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Which classic eyepieces do you like best

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211 replies to this topic

#1 starman876

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 08:14 PM

Some of the old volcano top orthos are some of my favorites.  The old Meade 2" wide view in the 14mm and 32mm are some favorites.   The old University 32mm Konig is an all time favorite for just finding things and a great eyepiece for removing splinters.  The old Zeiss .965 orthos are really great.  


Edited by starman876, 12 June 2018 - 08:14 PM.

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#2 Richard Whalen

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 08:22 PM

Tough question, probably a toss up between my old Celsetron 16mm erfle and my 7mm Meade RG ortho with my 24mm TV WF a close second though could be others depending on how you define vintage.



#3 apfever

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 08:36 PM

Classic Celestron Ultima series that came in the striped boxes, Not the recent Duo.

#4 clamchip

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 08:50 PM

My favorites are the Meade Research Grade.

I'm not sure if it makes a difference (probably not?) but these came with the name all

caps 'MEADE' or 'Meade' I have a mixture and they are all fantastic.

Robert


Edited by clamchip, 13 June 2018 - 04:03 AM.

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#5 petert913

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 09:09 PM

My University Optics  16mm Konig is an outstanding eyepiece.  Had it since 1977 and will never let it go. 

Not the widest field of view but super sharp and flat to the edges.   The best for planetary.


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#6 steve t

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 09:22 PM

My small set of 24mm, 16mm, and 8mm  Brandons.  

Note: I recently replaced the rubber eyecups with flat top adapters to gain a little more eye relief. 

Attached Thumbnails

  • 20180504_182251_000.jpg

Edited by steve t, 12 June 2018 - 09:26 PM.

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#7 Esso2112

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 09:36 PM

My favorite vintage eyepieces:

 

1) Gailand Optical 28mm ortho (This was the top performer in my EdgeHD 14" at Texas Star Party)

2) My complete set of Brass Brandons (1980's, but they are beautiful to look at and through)

4) 0.965 Takahashi ortho's. Verdict is still out on the thread mount 40mm ortho (not enough time spent looking through it)

3) Gailand Optical Galoc 16.3mm

4) Unitron 1.25" ortho's ( at least the the 18mm and 9mm)

5) Circle T ortho's ( mine are labeled Edscorp)


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#8 ShaulaB

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 09:51 PM

Meade Research Grade 20mm inch-and-a-quarter. Made me a better observer.


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#9 Geo31

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 10:22 PM

Thirty-something millimeter military Erfle.

 

Otherwise, I’d be happier selling classic EPS to one of you.

 

Modern wide field EPs is one of the few things I truly like now vs then.


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#10 Jon Isaacs

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 11:34 PM

Given that they're from the same Era as the Meade Research Grades and predate some the eyepieces previously mentioned,  I would say the 32 mm TV Wide Field (1982) and the 4.8 mm Nagler (1980).

 

The 32 mm WF is really a special eyepiece , it's not as sharp off -axis as the 31 mm Nagler or the 35 Panoptic but its pretty good and its got that big eye lens that makes for a "big easyview ."  i was using it the other night,  wonderful views under dark skies on the 16" F/4.4 fitted with the Paracorr .

 

- 4.8 mm Nagler.  it's short on eye relief but sharp across the field. . I call it my Nagler Ortho. That eyepiece was introduced 38 years ago . It still holds its own. 

 

Jon


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#11 deSitter

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 11:59 PM

I actually like the Huygens and Kellners that come with classic scopes. Part of the ethos. The H12.5mm and K22mm are great eyepieces. I sort of enjoy snuggling up to the 9mm and 6mm Huygens and Mittenzweys. I draw the line at the 4mm Special Ramsden - what exactly is special about it?. That eyepiece is useless :) At f/15 those eyepieces are too much power.

 

Objectively speaking, if you can get a good central image of Saturn with a 2-element eyepiece, what more could you possibly want?

 

-drl


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#12 CHASLX200

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 05:11 AM

Circle NJ TeleVue stuff or go home. I don't care for any of the older stuff that has nose bleed ER or narrow FOV's. 


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#13 CHASLX200

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 05:29 AM

Given that they're from the same Era as the Meade Research Grades and predate some the eyepieces previously mentioned,  I would say the 32 mm TV Wide Field (1982) and the 4.8 mm Nagler (1980).

 

The 32 mm WF is really a special eyepiece , it's not as sharp off -axis as the 31 mm Nagler or the 35 Panoptic but its pretty good and its got that big eye lens that makes for a "big easyview ."  i was using it the other night,  wonder views under dark skies on the 16" F/4.4 fitted with the Paracorr .

 

- 4.8 mm Nagler.  it's short on eye relief but sharp across the field. . I call it my Nagler Ortho. That eyepiece was introduced 38 years ago . It still holds its own. 

 

Jon

I always loved the NJ 4.8mm Nag.


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#14 Garyth64

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 07:17 AM

I like my old UO Circle A eyepieces  (5mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12.5mm, 25mm, and 40mm.


