3709 replies to this topic

[Albie]

I've added a Pentax XW 20mm to my collection and removed the Celestron Ultima Edge 24mm from it . The Edge was intended for the Starblast 6" and it's 1.25" focuser  , I'm letting the Starblast go .

 

 

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[Albie]

I wonder if anyone has figured out what the red dot in my case is .

[TayM57]

I wonder if anyone has figured out what the red dot in my case is .

Of course, It's the button to launch the Minuteman missiles in Montana. What else could it be????

[davidgmd]

I wonder if anyone has figured out what the red dot in my case is .

  
I like Tay’s guess better than mine.

IIlluminator for a red dot finder?

Edited by davidgmd, 13 April 2025 - 02:36 PM.

[Albie]

I wonder if anyone has figured out what the red dot in my case is .

Just in case this drags out a bit I'll let you all know what it is although I do like Tay's guess as well . The red thing is the battery cap for a  mini red light Maglite Solitaire ,the rest of it is black . 

 

https://maglite.com/...trum-series-red

[Grayoak]

I first saw this topic several years ago and it inspired me to start a collection (Thanks Cloudy Nights ).

I started with a couple plossl's that came with some starter scopes, over the years and a few hundred hours of reading posts on eyepieces, I now have 172 eye pieces.

 

I have come to the conclusion in my search for the best eye piece I may have got a little carried away, I think I have to many and need to thin the heard, thought I would finally post my collection before I started to cut.

In my defense I have several scopes (probably to many) , ranging from 500mm to 2350mm focal lengths and from 3" to 9.25" aperture. So a small set of eye pieces just wont work across all scopes. That's my story and I am sticking to it!

 

This is my main list, I have several others in my junk drawer, like the original plossl's and a few .965" from my long ago first scope.

The focal lengths in parentheses are double sets for my binovue, I many though just use the Nagler sets.

 

Zeiss Abbe Ortho:
Set: AII-4mm, AII-6mm, AII-10mm, A-II-16mm. 2x Barlow

TMB SuperMonocentric: 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 9mm,10mm, 14mm. 1.8x Barlow

TAKAHASHI:  TOE 2.5mm, 3.3mm, 4mm. TPL 9mm
ED LE 2.8mm, 3.6mm, 5mm ,7.5mm LE: 10mm, 12.5mm, 18mm,

PENTAX:
SMC Ortho 0-5mm, 0-6mm, 0-7mm, 0-12mm, 0-18mm, K-25mm.
SMC XO 5.1mm, XP 3.8mm 
XW 3.5mm 5mm, 7mm, 10mm, 14mm, 20mm, /30mm, 40mm/.
XL 5.2mm,10.5mm

TELEVUE:
Zoom 3-6mm
Plossl 7.4mm, 8mm, 10.5mm, 11mm, 13mm, (13mm), 15mm, 17mm, 20mm, 21mm, (21mm), 25mm, 26mm,32mm, 40mm, 55mm.
Radian 6mm,8mm,10mm,12mm
Delite 3mm,4mm,5mm,7mm,9mm,11mm, (11mm), 13mm,15mm,18.2mm.
Delos 3.5mm, 4.5mm, 6mm, 8mm,10mm,12mm,17.3mm.
Nagler 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.8mm, 5mm, 7mm, 9mm, (9mm), 11mm, (11mm), 13mm, (13mm) 16mm, (16mm), 22mm, 31mm.
Panoptic 19mm, (19mm), 24mm, (24mm)

 

STELLARVUE:
SWA 26mm, Optimus 4.7mm, 4mm UWA.

Sky Rover: UFF 30mm.

EDMOUND:
RKE:  8mm,12mm,15mm,21mm,28mm.

VIXEN:  HR 3.4mm.
SLV 10mm, (10mm),12mm,15mm.

