33 replies to this topic

[MaximusStarHunter]

I have an 8” classic dobsonian. I still have the plastic plossl eyepieces that the telescope came with, I was wondering if upgrading it would really make a big difference when viewing nebula and galaxies? If so, how much?

[jdavis74]

Probably not an enormous visual difference for objects in the center of the view, but for ease of use (think eye relief, and eye placement issues like blackouts and kidney beaning) and a vast possible increase in apparent field of view (less nudging the scope to keep the object in view), a step up to something like Astro-Tech's Paradigm line I think is well worth the money. 

 

Years ago with my reflector and the stock eyepieces, I was very frustrated by the feeling that I was looking thru a drinking straw.  My first aftermarket (Paradigm) eyepiece purchase really opened my eyes to what was possible if I spent more on eyepieces.  

[edsmx5]

My first EPs ( only two years ago) were a Kellner and Huygens from my 5" Galileo. When I got my xt8, there were two plossls included. The difference was remarkable, to me.
Then ,I went to the next level: a Stellarvue 28mm/82°. It showed sooo much more than the Plossls. Soon came a 20/100 APM, a 14/82 ES, a 10/82 AT, and a 7/100 APM. That is my "good" set. Wider views, and sharper in some cases.
Wanting a set of EPs for quick, grab-n-go sessions, I picked up a set of Redlines from SVBONY ( others carry them too). About the same quality as the Orion plossls ( to my eyes) they offer a slightly wider field of view than the plossls did. If you catch a sale they can be had for under $25us per eyepiece.

As a step up from plossls ( and the Redlines) the AT paradigms are a real good buy ( unless the tariffs drive them up to high. This isn't political, I'm only going by the correspondences I've had with Astronomics, and thier latest email).

Ed


My apologies: I'll blame today's rotator cuff surgery. My recommendation for the AT eyepieces is directed at the UWA series, not the Paradigms, I have no experience with them. My bad.
The UWAs are killer for about $100 a pop; real nice.

Edited by edsmx5, 07 November 2024 - 05:52 PM.

[Polyphemos]

It could make an enormous difference if you observe through one of the very good KUO 82° eyepieces sold under various brand names by Astronomics, First Light Optics, and others.

[MaximusStarHunter]

It could make an enormous difference if you observe through one of the very good KUO 82° eyepieces sold under various brand names by Astronomics, First Light Optics, and others.

Would this be alot better than the 75 degree paradigm eyepiece?

[NiteGuy]

A good quality eyepiece with a 76 to 82 degree apparent field of view would make you feel like you just bought a brand new telescope! Night & Day difference!

 

A great starter choice for you would be a used TeleVue Nagler 9mm, 82-degree eyepiece. If you view with glasses, then a better choice would be the 9mm Baader Morpheus ($247.00 new at agenastro.com). Either one of these eyepiece choices will be like looking through a porthole into space!

 

So stop looking through that "empty toilet paper roll" of an eyepiece and let your scope perform the way it was meant to perform. Also, learn how to perfectly adjust the collimation on your scope. No eyepiece will perform well in a poorly collimated scope!

 

Used series 1 or 6 Naglers can be quite affordable (recommend you purchase used on Cloudy Nights Classifieds). Used Morpheus eyepieces tend to be in high demand and nice ones never seem to go below $200.00 used.

[edsmx5]

Would this be alot better than the 75 degree paradigm eyepiece?

Short answer? I like my three 82° eyepieces ( see my amended post above). I couldn't find a 20mm in 82° which is why I chose to go to 100°there.

[SoCalPaul]

That depends. Define "big", LOL.

 

Better eyepieces can offer more comfortable viewing due to increased eye relief, so you don't have to plaster your eyeball against the eye lens to see the full field of view. They can also make it easier to position your head in the "sweet spot", versus finding a tiny eye lens.

 

Better eyepieces can offer wider fields of view. Wider fields make it easier to locate the target. I also think most people would agree that they make for a more pleasing view, with the possible exceptions of planets, double stars and maybe other small objects. And on telescopes that do not track the sky, a wider field of view means that the object is visible for longer, before you have to re-position the scope.

