34 replies to this topic

[ericb760]

My last two scope acquisitions came with a Celestron K25mm and a Celestron OR18mm, both volcano tops. I also recently acquired a Meade MA25mm. Using them I have been pleasantly surprised by the views these old EP's give in my classic refractors. So much so that I'm looking to complete either the Celestron set or the Meade but I'm leaning towards the Celestron's. Given that I have the 25 and 18, what should my next move be? I don't know much about what was available back then, but I assume there were some higher power EP's available. What were they?

 

 

[CHASLX200]

Only things i would want are the first run Circle NJ Tele Vue's or the smooth side Meade 4000 line.  The 4000's got dumbed down and cheaper as each version came out and by the late 90's were nothing like the smooth side 5 element deals.

 

Before Tele Vue changed the world around 1982 with the Naglers, eyepiece tech was dead and outdated with nose bleed ER and straw like FOV's. Always loved the Tele Vue Wide field line like the 2" 32 and 40mm.  Great for glasses and the 40mm could be used to stop a mugger if you threw it at him.

Edited by CHASLX200, 28 April 2024 - 05:32 AM.

[ericb760]

Only things i would want are the first run Circle NJ Tele Vue's or the smooth side Meade 4000 line.  The 4000's got dumbed down and cheaper as each version came out and by the late 90's were nothing like the smooth side 5 element deals.

 

Before Tele Vue changed the world around 1982 with the Naglers, eyepiece tech was dead and outdated with nose bleed ER and straw like FOV's. Always loved the Tele Vue Wide field line like the 2" 32 and 40mm.  Great for glasses and the 40mm could be used to stop a mugger if you threw it at him.

Well, my pockets aren't that deep. Do you have any suggestions grounded in reality?

[CHASLX200]

Well, my pockets aren't that deep. Do you have any suggestions grounded in reality?

That was for my wants.  I know nothing much about other eyepieces.  I got a closet full i would sell for cheap all or none deal.  Gotta start cleaning out the trunk.  As for high pow wow they sold many 4mm eyepieces and 6 and 9's.  Othro's and kellners were the norm back then.

Edited by CHASLX200, 28 April 2024 - 07:10 AM.

[macdonjh]

If you search the Cloudy Nights Eyepiece forum using relevant key words (e.g. volcano, vintage, Celestron, etc.) I'll bet you find lots of options.

 

For Celestron volcano tops, an internet search revealed:

OR4mm, OR5mm, OR6mm, OR7mm, OR9mm, OR12mm, OR18mm, OR25mm

E20mm, E32mm

K6mm, K8mm (? photo was fuzzy), K9mm, K12mm, K25mm, K30mm, K40mm, K60mm, K70mm

 

Halloween Plossls

 

Silver-top 7.5mm, 10mm, 26mm, 36mm, 45mm, 50mm, 2x Barlow

 

Celestron also made 0.965" barrel eye pieces.

 

You could also look for University Optics (volcano top orthos and later flat top HD orthos, plus some 2" wide field eye pieces), Parks Silver and Gold Line, Edmund RKE, various Vixen lines, Meade Research Grade.

[macdonjh]

FWIW I completely agree with CHASLX200 about the original Tele Vue Plossls: 

 

They get progressively harder to find every year.  I collected these over a few years, at that time most were $70-$80 each.  I don't share CHASLX200's opinion about the smoothie Wide Fields, though.  After enjoying my smoothie Plossls so much the collecting bug bit and I bought a 24mm Wide Field.  I still have it, but I never use it.  Same with the smoothie Naglers.  I bought a 13mm, still have it, never use it.  I much prefer the modern Naglers.  If nothing else, they have a more stable exit pupil (don't black out nearly as easily).

 

I regret selling my University Optics orthos, even if I used the money for Tele Vue eye pieces.  The extra eye relief of the Radians lured me.  Ironically, I don't care much about eye relief anymore.  When it was time to have orthos again, the high- value University Optics were no longer available new and the used market was almost non-existent (try finding one now).  Even these Pentax were easier to find (but more costly):

 

I tried a couple of the Meade Research Grade but was underwhelmed.  I had a Celestron 26mm Silvertop, same story.  These might have been victims of my already having Tele Vue: the Meade and Celestron could keep up, but weren't better; I kept my Tele Vue.  If I had started those collections earlier, who knows what would have happened?

