15 replies to this topic

[boost_fae_bams]

Hi all, glad to be a part of the forum after so much time lurking for info.

 

Onto the topic, from using my Heritage 130p for many years now I've collected a decently complete and varied collection of beginner eyepieces and they've served me well. Of course, the time eventually comes to upgrade and in my case that time has come from seeing a range of Celestron xcel LXs being sold locally for a good discount price. 

 

I was wondering which of my eyepieces (pic attached and details below) are worth keeping, which could/should be replaced or could be superseded by purchasing an xcel lx eyepiece.

 

In particular I was looking between the 9mm or 12mm Xcel LX, and how buying either one would affect my collection as a whole. Moving onto more advanced stellar targets, which of the 9 or 12 would standalone be more useful?

 

Vixen NPL 30mm 50° EP 6mm 22x

BST Starguider 18mm 60° EP 3.6mm 36x

Sky-watcher UWA Planetary 4mm 58° EP0.8 163x

Goldline 6mm 66° EP1.2 108x

Celstron Omni 2x Barlow

 

I appreciate your reading. Clear skies!

 

Edited by boost_fae_bams, 14 August 2024 - 04:49 AM.

[SeattleScott]

With that scope I would go 9mm. Arguably 12 is a better gap filler but I don’t know how often you would use that low of magnification. The 9 has a better reputation also.

[boost_fae_bams]

With that scope I would go 9mm. Arguably 12 is a better gap filler but I don’t know how often you would use that low of magnification. The 9 has a better reputation also.

Thanks for replying. I have heard very good things about the 9mm including on this forum, whereas the 12mm does seem to be "just" good.

 

Even as you say the 12mm being a better gap filler, as I understand it some DSO targets would be viewed better using the 9mm (with an exit pupil of 1.8mm over 2.4mm of the 12mm) and out of my set the BST 18mm 36x power gets used the least.

 

Would you say that if I were to go with the 9mm, I could probably do away with the 6mm 66° from my collection?

 

Thanks again

[mrowlands]

I second the 9mm.  You should keep the 6mm.  That is a good magnification step, even if the fov step isn't as much (66 vs 60).

 

You will eventually need/want the 12 as well. 

 

Mike R.

Edited by mrowlands, 14 August 2024 - 02:53 PM.

[SeattleScott]

I would keep the 6mm for now. Good spacing. There are better options out there so it could be a candidate to upgrade at some point, but might as well keep it for now.

[Starman1]

Hi all, glad to be a part of the forum after so much time lurking for info.

 

Onto the topic, from using my Heritage 130p for many years now I've collected a decently complete and varied collection of beginner eyepieces and they've served me well. Of course, the time eventually comes to upgrade and in my case that time has come from seeing a range of Celestron xcel LXs being sold locally for a good discount price. 

 

I was wondering which of my eyepieces (pic attached and details below) are worth keeping, which could/should be replaced or could be superseded by purchasing an xcel lx eyepiece.

 

In particular I was looking between the 9mm or 12mm Xcel LX, and how buying either one would affect my collection as a whole. Moving onto more advanced stellar targets, which of the 9 or 12 would standalone be more useful?

 

Vixen NPL 30mm 50° EP 6mm 22x

BST Starguider 18mm 60° EP 3.6mm 36x

Sky-watcher UWA Planetary 4mm 58° EP0.8 163x

Goldline 6mm 66° EP1.2 108x

Celestron Omni 2x Barlow

 

I appreciate your reading. Clear skies!

 

jpeg-optimizer_pwf08bz5qb371 (1).jpg

130mm aperture, 650mm focal length.

 

recommended magnifications: 25x, 50x, 75x, 100x, 125x, 150x

Eyepieces derived from above: 26mm, 13mm, 8.5-9mm, 6.5mm, 5mm, 4-4.5mm

 

You own: 30mm, 18mm, 6mm, 4mm and a 2X Barlow yielding also 15mm, 9mm, 3mm, 2mm. 

 

Where is there a gap? Around 5mm, and maybe in the 12-13mm range.

I suspect you would use a 12-13mm more than the 5mm.