 

Better eyepieces can transmit more light, making for brighter images and thus showing dimmer stars, more nebulosity, more galaxy details, etc. In the same vein, they can offer higher contrast, which makes difficult details easier to detect.

 

Better eyepieces can have less ghosting and/or scatter, both of which reduce contrast.

 

Better eyepieces can be sharper, both in the middle as well as towards the edges of the field.

 

Better eyepieces can have less pin-cushion or barrel distortion.

 

There are other benefits, but in my experience, these are the most important ones.

 

I say "can" for all these, because of course it depends on many factors. And a great eyepiece might offer some of these benefits, but not all of them.

 

Higher quality does not have to cost an arm and a leg, but it does come at a price. You might not need or want to spend $1k on an ultra-wide-angle eyepiece, but a decent quality eyepiece with a field of view between 60-degrees and 70-degrees can be highly satisfying at reasonable cost. And for planets, where you want to squeeze out maximum detail, a high quality Plossl can do the job quite well for less than $100.

 

Bottom line: IMO yes, it makes a significant difference. Observing is all about the experience, and you will without doubt have a better experience with higher quality eyepieces.

 

You spent X dollars on your telescope. Don't cheap out on the eyepieces. They are a critical part of the optical train.

 

(Same goes for your physical comfort at the telescope- don't underestimate how important this is!)

 

Hope this is helpful.

 

Clear skies,

Paul

Edited by SoCalPaul, 07 November 2024 - 06:04 PM.

[jdavis74]

Would this be alot better than the 75 degree paradigm eyepiece?

It depends on your budget.  An affordable introductory aftermarket option was necessary to show me what was possible, before I became convinced (obsessed) enough to spend more to get TV and Baader stuff.   

[vtornado]

Big difference?  That is really on a case by case basis.

 

If galaxies are close enough to allow them to fit into a single field of view (Like the leo triplet or Markarian chain ...) then an eyepiece with a  wider AFOV (apparent field of view)  would be helpful. 

 

If there is a single galaxy that is well framed in your current eyepiece than not so much.

 

How dark are your skies?  In suburban/exurban light pollution only a handful of gAlaxies are visible.  The biggest difference would be going to a dark site.

 

Same for nebula.  If it fits in your current eyepiece buying a wider one will not add much.

 

Now for Open clusters ... that is a different story.  Many are wide, and the raising the magnification darkens the background sky but not the stars.  Wide field is a help.

 

Do you have a 2 inch focuser?  A two inch eyepiece will make a world of difference.

Edited by vtornado, 07 November 2024 - 06:22 PM.

[Polyphemos]

Would this be alot better than the 75 degree paradigm eyepiece?

Having both I’d say yes.

 

The Paradigm eyepieces are nice, but they’ve only got a 60° field of view. The difference between 60° and 82° is something you’ll notice and appreciate. If they fit within your budget the wider field of view with the 82° eyepieces is well worth the extra cost.

[triplemon]

You'll get opinions here from folks with likely quite different background, telescopes, experience, skies, eyes etc etc. They describe relative differences between eyepices you might never have heard of before. Its hard to gauge what that all means for you.

 

Another suggestion would be to find a few folks or club that enjoys astronomie and go to one of their outings. There you can have a look for yourself though many different eyepieces. Some might even let you borrow one to try in your own scope. Then you get a much better idea how much of a differewnce there cwill be.

 

This would likely be a lot more usefull to answer your basic question of "will it be worth it ?"

Edited by triplemon, 07 November 2024 - 08:39 PM.

[UnityLover]

I have an 8” classic dobsonian. I still have the plastic plossl eyepieces that the telescope came with, I was wondering if upgrading it would really make a big difference when viewing nebula and galaxies? If so, how much?

Nebulae and galaxies? Yes.

You could get some higher magnification eyepieces, increasing the size of the object and making it look better too. You could also get farther field stop edges too.

Planets? BIG difference. Could get in MUCH closer to get much better fields of view.

Edited by UnityLover, 07 November 2024 - 06:50 PM.

