1487 replies to this topic

[scopeboy42]

I had considered getting a few of the TPL eyepieces and 1.25" Prism Diagonal when Takahashi had them on sale late last year but could never find them in stock. I am assuming they are not importing too many of them and so they sell out fast.

[Ihtegla Sar]

Yes, you should, and soon you'll be a minimum-glass fan like me Once I see the contrast & clarity and sharpness of 25mm or 16mm, 12mm, compared to the big heavy widefield's it's all over. All I can do is think about the details and beauty I"m missing with the big clunkers And the longer plossls have nice long eye relief and easy eye positioning.

For the most part I use a big widefield as a finder eyepiece and low power view, then dial in the appropriate plossl for higher power to view the object and take in the details. And the 50mm Masuyama is starting to take over the role of the big wide field, due to its easy eye placement and smooth barrel

Well, I finally got out my other TPLs tonight (12mm, 18mm and 25mm). It took 15 minutes to find them -- you know you have too many eyepieces when it takes that long to find the three TPLs you just bought last year.

Immediately I saw a difference with the TPLs. Seeing was not good (80-100x max) but at least it wasn't cloudy. The TPLs just seemed a bit sharper and clearer on doubles than my RKEs, Masuyamas and orthos. I was looking at STT 113 in my TEC 140 with the 12mm TPL when the difference became very apparant. I was able to clearly see the dim secondary despite the light pollution, bad seeing and relatively low magnification. Switching to my 12mm Hutrch ortho and I couldn't see the secondary at all. Switching to the 10mm Masuyama and I still couldn't see it. Put back in the 12mm TPL and there it was. After that, I mostly just used the TPLs.

I use my 50mm Masuyama as a finder anytime I need the widest possible field. I like it better tgan my 40mm XL. It's lighter, easier to use and smooth barreled. But usually I like to stick to just 1.25" eyepieces when I can since its easier, so I've been using the 16mm 85 degree Masuyama as my finder eyepiece. Seems to give me enough FOV to find stuff.

[Highburymark]

The TPL 9mm is my go to eyepiece in my Lunt 60 double stack.

TPL 12.5mms have become my favourite higher mag choice for solar Ha binoviewing too. They give 120x in my solar scope. Also use Nagler 13s and Delite 11s for wider views, but the TPLs always come out when seeing is at its best.

[Mike B]

 

…. so I've been using the 16mm 85 degree Masuyama as my finder eyepiece. Seems to give me enough FOV to find stuff.

Same here! Otherwise I’ll bump up to the Masu-20/85, but therein is the jump to 2”…. So I’ll keep the 16 in the adapter, so it’s re-insertion can be a one-step deal! Between those two, I’m finding all I set out to find! 

[EboO]

Same here! Otherwise I’ll bump up to the Masu-20/85, but therein is the jump to 2”…. So I’ll keep the 16 in the adapter, so it’s re-insertion can be a one-step deal! Between those two, I’m finding all I set out to find!

I use MOP 30mm, not the same field but rather wide.

[Mike B]

I use MOP 30mm, not the same field but rather wide.

Yup!- ive found their transparency & contrast AND FoV very useful for popping out the faint, fuzzy stuff, which I can then zoom in to view with other suitable EPs! Frequently this is where Abbe’s & TPL’s come into play.

Edited by Mike B, 27 January 2025 - 03:44 PM.

[3396815]

Hardly.

How can you say this? Did you tried?

What meade 3000 do you have?

quality glass is more important then any polishing, work surface, and treatment (angstron against micron)...

[geekay]

I just purchased a 25mm TPL from a shop in Tokyo to complete my travel kit. I put it under very harsh light and examined it through a magnifying glass, and didn't see any dust or other issues.

Edited by geekay, 27 April 2025 - 02:50 AM.

[saemark30]

Which fl is the most outstanding 6,9, 12.5, 18 TPL eyepiece compared to other premium brands such as Brandon and TV plossls?

[Nucleophile]

Which fl is the most outstanding 6,9, 12.5, 18 TPL eyepiece compared to other premium brands such as Brandon and TV plossls?

This query is perhaps bit too broad as the answer likely depends on the scope being used and also the target examined.

 

My TPL experience with challenging double stars using my 8" F5.9 reflector with upgraded optics is as follows:

 

The 25 TPL is sharper than my 24 Panoptic

The 12.5 TPL is sharper than my TV 13T6

The 9 TPL is sharper than either the 11 or the 8 TV plossls

The 6 TPL is the second best 6mm I have owned aside from the 6 Ethos

 

I will likely keep an eye out for a used 18.  Yes, I really like these eyepieces.

 

*Another bonus:  my TPLs are nearly parfocal with my Masuyama MOP eyepieces, which is nice!

[saemark30]

I will be viewing the planets and moon but globulars also.

Sharpness and lack of scatter are key here and transmission to maximize contrast and purity of color.

I have some ED and APO refractors and some longer mirrors such as 8" F8 to use with them.

Edited by saemark30, 13 July 2025 - 01:05 AM.

[betacygni]

Which fl is the most outstanding 6,9, 12.5, 18 TPL eyepiece compared to other premium brands such as Brandon and TV plossls?

I don’t think there is a particular TPL focal length inherently better than the others.

I’ve compared my TPLs to my Brandons quite a bit, they are very very close. So far I haven’t seen a big enough difference to be definitive and declare a winner, but if one were to put a gun to my head and ask which was better, I’d say the TPL. That said I prefer my Brandons more overall. I find them a bit more comfortable and oddly have come to prefer their narrow AFOV. To me they are a more relaxing eyepiece to use and subjectively more engaging, but I’ve kept my TPLs. If given a night of perfect seeing I suspect the TPLs would be the ones I’d reach for, but the jury is still out.

Edited by betacygni, 13 July 2025 - 01:47 AM.

[Scott99]

I don’t think there is a particular TPL focal length inherently better than the others.

 

One of the great things about a line like the TPL is the consistency of the view at different magnifications.  They alll work exactly the same.  The only advantage I could possibly see would be the better eye relief in the longer ones.