I would skip the 5mm for now and get an Astrotech 13mm 82° UWA.

I suspect it would become your most used eyepiece, with a 50x magnification and a 2.6mm exit pupil. 

[SeattleScott]

130mm aperture, 650mm focal length.

recommended magnifications: 25x, 50x, 75x, 100x, 125x, 150x
Eyepieces derived from above: 26mm, 13mm, 8.5-9mm, 6.5mm, 5mm, 4-4.5mm

You own: 30mm, 18mm, 6mm, 4mm and a 2X Barlow yielding also 15mm, 9mm, 3mm, 2mm.

Where is there a gap? Around 5mm, and maybe in the 12-13mm range.
I suspect you would use a 12-13mm more than the 5mm.
I would skip the 5mm for now and get an Astrotech 13mm 82° UWA.
I suspect it would become your most used eyepiece, with a 50x magnification and a 2.6mm exit pupil.

Do you really recommend barlowing with the Heritage? I was under the impression the focuser is pretty weak, and one wants to minimize eyepiece weight.

If using a barlow is fine, then yeah the 18mm barlowed would cover 9mm so maybe 12-13mm is more important.

[boost_fae_bams]

In my experience with these particular eyepieces the weight doesn't factor in at all - these aren't high grade heavy eyepieces. I have to say that the Omni Barlow is genuinely quite good, but as always the less "stuff" between you and the object the better. I'd rather have 3 great eyepieces and no barlow than the wide collection of variations I have to spend less time switching out/combining eyepieces and more time observing.

[idahoeng]

For not much more than the cost of the XCEL-LX, you could get the Starguider 12mm and 8mm.  Both of which are well regarded. 

 

IdahoEng

 

[SeattleScott]

In my experience with these particular eyepieces the weight doesn't factor in at all - these aren't high grade heavy eyepieces. I have to say that the Omni Barlow is genuinely quite good, but as always the less "stuff" between you and the object the better. I'd rather have 3 great eyepieces and no barlow than the wide collection of variations I have to spend less time switching out/combining eyepieces and more time observing.

The eyepieces themselves aren’t heavy but when combined with a barlow they might be a bit much for what I believe is a plastic helical focuser.

[SeattleScott]

I see there is a 5mm pseudo Masuyama for $43 in the Classifieds. These are premium quality Japanese eyepieces. They are just older and have less AFOV and eye relief than most modern designs like a 5mm Paradigm. But they are hard to beat for contrast, 52 AFOV and usable eye relief (as compared to a 5mm Plossl or something). And they are pretty small and light. Less AFOV than your 66 degree 6mm and 58 AFOV 4mm and a bit tighter eye relief too. But the contrast should be better. Assuming it is in good condition still. Just a possibility.

[sevenofnine]

If you like the SG 18/60 and want to stay with "mid-grade" then add a few more of them IMO. The 12mm., 8mm., and 5mm. are very nice. Probably keep the Vixen 30mm for a finder eyepiece if you like it. I replaced most of my plossls with AT Paradigms/Starguider ED's and haven't felt the need to upgrade further.

Best of luck to you and your decisions!   

Edited by sevenofnine, 16 August 2024 - 10:21 AM.

[boost_fae_bams]

130mm aperture, 650mm focal length.

 

recommended magnifications: 25x, 50x, 75x, 100x, 125x, 150x

Eyepieces derived from above: 26mm, 13mm, 8.5-9mm, 6.5mm, 5mm, 4-4.5mm

 

You own: 30mm, 18mm, 6mm, 4mm and a 2X Barlow yielding also 15mm, 9mm, 3mm, 2mm. 

 

Where is there a gap? Around 5mm, and maybe in the 12-13mm range.

I suspect you would use a 12-13mm more than the 5mm.

I would skip the 5mm for now and get an Astrotech 13mm 82° UWA.

I suspect it would become your most used eyepiece, with a 50x magnification and a 2.6mm exit pupil. 

Great breakdown, thankyou.

 

While the Astrotech 13mm isn't available in my European locale there are Nirvana-ES UWA-82º lenses popping up in online stores, including the 13mm. If I'm not mistaken they seem to be the same/cloned and rebranded as Skywatcher? If this could be confirmed I can see a sale in their future!

