24 replies to this topic

[Mike W]

As per Don P. recommend the APM 30 Uff works great with the Delos in my 10" Apertura Dob. I find the 17.3, 14, and 10 Delos a perfect range.
This gives me 41X, 72X, 89X and 125X. I never do any planetary viewing so very rarely need more power. If I did would go for an 8 Delos. My upstate NY skies 125X are a good fit for max power.

Edited by Mike W, 31 May 2023 - 07:05 PM.

[sportsmed]

Yea I was on the fence with the AT UWA 28mm and the APM 30UFF for my 10" Dob. But after talking with Don I ending buying the APM from him and have enjoyed it so far even though I havent got to view much since I bought it. I have never tried the Delos but I have always heard good things at some point I wouldn't mind trying the 3.5mm Delos for planetary in my refractors. Congrats on the EP's, clear skies!

[Mike W]

Yea I was on the fence with the AT UWA 28mm and the APM 30UFF for my 10" Dob. But after talking with Don I ending buying the APM from him and have enjoyed it so far even though I havent got to view much since I bought it. I have never tried the Delos but I have always heard good things at some point I wouldn't mind trying the 3.5mm Delos for planetary in my refractors. Congrats on the EP's, clear skies!

Thanks, I went back to a Dob last year after letting my TV102 go. I used a 24 pan and radians for years
then went to the Delos, a nice upgrade! I find for me a 70 degree E/P is most comfortable and
with few aberrations. I was able to use the 30Uff a lot last year and it's a perfect match
optically and balance wise with the Delos! Bought and sold the 27pan several times, just not as sharp
as the 24 pan (newer design) but the 24 pan is too close to the 17.3.

Edited by Mike W, 31 May 2023 - 08:39 PM.

[MikeB 2]

I use the 30mm uff and 17.5mm morpheus in my c8, both great eyepieces. I still have my 12mm radian but have it up in the classifieds. The 30 and 17.5 do about everything I need, but may get the 12.5mm morpheus at some point if I decide I need it. I love the delite and radians Ive owned but wanted a larger avof.

[25585]

Thanks, I went back to a Dob last year after letting my TV102 go. I used a 24 pan and radians for years
then went to the Delos, a nice upgrade! I find for me a 70 degree E/P is most comfortable and
with few aberrations. I was able to use the 30Uff a lot last year and it's a perfect match
optically and balance wise with the Delos! Bought and sold the 27pan several times, just not as sharp
as the 24 pan (newer design) but the 24 pan is too close to the 17.3.

Never imagined you would sell your 102! 

[cimar]

I have 15" f/5 and 10" f/5 dobsonian scopes and the following eyepiece set:

31mm Aspheric, 17.3mm, 10mm, 6mm and 3.5mm Delos.

The 17.3mm Delos is a wonderful low power eyepiece in the 10" and I use it a lot with this scope. In the 15" the 10mm, 6mm and 3.5mm Delos eyepieces are in use most of the time and deliver wonderful views rich if deep details.

[Piero DP]

I rarely observe planets and I certainly don't want to limit myself at a highest mag of 125x! There are so many DSO which would benefit from powers higher than that with your 10".

I have 3 Delos and in the past I had 2 others. Personally I've never got fond of them. For that kind of size and weight, I want more FOV (more "wow-experience" so to speak!). That's likely the same reason why I am sticking to Nagler T6 and not looking at any delite..

Edited by Piero DP, 03 June 2023 - 02:32 AM.

[Chad7531]

30, 17.3, 12, 8 would be a little better spaced. And then I would definitely add the 6 and 4.5.

[Mike W]

As I said, with My sky a 6 and 4.5 would almost never get used! I may go back to an 8 but the last few years
if it's not poor seeing it's smoke from out west or Canada! The jet stream almost always goes over
the east coast. In England I don't believe you have that problem. Also "I" prefer 70 degrees!
Always a critic out there! Look at the smoke for Monday, if the moon wasn't out you'd
be lucky to use a 30mm E/P! A cold front is moving down the east coast and bringing smoke
down from up north!

https://www.cleardar...sAbNYkey.html?1

https://www.bing.com...selectedIndex=0

Edited by Mike W, 03 June 2023 - 12:11 PM.

