133 replies to this topic

[Orion68]

I have read so many good things about Explore Scientific that I would like to try something in their eyepiece lineup, preferably with an afov in the range of 68-82 degrees. Since I'm not looking to fill a hole in my eyepiece case, no preference on focal length, just interested in your favorite(s). 

 

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

 

Scopes: C8, C11, F5,6,7 refractors.

Edited by Orion68, 14 April 2021 - 04:56 PM.

[DSOGabe]

I have a 68/14, 68/24 and 82/4.7. My favorite is the 68/24. Its my all purpose work horse.

Edited by DSOGabe, 14 April 2021 - 05:05 PM.

[Supernova74]

Well I only have one left lol as i upgraded to televue however i do like my exsisting one which is an ES40mm 68 degree great eye relief.

[Kent10]

I have 30mm 100 degree, 25mm 100 degree, 24mm 68 degree, 17mm 92 degree, 12mm 92 degree and 9mm 120 degree.  I think my favorite is the 25mm 100 degree.  I really like the 92 degree ones as well but find myself using the Nikon 102 degree more often.  The 25mm 100 degree, though not "perfect" in its view, is quite unique.  So is the 30mm 100 degree but without my contacts I get a lot of field curvature and it is more trouble to use.  I might like it more if I viewed more with my contacts.  The 24mm 68 is also quite nice but I have the TV panoptic as well.

[25585]

ES92 12mm & 17mm equally.

[havasman]

ES68 24mm is the one most useful to me because of how it maxes out the FOV at 1.25" barrel and does it so well.

ES68 16mm is the one I like the most as it's performance is just about ideal. It's one of very few eyepieces I've ever had that I have ZERO complaints about.

I've had quite a few ES82 and ES100 eyepieces in the past. I found the ES100's universally flawed and surpassed in performance by the APM HDC's at lower cost and weight. The ES82's are better; the 30, 18 and 4.7mm's are very good. 

Nowadays my kit is 6 Ethos, 6 Naglers, 1 Delos, 4 Tak Abbe Orthos and ES68's (40, 24, 20, 16). And I'm done changing.

Edited by havasman, 14 April 2021 - 05:32 PM.

[R.Kelley]

Explore Sci 12mm & 17mm 92º

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[DavidSt]

If you don’t have a 2” focuser it’s hard to beat the ES68 24mm but prefer the ES68 28mm just a bit more if you can accommodate 2” eyepieces.

[clearwaterdave]

For me the most used is the 82/14..or the 68/20. depending on the scope or my mood. 

[Orion68]

Explore Sci 12mm & 17mm 92º

Wow, those are beautiful.

[MitchAlsup]

9ES120 simply friggen fabulous, some $100 more than 21E.

[John Huntley]

The 17mm / 92 is the best ES eyepiece that I have used. I have also owned the 20mm / 100, the 24mm / 68 and the 4.7mm / 82 in the past. The 17mm / 92 is the one that truly seems to rival the best out there, in my opinion. The 12mm / 92 is probably as good optically but the eye relief made it less effective for me than the 17mm

 

 

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[rowdy388]

Sold them all except the 17 92 and 9 120. The 17 92 is my favorite ES and arguably all time favorite of any make.

[Kent10]

The OP should know that some of these eyepieces are very heavy (and large) in case that matters.  Some try them and then sell because of the weight.  But if the weight isn't a concern for you, then you might be very happy with them.

[Mitrovarr]

30mm ES82. Nice big field, well corrected, fits into the human budget.

[BRCoz]

I only have one.  ES82 4.7mm.  I have had it for about two years.  The last time I was out I had the C11 so it was not used.  Have not been able to get out to a dark site for a long time.    

[PJBilotta]

Like my 24/68, but love my 28/68 - wider view, great eye relief, equally sharp and bright, and compact and lightweight for a 2". It's really hard to beat for max FOV with an f/6.3 reducer in my C8, and better corrected than most 36-40mm two-inchers I have tried without an R/C.

[vkhastro1]

I owned at one point in time all of the ES 100 degrees, 82 degrees and the 68 degrees.

All sold. 

Very good eyepieces but better options (optically and less expensive) are currently available.

 

My only keepers from the ES lineup are the 92 degrees - both the 12mm and 17mm.

Wow what a view !

If and when a new ES 92 degree is released, definitely on my buy list !

[John Fitzgerald]

ES 12mm 92 degree, and ES 34mm 68 degree.

[Mitrovarr]

I owned at one point in time all of the ES 100 degrees, 82 degrees and the 68 degrees.

All sold. 

Very good eyepieces but better options (optically and less expensive) are currently available.

 

My only keepers from the ES lineup are the 92 degrees - both the 12mm and 17mm.

Wow what a view !

If and when a new ES 92 degree is released, definitely on my buy list !

What is better optically and less expensive than the 82 and 68 series?

[naramsin]

The 16mm 68 pair get the most use. They're good all-rounders, unless you need glasses.

 

I also really like my 11mm 82s. Larger, heavier, but similar to the 16s otherwise.

 

Recently got the 24mm 68. So far I like it, but haven't been able to spend as much time with it as I'd like to.

[CrazyPanda]

Only have one - the 17mm ES92. But I love it.

[naramsin]

What is better optically and less expensive than the 82 and 68 series?

I hope this question doesn't get lost in the shuffle. I bought mine before the price creep. What, indeed, is better than the ES at the price (or less)?

[SDAngler]

ES 28MM / 68  love it! 

[25585]

I like my humble ES62 26mm as well. Though its outclassed optically by other makes & models, the 26 is very comfy viewing with long eye relief & a steady exit pupil. Its a good finder ep for small scopes.