Wow 7K views and seems no sign of steamin down, must be a record of sorts.:hmmmm: Now that says a lot in the sustained interest on the relatively young Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom's few year's existence; will speculate that perhaps its eventual feather on its cap could be the moniker Jack-of-All-Trades-Master-of-None in the eyepiece world, in the same way that the 8" SCT telescope is the world's best selling scope to amateur astronomers in around 4 decades already. It's also very versatile but "..master of none." Don't know if this analogy makes sense at all, sorry.

Well if so, not unless TV, Meade, Celestron, Vixen, William Optics, Pentax, A.E, Orion, Smart Astronomy, Seben, Proxima, No-Name-Chinese, et al comes out with a better 8-24mm zoom, that'll be the day, bet it's on the works. Thanks all!

Best,

[ibase]

So has anyone tried to bino two Hyperion Zooms yet or is this too heavy and silly?

Interested to know a definitive answer to this question too; posted the same in the Binoviewers forum, hope we get a reply.

In relation to this, I got my Hyperion zoom "brand new" for $180 in the used mart because the seller said that he got a pair and that it did not work with his binoviewer (shipping and restocking fees prevented him from returning the pair). Dug up that ad from a year ago and this quote is what he said in the ad when he sold them:

"Unless you have a big head and a little nose, ignore the part where it says it may work in binoviewers- they won't. Maybe I have a big nose."

Still hoping that it does work, maybe in other binoviewers. I remember I read a post before in the Nexstar forum that talked of the Hyperion zoom working with his binoviewer, so there's still hope. Thanks.

Best,

Just remembered, the astro club president who used my Hyperion zoom recently said he's gonna get one; if he has one already and I get the chance, will bring my Hyperion zoom/binoviewer over and test out in bino mode and see if it works. Will report results. Maybe someone can try doing this too. Thanks.

Best,

[BSJ]

: The Bad:
- Ok i didnt get get a bottom cap for the 2" barrel mode. Was i the only one not to get one or they didnt provide one?

My HZ-EP arrived today from OPT. I got three caps. One for the ocular and one each for 1.25 and 2.0.

Although still no instruction sheet.

[Tank]

I should see if Agena astro can send a cap over for the 2" barrel since i like using mine in the 2" mode along with my 35mm pan and 12T4 nagler!

By the way i was comparing the 8mm zoom mode to the 8mm fixed hyperion and i have to say i like both but the FOV is larger in the fixed and the zoom is a bit sharper!

So if the fixed hyperion has a AFOV of 76.6 degree then the zoom 8mm mode i would say has about a 72 degree AFOV.

The test subject was the moon and i played around with my x3 barlow and the bottom lens from my 8mm fixed hyperion!
it barlowed great and pretty much did the same with the lens from the 8mm! around i would say 2.5mm-8mm zoom somewhere in that range!
Craters on the moon were pretty clear at x450 mag.
The zoom is great!

[starrancher]

: The Bad:
- Ok i didnt get get a bottom cap for the 2" barrel mode. Was i the only one not to get one or they didnt provide one?

My HZ-EP arrived today from OPT. I got three caps. One for the ocular and one each for 1.25 and 2.0.

Although still no instruction sheet.

Instructiones ?! We don nee no stinking instructiones !

[ibase]

My HZ-EP arrived today from OPT. I got three caps. One for the ocular and one each for 1.25 and 2.0.

Although still no instruction sheet.

Congrats! Thanks for sharing the info, so OPT provides a cap for the 2" sleeve, that's welcome news! On the other hand, Agena AstroProducts provides a free bolt case for the Hyperion zoom.

For others lacking some caps, there's an outfit selling these in bundles like this one (Cap & Plug Bundle inc. SCT & T Ring) that I've ordered recently:

Image removed per TOS

Image from the website: EyepieceCaps.com

As for the instruction sheet, there never has been any even before, maybe they'll provide one in the future (hopefully).

Best,

[ibase]

I should see if Agena astro can send a cap over for the 2" barrel since i like using mine in the 2" mode along with my 35mm pan and 12T4 nagler!

By the way i was comparing the 8mm zoom mode to the 8mm fixed hyperion and i have to say i like both but the FOV is larger in the fixed and the zoom is a bit sharper!

So if the fixed hyperion has a AFOV of 76.6 degree then the zoom 8mm mode i would say has about a 72 degree AFOV.

Agree on the 72-degree estimate, there seems to be a consensus amongst owners of around 70-72 deg. for the Hyperion zoom @8mm.

The test subject was the moon and i played around with my x3 barlow and the bottom lens from my 8mm fixed hyperion!
it barlowed great and pretty much did the same with the lens from the 8mm! around i would say 2.5mm-8mm zoom somewhere in that range!
Craters on the moon were pretty clear at x450 mag.
The zoom is great!

It's great to know that you are able to employ/use these powers on the Hyperion zoom, thanks & enjoy!

Best,

[ibase]

Instructiones ?! We don nee no stinking instructiones !