[Mike Q]

When you go from the stock eyepieces to the next level you gain edge correction.  I have (still) have my Orion Q70s, i still use them from time to time. On axis they are fine out, out on the edge they are fuzzy.  When i went to the Orion 14 and 20mm 80 degree LHDs the difference was immediate and noticed.  Pin point stars all the way to the edge, and 80 degreed vs 60......for me there is no comparison.   

[cahanc]

I have found that finding the right eyepieces takes time and yes, money.  You don't have to go with the most expensive but you do have to buy, test for a couple months then either keep or sell what you like or don't like.  This is the only way I have been able to find eyepieces I really enjoy.  I have tried many different brands and found that a FOV around 68-72 degrees or so feels really comfortable to my eyes and a decent amount of eye relief, no less than 10mm if at all possible. You can read until you are blurry eyed but nothing beats looking through them. Star Parties are probably the very best way to try without buying.

[SeattleScott]

Here is the financial analysis for you.

 

Plossl: 50 AFOV (sunk cost)

Paradigm: 20% more AFOV for $65

UWA: 60% more AFOV for $100

The UWA provides the superior return on investment. From an AFOV perspective anyway.

 

Do understand that these "affordable" eyepiece lines tend to be inconsistent. Some focal lengths are winners, some can disappoint. If you are too busy to research and find the "good" focal lengths, you can buy Naglers or Delites and they will all be good. 

[MaximusStarHunter]

Here is the financial analysis for you.

 

Plossl: 50 AFOV (sunk cost)

Paradigm: 20% more AFOV for $65

UWA: 60% more AFOV for $100

The UWA provides the superior return on investment. From an AFOV perspective anyway.

 

Do understand that these "affordable" eyepiece lines tend to be inconsistent. Some focal lengths are winners, some can disappoint. If you are too busy to research and find the "good" focal lengths, you can buy Naglers or Delites and they will all be good. 

Do you have any suggestions?

[SeattleScott]

Do you have any suggestions?

Ultrawide value picks
7 and 10 Luminos (the 7 is more like 6.6mm)
AT UWA 4, 7 (closer to 8mm), 10, 28
Note the 7 Luminos is a better gap filler between the 4 and 10 UWA than the 7 AT UWA.

What to do for an affordable UWA eyepiece with good edge correction is the existential dilemma that has confounded eyepiece philosophers since nearly the time of Plato. There is the 15 Luminos, but it is said to be the worst in the series. There is the 16 AT UWA, but again the worst in the series. The 13 UWA is a little known new kid on the block that is a bit close to 10mm, and about all we know is it is somewhat better than the 16 and somewhat worse than the 10. Sometimes you can find an Aliexpress deal on a 14mm Maxvision, but again, the lemon of the series, just better than the 16UWA by virtue of being part of a better series.

Ultimately some choose to compromise on AFOV here and go with an 18UFF. Good edge correction in fast scopes, and the price is right. It is just 65 AFOV instead of 82. So you have to decide between a narrower AFOV with good correction, or wider AFOV with soft edges in fast scopes.

Others, frustrated by the lack of a 90% as good as Televue for 40% of the price option, finally break down and fork over real money to get an UWA with good correction in fast scopes.

Edited by SeattleScott, 08 November 2024 - 12:00 AM.

[25585]

Baader Morpheus range for 17.5mm and shorter. On sale right now.

[MaximusStarHunter]

Baader Morpheus range for 17.5mm and shorter. On sale right now.

Would you say this is better than the Tele Vue eyepieces for the same price?

[SeattleScott]

Would you say this is better than the Tele Vue eyepieces for the same price?

It is comparable. Some sell their Televues to buy Morpheus, others vice versa. They are considered peers or rivals. There are others also, Pentax and Nikon, or Astrotech XWA, for example. It often boils down to personal preference and factors not related to optical performance. When you start talking about $300 eyepieces, they are all so good, that the optical performance is more similar than different, so the decision could boil down to other factors.