Edited by macdonjh, 28 April 2024 - 07:57 AM.

[CHASLX200]

FWIW I completely agree with CHASLX200 about the original Tele Vue Plossls: 

Smoothies small.jpg

 

They get progressively harder to find every year.  I collected these over a few years, at that time most were $70-$80 each.  I don't share CHASLX200's opinion about the smoothie Wide Fields, though.  After enjoying my smoothie Plossls so much the collecting bug bit and I bought a 24mm Wide Field.  I still have it, but I never use it.  Same with the smoothie Naglers.  I bought a 13mm, still have it, never use it.  I much prefer the modern Naglers.  If nothing else, they have a more stable exit pupil (don't black out nearly as easily).

 

I regret selling my University Optics orthos, even if I used the money for Tele Vue eye pieces.  The extra eye relief of the Radians lured me.  Ironically, I don't care much about eye relief anymore.  When it was time to have orthos again, the high- value University Optics were no longer available new and the used market was almost non-existent (try finding one now).  Even these Pentax were easier to find (but more costly):

Pentax SMC family xsmall.jpg

 

I tried a couple of the Meade Research Grade but was underwhelmed.  I had a Celestron 26mm Silvertop, same story.  These might have been victims of my already having Tele Vue: the Meade and Celestron could keep up, but weren't better; I kept my Tele Vue.  If I had started those collections earlier, who know what would have happened?

I NEVER CARED FOR THE 24.5mm WF.  I also have the 19 and 15 and ER is not good for glasses.  But love the 32 and 40 WF.

[CharlieB]

Three eyepieces:

 

12.5 mm Nippon Kogaku Huygen .965

 

Goto 12.5 Huygen 1.25" (for my spectroscope)

 

5mm Nippon Kogaku Ortho .965 (not that I could afford one, though)

 

Charlie

[PawPaw]

Two out of three......

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[CharlieB]

Two out of three......

You're killing me!!

 

Charlie

[ccwemyss]

Getting back to the OP's request for affordable classic eyepieces, the Celestron Vixen (Circle-V mark) Ortho eyepieces in 0.965, that were sold to go along with the C90, are very good. Comparing to the Pentax SMCs, they are very nearly as sharp, and just a little less bright (I have compared them directly). If I wasn't such a Pentax fan, I wouldn't be inclined to spend the extra for the difference. 

 

University Optics eyepieces of almost any type are typically quite good. Jan was very picky about the quality of everything he sold.

 

If it has the Tani Circle-T mark, or the Nihon Seiko NS label, you're also likely to get good quality. 

 

Chip W. 

[ericb760]

FWIW I completely agree with CHASLX200 about the original Tele Vue Plossls: 

Smoothies small.jpg

 

They get progressively harder to find every year.  I collected these over a few years, at that time most were $70-$80 each.  I don't share CHASLX200's opinion about the smoothie Wide Fields, though.  After enjoying my smoothie Plossls so much the collecting bug bit and I bought a 24mm Wide Field.  I still have it, but I never use it.  Same with the smoothie Naglers.  I bought a 13mm, still have it, never use it.  I much prefer the modern Naglers.  If nothing else, they have a more stable exit pupil (don't black out nearly as easily).

 

I regret selling my University Optics orthos, even if I used the money for Tele Vue eye pieces.  The extra eye relief of the Radians lured me.  Ironically, I don't care much about eye relief anymore.  When it was time to have orthos again, the high- value University Optics were no longer available new and the used market was almost non-existent (try finding one now).  Even these Pentax were easier to find (but more costly):

Pentax SMC family xsmall.jpg

 

I tried a couple of the Meade Research Grade but was underwhelmed.  I had a Celestron 26mm Silvertop, same story.  These might have been victims of my already having Tele Vue: the Meade and Celestron could keep up, but weren't better; I kept my Tele Vue.  If I had started those collections earlier, who knows what would have happened?

I was able to pick up a TeleVue 7.4mm flat top a few weeks ago on eBay for $70. Eye relief is non-existent but the view is quite wonderful.