[Mike B]

 

…. Look at the smoke for Monday, if the moon wasn't out you'd

be lucky to use a 30mm E/P!

 

Out west, where we burn down the state seasonally, we astroheads call smoke like that an “ND filter”.  

 

If’n yer wanting to use more mags with your Dob, it CAN be done. Just hook up a rear-blower fan behind the primary. Dobs are exceptionally vulnerable to thermals from ground-heat, so make sure to run the fan as a “puller”, not a pusher, lest you be bathing the mirror in warm air! A puller-fan will draw cooler air from the mirror-box & above…. It may even help stabilize the air in the box above the mirror to reduce thermal turbulence? I found this very effective on my Dob 

[Mike W]

I have a fan, does no good if the seeing in the sky sucks. Believe me, California skies are
very different from NY! (that's why they parked the 200" in Ca. and not in NY) The Arboretum is a grass field on top of a small mountain so ground effects are
minimal. What are you drinking in that cup!!!! Read my signature, I know how to use a dob.

Edited by Mike W, 03 June 2023 - 12:29 PM.

[cimar]

With my 10" I thought that powers more than 200x would be diminished by seeing. But with the 15" I realized that powers up to 600x work well most nights. It is more a thing op mirror and mirror support quality as well as cooling time.

[Mike W]

With my 10" I thought that powers more than 200x would be diminished by seeing. But with the 15" I realized that powers up to 600x work well most nights. It is more a thing op mirror and mirror support quality as well as cooling time.

Click on the first attachment and look at the seeing.(Of the sky!)

[M11Mike]

Have to agree with Mike W and Mike B --- I have a SE8 and both the APM 30 and 17.3 TV Delos in my EP arsenal.  (love both of those EP's with my scope and think both are EXCELLENT) 

 

I too am from upstate NY --- northeastern NY, Albany area.

 

SEEING CONDITIONS ***HERE*** rarely allow for much more than 125X in my scope --- as even when it's clear (and moonless) --- there's always something else to contend with - either too much humidity in the air, too much smoke, unsteady atmosphere, etc., etc.  

 

Observing conditions, even from our rather remote observing site in Esperance, NY, are RARELY ideal.  In fact, I can't remember a single night it the last 2 years where observing conditions were better than juts "good" and even "good" only on 1 in 5 nights. 

 

With regards to maximum magnification - all depends on your observing site and it's observing conditions.   As far as I'm concerned after over 60 years of observing experience --- 125X is about it from where I presently observe....regardless of scope or EP's I have owned.  (might do a little more if I was observing the moon / but I rarely look at the moon / I like DSO's) 

 

 

Mike P - Ballston Lake, NY 

[M11Mike]

Oh, also owned the TV Panoptic 27mm 2" (three times) and the APM 30 "blows " the Pan 27 away.  (Pan 27 not sharp to the edge in my SE8///APM 30 pin pint stars right to the edge).  

 

Don P is like "always on target" when it comes to EP performance.  I am with him 100% on the APM 30.  Great WF EP.  

 

Mike P  

[Mike W]

To get back on topic as someone else said in a similar topic the 30mm UFF "just works,"
and I'll add works well with the Televue Delos!

Edited by Mike W, 03 June 2023 - 04:35 PM.

[JRisrad]

To get back on topic as someone else said in a similar topic the 30mm UFF "just works,"
and I'll add works well with the Televue Delos!

Agreed. I was at my club's Virgo Venture party two weeks ago. I mainly used my APM UFF 30mm and 12mm Delos. 

[Mike W]

I rarely observe planets and I certainly don't want to limit myself at a highest mag of 125x! There are so many DSO which would benefit from powers higher than that with your 10".