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#15 highfnum

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 07:27 AM

galoc 16mm Erfle  - strange eyepiece  focus point very different than other eyepieces

 

unitron 40mm monochromo  and later mono  -- wierd also

 

ziess 10and 16mm orthos  -- just very good

 

 

Edmund RKE 28   -- that floating view  --  Jeagers had something similar

 

Russian 17mm Bertele  has built in minus violet in glass formula


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#16 Jon Isaacs

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 07:33 AM

I always loved the NJ 4.8mm Nag.

 

Somehow the coatings on my original 4.8 Nagler were damaged so I recently bought another one..

 

One interesting fact about the smoothie 4.8 mm is both the barrel and the body are 1.25" diameter. The fit in the focused backwards. I make use of this fact in the test jigni j use to measure the effective aperture of my refractors.

 

6316192-Eyepiece and laser on floor cropped.jpg
 
jon

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#17 starman876

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 07:35 AM

I always loved the NJ 4.8mm Nag.

Interesting,  I still have mine I bought new and it is the least used eyepiece I have.   The eye relief just does not work that well for me.  Glad it works for you Chas. 



#18 Chuck Hards

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 08:08 AM

I've never been able to use a Nagler comfortably.  Besides the short eye relief, they are not as sharp in the center of the field as a good ortho, and some of them "kidney bean" on me.  Just too finicky.

 

My favorites are my old UO Zebra Konigs as well as the volcano-top Erfles.  Both work very well in long-focus instruments.  I have some other faves but these are the ones that seem to get used as a group most often, along with the UO mushroom-top series.  No pics of the mushroom tops on my office computer, sorry.

 

 

Konigs.jpg   Erfles.jpg  

 


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#19 deSitter

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 08:39 AM

I've never been able to use a Nagler comfortably.  Besides the short eye relief, they are not as sharp in the center of the field as a good ortho, and some of them "kidney bean" on me.  Just too finicky.

 

My favorites are my old UO Zebra Konigs as well as the volcano-top Erfles.  Both work very well in long-focus instruments.  I have some other faves but these are the ones that seem to get used as a group most often, along with the UO mushroom-top series.  No pics of the mushroom tops on my office computer, sorry.

 

 

attachicon.gif Konigs.jpg  attachicon.gif Erfles.jpg

Man those are beauties! Agree about eyepieces with lots of SAEP. Not fun.

 

-drl


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#20 Dartguy

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 08:42 AM

Mine are the Clavè 8mm and 12mm for planetary and moon.  And the 30mm Criterion I got from Brian D, that is like new.  They all give great views!


Edited by Dartguy, 13 June 2018 - 08:42 AM.

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#21 bremms

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 09:33 AM

RGO's are at the top and mine were competitive with a ZAO. Even the Multi coated Tani Orthos are just a notch down from the top tier ridiculously priced ZAO's.  The 2" Edmund Rank 32mm is superb. The early green lettered EP's are very good too, but I find the Ortho's easier to look through. Performance per dollar? A good Tani Ortho is hard to beat.  Clave' and Brandons are similar, little scatter, tight on eye relief and rather poor off axis. Had quite a few of each. Kept an 8 and 12mm Brandon. Still like the RGO's better.


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#22 Terra Nova

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 09:41 AM

I've never been able to use a Nagler comfortably.  Besides the short eye relief, they are not as sharp in the center of the field as a good ortho, and some of them "kidney bean" on me.  Just too finicky.

 

My favorites are my old UO Zebra Konigs as well as the volcano-top Erfles.  Both work very well in long-focus instruments.  I have some other faves but these are the ones that seem to get used as a group most often, along with the UO mushroom-top series.  No pics of the mushroom tops on my office computer, sorry.

 

 

attachicon.gif Konigs.jpg  attachicon.gif Erfles.jpg

I have that 20mm and the large heavy circle T 32mm Erfles and really like them. The 32mm is my de-facto widefield ‘finding eyepiece’ in my OT C8.


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#23 steve t

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 09:44 AM

Nowadays, as much as I like the 8mm Brandon I find the eye relief a little tight and prefer to barlow the 24mm and 16mm with the 2.4x Dakin barlow. This gives me a range of 24mm, 16mm, 10mm, and 6.6mm. 



#24 clamchip

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 09:45 AM

Another favorite of mine is the Edmund 1-1/8" Kellner.

It pre-dates the similar RKE, and is not a RKE but a Type III Kellner, much like a Plossl with symmetrical achromats. 

What make the 1-1/8" interesting is the field is enormous, and there is no defined stop, in fact it has no field stop so

it has that 'port hole effect' read about it here:

https://www.cloudyni...llection/page-2

 

Robert



#25 Terra Nova

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 09:46 AM

Some of the old volcano top orthos are some of my favorites.  The old Meade 2" wide view in the 14mm and 32mm are some favorites.   The old University 32mm Konig is an all time favorite for just finding things and a great eyepiece for removing splinters.  The old Zeiss .965 orthos are really great.  

Agreed! I love my old Celestron and Edmund 1.25” Volcano-top Circle T orthos. I have the full set from 4mm to 25mm. Also my 7mm Meade RG ortho and my 25mm and 40mm Volcano-top Celestron Circle T Kellners. Of course, my prizes are my set of four CZJ (0.965”) orthos, my five Brandons, and my two Galocs.


Edited by terraclarke, 13 June 2018 - 09:49 AM.

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