[k5apl]

I am looking for GOTO Kogaku eyepieces, other than those can came with my refractor.  I'm sure they are

scarce and expensive, but it doesn't cost anything to look.  

Wes

[starman876]

always loved the Meade RG and the Zeiss and Nikon eyepieces.   Even though the Zeiss and Niko were .965 they provided beautiful views.

[CHASLX200]

I was able to pick up a TeleVue 7.4mm flat top a few weeks ago on eBay for $70. Eye relief is non-existent but the view is quite wonderful.

Once you get to the 21mm Circle NJ smooth side ER gets much better. I love the 32- 26 and 21mm smooth sides.

[ericb760]

Once you get to the 21mm Circle NJ smooth side ER gets much better. I love the 32- 26 and 21mm smooth sides.

I will keep my eyes open. Thanks.

[macdonjh]

I NEVER CARED FOR THE 24.5mm WF.  I also have the 19 and 15 and ER is not good for glasses.  But love the 32 and 40 WF.

I must have misinterpreted your earlier post: when you posted you loved the 32mm and 40mm I extrapolated that to mean you like them all.  Mea culpa.

 

Once you get to the 21mm Circle NJ smooth side ER gets much better. I love the 32- 26 and 21mm smooth sides.

I'm not letting you anywhere near my eye pieces, we like too many of the same.  I got the 21mm first, in a package deal with that D&G refractor many have seen in my posts.  It even became my favorite "galaxy eye piece" when I used a C11.  It's the first eye piece I grab with my ATM classical Cassegrain when I observe in my driveway.

 

 

[CHASLX200]

I must have misinterpreted your earlier post: when you posted you loved the 32mm and 40mm I extrapolated that to mean you like them all.  Mea culpa.

 

I'm not letting you anywhere near my eye pieces, we like too many of the same.  I got the 21mm first, in a package deal with that D&G refractor many have seen in my posts.  It even became my favorite "galaxy eye piece" when I used a C11.  It's the first eye piece I grab with my ATM classical Cassegrain when I observe in my driveway.

They are also the best looking line of the TV's before they got ruined with rubber and undercuts.

[deSitter]

You want nice Kellners for classic refractors. My favorites are the "inverse volcano tops", which have the eye lens surrounded by an inward sloping cone. This arrangement results in perfect eye placement every time without effort.

 

Wide fields are a complete waste IMO on these scopes. You discard their big advantage, little glass to scatter and absorb light. I regard the Nagler revolution with something like existential nausea. I will never spend another penny on wide fields unless they are classic Erfles.

 

-drl

[starman876]

the University Optics Konig eyepieces were some of my favorites.  Some of the first widefield eyepieces I remember.

[Terra Nova]

My classic 1.25” case:

4,5,6,7,9,12.5,18, 20, 25, 32. The 20mm is an Erfle, the 32mm a Brandon, all others are Orthos. All are Japanese, all but two are circle T.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by Terra Nova, 30 April 2024 - 10:55 AM.

[ErnH2O]

Another set of color coded Sears ep's.

[Kasmos]

Based on the opening question for higher powers and shallow pockets, I'd recommend some of the older Celestron Volcano Top Orthos. The were made by several makers (Circle T, Circle -, Circle M, and Circle V). They can found in 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 9mm and for about $45-$60 each.

[Rick-T137]

Personally I like the classic old school designs like Plössls, Königs, Erfles, Kellners, Orthos, etc. Brands like Meade, Celestron, University Optics, Tasco, etc.

 

Generally they aren't highly regarded (except maybe the Orthos) so usually they are reasonably affordable. I like eyepieces from the 80's. The MA's are nice. I have a set: 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 25mm and 40mm.

 

Sometimes looking at old telescope magazines (like Sky & Telescope) from the 80's has really good ads in them where you can see what sizes an entire set of eyepieces came with. You can look up back issues on archive.org.

 

Anything with a volcano top is cool in my books.

 

Clear skies!

 

Rick

[mpsteidle]

They are also the best looking line of the TV's before they got ruined with rubber and undercuts.

As ugly as the rubber is, I definitely prefer it when I'm holding a $300 eyepiece with wool gloves on a freezing cold night.

Edited by mpsteidle, 30 April 2024 - 03:17 PM.