I have 3 Delos and in the past I had 2 others. Personally I've never got fond of them. For that kind of size and weight, I want more FOV (more "wow-experience" so to speak!). That's likely the same reason why I am sticking to Nagler T6 and not looking at any delite..

I see you have a 24 panoptic, hardly 82 degrees! (BTW I love the 24 pan and observed with the designer, the late Paul D. at Stellafane) I personally prefer 70 degrees and what does your post possibly add to the topic of 30mmUFF & Delos?
If I wanted an 82degree e/p I would buy one and post about that!
Topic: The 30mm UFF plays well with the Televue Delos!

Edited by Mike W, 03 June 2023 - 08:32 PM.

[jrmacl]

wow my take away on this thread is that I should count my blessings. You guys talking about how you have a c8 and f5 10" and how a 17.5 delos is your fav high power at 125x. Those are ep's sizes I barely consider, I put my scope away if my 11mm ep at 180x ain't working. I'm an insomniac who has been sitting outside chain smoking cigs next to 4 of my 5 scopes (the classic is mostly to look at, but I use it) crying cus it's been cloudy for like 9 weeks but it feels like 9 months (socal/hb). Just put them all back in the house trying to trick the sky gods into clearing things up, it almost worked I saw the moon and venus kinda peeking thru last nite

[Mike B]

I have a fan, does no good if the seeing in the sky sucks. Believe me, California skies are
very different from NY! (that's why they parked the 200" in Ca. and not in NY) The Arboretum is a grass field on top of a small mountain so ground effects are
minimal. What are you drinking in that cup!!!! Read my signature, I know how to use a dob.

Ahh, I see. My apologies…. It may be your thermals are originating with hot-air issues I’d not foreseen.   I wish you the best with them

[25585]

30mm UFF plays well with quite a few ranges. My own: Baader Morpheus, Pentax XW & XL, Vixen LVW, Long Perng LHD, TV Delites. In fact ANY range and user that has and wants a longer eye relief, easy eye alignment 30mm eyepiece with excellent performance.

[Mike W]

wow my take away on this thread is that I should count my blessings. You guys talking about how you have a c8 and f5 10" and how a 17.5 delos is your fav high power at 125x. Those are ep's sizes I barely consider, I put my scope away if my 11mm ep at 180x ain't working. I'm an insomniac who has been sitting outside chain smoking cigs next to 4 of my 5 scopes (the classic is mostly to look at, but I use it) crying cus it's been cloudy for like 9 weeks but it feels like 9 months (socal/hb). Just put them all back in the house trying to trick the sky gods into clearing things up, it almost worked I saw the moon and venus kinda peeking thru last nite

17.3 Delos gives 41X, 10 Delos 125X..................

[Mike W]

We seem to have an expert on hot air. Thanks Mike B!

Edited by Mike W, 04 June 2023 - 10:58 AM.

[Mike W]

30mm UFF plays well with quite a few ranges. My own: Baader Morpheus, Pentax XW & XL, Vixen LVW, Long Perng LHD, TV Delites. In fact ANY range and user that has and wants a longer eye relief, easy eye alignment 30mm eyepiece with excellent performance.

Thank you for getting us back on topic! I'm sure it plays well with many e/p's but
At 1lb 3.5 oz. almost weighs the same as a Delos with adapter at 1lb 1.8 oz so a re-balance
with my dob is not an issue. Also having around the same fov, E/R and sharpness makes them
a good match. BTW a Televue Delos top cap fits the 30uff!

Edited by Mike W, 04 June 2023 - 12:05 PM.

[Mike W]

I sure hope this smoke clears before the next new moon or my eyepieces will be become hanger
queens. The jet stream has been pushed far south?

If you click on ANY square you'll bring up a map showing smoke, cloud cover etc.

https://www.cleardar...sAbNYkey.html?1

Edited by Mike W, 04 June 2023 - 11:24 AM.