BAADER:
Classic 10mm. (10mm).  Genuine Ortho 7mm, 9mm.
Morpheus 6.5mm,
MARK III Zoom 8-24mm

VERNONSCOPE: Brandon 12mm, 16mm

SIEBERT:
Star Splitter SS3: 3.9mm, 4.4mm, Ball: 4.5mm.

KOKUSAI KOHKI FUJIYAMA:
HD Ortho 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 9mm, 12mm, 18mm, (18mm) 25mm.

EXPLORER SCIENTIFIC:
ES 62 5.5mm, 14mm.
ES 68 24mm.
ES 82 4.7mm, 4.5mm, 6.7mm, 8.8mm, 11mm,14mm.

 

MEADE:
HD 60:  4.5mm, 6.5mm, 9mm, 18mm.
5000 UWA 20mm, 5.5mm,
Plossl 26mm. 55mm.
Zoom 8-24mm

CELESTRON:
Pre Ultima 30mm
Delux Zoom 6.5-18mm,
Zoom 8-24mm, (8-24mm)

ORION:
Lanthanum 7.5mm.
Q70 38mm.
Ultrascopic 3.8mm
Sirius Plossl 32mm

 

 

Clear skies,

[Grayoak]

Family Portrait

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[Grayoak]

I out grew my eyepiece riffle cases, so now I keep my most used eyepieces in a book shelf and just grab what I want for the night and put in Apache cases with dividers. I find this system works best.

 

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[Highburymark]

Amazing! Great collection.

[Kefka1138]

Agreed - rad collection and storage! However, I’d have this looming sense of foreboding, like a chain reaction or domino effect was about to bring everything down - probably to the point where I couldn’t focus on anything else, lol.

[izar187]

There is a lot less weight there then it would be in books.

Looks like the front closes too.

[Grayoak]

Agreed - rad collection and storage! However, I’d have this looming sense of foreboding, like a chain reaction or domino effect was about to bring everything down - probably to the point where I couldn’t focus on anything else, lol.

[Grayoak]

Thats funny!
The domino effect almost happened when I was setting them up on the table.

The book shelf does have glass doors that are usually down to keep dust out and anything from falling out.

I do try and not drink when I am working with astronomy equipment, but now that you mention it I may put up safty ropes. Just one more astronomy project.

[slavicek]

I first saw this topic several years ago and it inspired me to start a collection (Thanks Cloudy Nights ).

I started with a couple plossl's that came with some starter scopes, over the years and a few hundred hours of reading posts on eyepieces, I now have 172 eye pieces.

 

I have come to the conclusion in my search for the best eye piece I may have got a little carried away, I think I have to many and need to thin the heard, thought I would finally post my collection before I started to cut.

In my defense I have several scopes (probably to many) , ranging from 500mm to 2350mm focal lengths and from 3" to 9.25" aperture. So a small set of eye pieces just wont work across all scopes. That's my story and I am sticking to it!

 

This is my main list, I have several others in my junk drawer, like the original plossl's and a few .965" from my long ago first scope.

The focal lengths in parentheses are double sets for my binovue, I many though just use the Nagler sets.

 

Zeiss Abbe Ortho:
Set: AII-4mm, AII-6mm, AII-10mm, A-II-16mm. 2x Barlow

TMB SuperMonocentric: 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 9mm,10mm, 14mm. 1.8x Barlow

TAKAHASHI:  TOE 2.5mm, 3.3mm, 4mm. TPL 9mm
ED LE 2.8mm, 3.6mm, 5mm ,7.5mm LE: 10mm, 12.5mm, 18mm,

PENTAX:
SMC Ortho 0-5mm, 0-6mm, 0-7mm, 0-12mm, 0-18mm, K-25mm.
SMC XO 5.1mm, XP 3.8mm 
XW 3.5mm 5mm, 7mm, 10mm, 14mm, 20mm, /30mm, 40mm/.
XL 5.2mm,10.5mm