Morpheus are long ER so they are commonly compared to other premium long ER options, like Delite, Delos, XW and SW. Of these, Morpheus offer the most AFOV, so they are considered somewhat of a value pick/best combination of AFOV and long ER. Especially considering Delite cost similar and are only 62 AFOV. Morpheus are known to be comfortable to view through without eye placement issues for most observers, although one might need to add an eye cup extension. They have dual barrels for convenience and are surprisingly light for their size. Aesthetically they are more industrial/utilitarian compared to the glossy TV eyepieces. Optically they test very well, albeit not necessarily the best.

Edited by SeattleScott, 08 November 2024 - 10:37 AM.

[Bivanus]

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer : Yes but not as much like switching to a 12" OTA would.

[Olimad]

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer : Yes but not as much like switching to a 12" OTA would.

And to darker skies with usual good seeing/transparency

[aatt]

Budget plossls can give great on axis views. The difference would be towards the edge as well as potentially the size of the FOV and viewing comfort as many have already chimed in here. Speaking of the edge, I borrowed a type II paracorr (Televue) and put it in my f/4 reflector with a 100 degree eyepiece. Astonishing transformation of the visual field.The edge can make a big difference. An upgrade will provide a more global improvement and as a result, greater enjoyment.
A great eyepiece will improve the performance of any telescope.

[fjjoachim]

I have a 8 inch Dob, and I have been in the process of replacing my Plossl eyepieces. Like some of the other folks who have posted, the on-axis views were fine, but the limited FOV and edge effects were a distraction. I have found that Astro Tech Paradigm and the Ultra Wide Angle eyepieces produce good to great AFOV, good edge correction, excellent contrast, and star and planet colors are quite good. The cost for these are very competitive, too. I have a modest astronomy budget, so I made these purchases over a period of time.

 

These are the eyepieces that I have purchased:

 

2-inch 34 mm SVBony (72 degree AFOV): This provides almost 2 degrees of field, which enables me to see M45, M8 entirely. Good for larger galaxies, when skies are dark, especially galaxy clusters (M81 and M82, for instance). This is also a good eyepiece to use just to scan the night sky. I works well with a HC nebula filter. 

 

25mm Paradigm (60 degrees AFOV): This works well for Nebula and large star clusters. Stars are a little soft at the edge, but not a distraction. Good for lunar and solar (with filters!) when I want to see the entire sphere, with breathing space around it.

 

15mm Paradigm (60 degrees AFOV): This is my go-to eyepiece for globular clusters and smaller galaxies. Works well with planetary nebula (with HC nebula filter). Great contrast and color integrity for stars and planets.

 

19mml Astro Tech PF (65 degrees AFOV): This one fills the void between my 25 and 15mm Paradigms. The image is not as good as my 15mm Paradigm, but it is a good value at $40. Fairly wide field.

 

10mm AT UWA (82 degrees AFOV): Nice wide field and stars and planets are sharp to the edge. Great medium high power eyepiece (120X). Great on smaller DSO. Globular and open star clusters look great. These also have good contrast. Can see Saturn's larger moons, when they are sufficiently far away from the planet (Including Titan, Rhea, Dione, Tethys, Iapetus, and sometime Enceladus. Great eyepices for Jupiter. I use a Celestron Ultima barlow with this when seeing permits to give me 264X, which works well with Mars and Saturn. The star colors seem to be more evident with the AT UWA eyepieces than the Paradigms.

 

7mm (really 7.5mm) AT UWA (82 degrees AFOV): Nice wide field and stars and planets are sharp to the edge. Great medium high power eyepiece (160X). My go-to eyepiece for Jupiter. Great eyepiece for Saturn (can see major moons). Works well for smaller planetary nebula (Ring and Little dumbell). I use a Celestron Ultima barlow with this when seeing permits to give me 351X, which works well with Mars and Saturn. This morning I was able to see 4 dark albedo features on Mars, and see the north polar cap when the planet was still less than 10 arcseconds in diameter.

 

I am receiving a Astro Tech 13mm UWA today, to fill the gap between my 15mm Paradigm and my 10mm UWA. The reviews on this eyepiece have been generally positive.