[Polyphemos]

130mm aperture, 650mm focal length.

 

recommended magnifications: 25x, 50x, 75x, 100x, 125x, 150x

Eyepieces derived from above: 26mm, 13mm, 8.5-9mm, 6.5mm, 5mm, 4-4.5mm

 

You own: 30mm, 18mm, 6mm, 4mm and a 2X Barlow yielding also 15mm, 9mm, 3mm, 2mm. 

 

Where is there a gap? Around 5mm, and maybe in the 12-13mm range.

I suspect you would use a 12-13mm more than the 5mm.

I would skip the 5mm for now and get an Astrotech 13mm 82° UWA.

I suspect it would become your most used eyepiece, with a 50x magnification and a 2.6mm exit pupil. 

Don advocates bypassing the narrower FOV eyepieces for one of the 82° FOV eyepieces from Astronomics made by Kunming United Optics (KUO). I find myself doing the same thing, having recently purchased 9mm and 13mm versions of this same line.  

 

Why? Because this line of eyepieces from KUO has a wide enough field of view to satisfy almost all astronomers in a relatively light weight and compact package, and for little more than the smaller FOV alternatives. They’re similar to Naglers in many ways, but for 1/3 the cost. The next step up are Naglers, which are a better corrected at the edge of the field, but the KUO 82° eyepieces are so good that you may never feel the need to update again. I have Naglers and with my eyes and in my local viewing conditions there’s no marked difference. I also have 5mm and 12mm Paradigms, and while quite good the KUO eyepieces have a much wider and more engaging FOV; they’re more enjoyable and fun to use and for me, that’s usually what’s most important.

 

Take Don’s advice and try one out. Doing so will save you quite a bit of cash in the short term because the eyepiece will probably be more enjoyable than the ones your looking at now and likely exceed your expectations of what’s possible for the the money spent.

[Starman1]

Great breakdown, thankyou.

 

While the Astrotech 13mm isn't available in my European locale there are Nirvana-ES UWA-82º lenses popping up in online stores, including the 13mm. If I'm not mistaken they seem to be the same/cloned and rebranded as Skywatcher? If this could be confirmed I can see a sale in their future!

Yes, the same eyepiece is available under the SkyWatcher Nirvana label, and:

Astrotech UWA (US)

Auriga UWA

OVL Nirvana (UK)

Sky Optic UWA (EU)

Sky Rover UWA (PRC)

Tecnosky UWA (EU)

Telescope Service UWA (EU)

labels.

 

Neither APM, nor FLO, sells these eyepieces under their labels.  FLO sells the OVL, and APM doesn't sell them at all.

Post 15 is in error.

 

All are identical eyepieces, made by KunMing United Optics in China.

Sky Rover is their "house brand" name, and if you don't mind buying from China, they might be cheaper for you than to buy in the EU.

[Polyphemos]

Yes, the same eyepiece is available under the SkyWatcher Nirvana label, and:

Astrotech UWA (US)

Auriga UWA

OVL Nirvana (UK)

Sky Optic UWA (EU)

Sky Rover UWA (PRC)

Tecnosky UWA (EU)

Telescope Service UWA (EU)

labels.

 

Neither APM, nor FLO, sells these eyepieces under their labels.  FLO sells the OVL, and APM doesn't sell them at all.

Post 15 is in error.

 

All are identical eyepieces, made by KunMing United Optics in China.

Sky Rover is their "house brand" name, and if you don't mind buying from China, they might be cheaper for you than to buy in the EU.

I stand corrected with regard to APM and First Light Optics carrying the KUO UWA eyepieces. For some reason I often mix up the KUO made UF eyepieces, which are carried by FLO and APM, with the KUO made UWA eyepieces, which they do not. I was also mistaken concerning the Nirvana eyepieces, which as Don has correctly stated, are KUO made UWA eyepieces.

 

To say my post #15 is in error is quite the understatement, and I have deleted my post to avoid any possibility of unnecessary confusion. Don’s factually correct post is the new post #15.

Edited by Polyphemos, 17 August 2024 - 02:22 AM.