TELEVUE:
Zoom 3-6mm
Plossl 7.4mm, 8mm, 10.5mm, 11mm, 13mm, (13mm), 15mm, 17mm, 20mm, 21mm, (21mm), 25mm, 26mm,32mm, 40mm, 55mm.
Radian 6mm,8mm,10mm,12mm
Delite 3mm,4mm,5mm,7mm,9mm,11mm, (11mm), 13mm,15mm,18.2mm.
Delos 3.5mm, 4.5mm, 6mm, 8mm,10mm,12mm,17.3mm.
Nagler 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.8mm, 5mm, 7mm, 9mm, (9mm), 11mm, (11mm), 13mm, (13mm) 16mm, (16mm), 22mm, 31mm.
Panoptic 19mm, (19mm), 24mm, (24mm)

 

STELLARVUE:
SWA 26mm, Optimus 4.7mm, 4mm UWA.

Sky Rover: UFF 30mm.

EDMOUND:
RKE:  8mm,12mm,15mm,21mm,28mm.

VIXEN:  HR 3.4mm.
SLV 10mm, (10mm),12mm,15mm.

BAADER:
Classic 10mm. (10mm).  Genuine Ortho 7mm, 9mm.
Morpheus 6.5mm,
MARK III Zoom 8-24mm

VERNONSCOPE: Brandon 12mm, 16mm

SIEBERT:
Star Splitter SS3: 3.9mm, 4.4mm, Ball: 4.5mm.

KOKUSAI KOHKI FUJIYAMA:
HD Ortho 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 9mm, 12mm, 18mm, (18mm) 25mm.

EXPLORER SCIENTIFIC:
ES 62 5.5mm, 14mm.
ES 68 24mm.
ES 82 4.7mm, 4.5mm, 6.7mm, 8.8mm, 11mm,14mm.

 

MEADE:
HD 60:  4.5mm, 6.5mm, 9mm, 18mm.
5000 UWA 20mm, 5.5mm,
Plossl 26mm. 55mm.
Zoom 8-24mm

CELESTRON:
Pre Ultima 30mm
Delux Zoom 6.5-18mm,
Zoom 8-24mm, (8-24mm)

ORION:
Lanthanum 7.5mm.
Q70 38mm.
Ultrascopic 3.8mm
Sirius Plossl 32mm

 

 

Clear skies,

Looking good! You have few more eyepieces then I do, but I am closing in on you!

The only suggestion I am going to make is that you "need" to get yourself set of Ethos to complete your collection! 

[Grayoak]

Looking good! You have few more eyepieces then I do, but I am closing in on you!
The only suggestion I am going to make is that you "need" to get yourself set of Ethos to complete your collection!

[Grayoak]

Yes, the Ethos are tugging on my collection addiction. You not helping

[slavicek]

Do you want me to post pic of my Ethos set or you prefer not to see it because that pic might push you over the (purchase) hill? 

[25585]

Thats funny!
The domino effect almost happened when I was setting them up on the table.

The book shelf does have glass doors that are usually down to keep dust out and anything from falling out.

I do try and not drink when I am working with astronomy equipment, but now that you mention it I may put up safty ropes. Just one more astronomy project.

Or is that a skittle effect? Long 1.25" are the most likely to tumble en masse if knocked.

[Grayoak]

Do you want me to post pic of my Ethos set or you prefer not to see it because that pic might push you over the (purchase) hill? 

Oh go ahead and push me over the hill, I would love to see a set of Ethos!

When it comes to sets I get a little OCD, I was happy when I finally finished my Nagler set, only to have the new T7's coming out.

I am very interested in the 6mm Ethos as it would put a nice 200X in my 6 inch refractor, the concern is I would then want to complete the set, so I am resisting.

I do find the 82 degree field of the Nagler's nice, so that helps. I did get a Stellarvue 4.7mm Optimus that is close to the 4.7mm Ethos in long focal length scopes and I do like the extra drift time. I just find my self reaching for the lighter easier to handle Nagler's.

 

So many eyepieces, so little time!

 

[Grayoak]

Or is that a skittle effect? Long 1.25" are the most likely to tumble en masse if knocked.

That is so true!

I have my eyepieces set up on spice racks in a shelf so I can see them all and grab what I want to use. I don't like how they look upside down and it makes it hard to see the focal length numbers.

My theme was going fine until I got the 4.7mm Optimus, as I use it in 1.25'' mode. Common sense told me right away I would be asking for trouble if I didn't turn it up side down to prevent gravity from having fun.

After Kefka1138 post I may think about letting go of my OCD of wanting all the eyepieces to look nice and symmetrical, and turn the tall heavy ones up side down.

 

A good example of learning from the Cloudy Night members experience and thoughts, preventing me from learning the hard way
 

[Fingolfin]

I love this topic, this is where I'm learning so much new useful information on how to pick, and buy eyepieces.

 

With my new 12-inch dob, this is the first time I've had some quality eyepieces, so I'm still learning how they work. I bought a couple of used ones, and have been lucky enough to have been gifted a couple more by an old family friend.

 

ES 82° 6.5, 11, 14, and 30mm

 

Baader Hyperion 17mm

 

Nagler 9 T6, 22 T4

Was contemplating buying a 17 T4 or 16 T5 too, but can't decide between them, or if I even need one at that FL. They're probably right.

[soupaman]

Here is my travel case. I see others are also using Trek Pak dividers. After multiple configurations, I’ll never use pluck foam again. 

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[MrsM75]

Set of Vixen SSW 83 degree eyepieces. I picked this set up to fill a role as a compact, small form factor widefield set. All Japan made. I also have a partial set of Baader Morpheus that I use as my main widefield set. I used these Vixens last night in my Takahashi TOA-130 for the first time and they performed exceptionally well with super contrast and sharp to the edge in that scope. Eye placement in the shorter focal lengths needed to be held steady but once used to the characteristics of that in the 3.5mm and 5mm it was no problem. The longer focal lengths were easier to hold and maintain eye placement. My initial impression is these are very sharp, contrasty eyepieces with a small form factor and I like the colors too!

Did you buy these Vixen 83 degrees eyepieces at AgeanaAstro a long time ago Sir? Because EVERYWHERE these eyepiece line has been discontinued.

[Fingolfin]

Here is my travel case. I see others are also using Trek Pak dividers. After multiple configurations, I’ll never use pluck foam again. 

Hi soupaman..

 

Those Trek Pak dividers are working good?? I need to work on a new case too.

I was wondering, what issues have you had with plucked foam?? I'm trying to learn what's best.

 

Thanks..jeff

[slavicek]

Oh go ahead and push me over the hill, I would love to see a set of Ethos!

When it comes to sets I get a little OCD, I was happy when I finally finished my Nagler set, only to have the new T7's coming out.

I am very interested in the 6mm Ethos as it would put a nice 200X in my 6 inch refractor, the concern is I would then want to complete the set, so I am resisting.

I do find the 82 degree field of the Nagler's nice, so that helps. I did get a Stellarvue 4.7mm Optimus that is close to the 4.7mm Ethos in long focal length scopes and I do like the extra drift time. I just find my self reaching for the lighter easier to handle Nagler's.

 

So many eyepieces, so little time!

OK, so here you have it:

 

 

That's my DOB eyepiece set for dark sky trips. I made those Ethos all parfocal with custom made (black) rings. 

Top line is self explanatory, bottom line from left to right, 67 mm TV Plossl for wide field Night Vision device (think Pilars of creation, Pelican, Rosette nebula etc, etc...  ), 2x TV barlow (just in case I need more mag  ), cross hair eyepiece for DOB alignment, 21 mm Ethos (sort of "finder scope"), 2x MOD 3 NV with different lenses, filters and batteries to pan around Milky way etc.