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need help choosing my first eyepiece)s

Eyepieces
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#1 VAviewer

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Posted 05 December 2024 - 10:22 PM

Howdy all,

I'm not exactly a beginner (1.5ish years of experience) but i've never moved past my stock eyepieces other than a 17mm erfle while turned out to be an excellent use of 92 $. Anyway im looking for a high power about 6 mm, and a low power about 32mm . I'm looking for something that will keep me satisfied for awhile, 60° to 80° AFOV, 100$ to 150$ range. I've heard really good things about the celestron c-xels. i've also heard good things about zoom eyepieces like the Baader Hyperion IV zoom (even though its out of my budget) My primary scope is a Sky Watcher classic 250P dobsonian. Any input is appreciated.



#2 SeattleScott

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Posted 05 December 2024 - 10:47 PM

The 7 Xcel LX is really 6.5mm so that might be your best bet. The 7 Luminos is about 6.6mm and 82 AFOV instead of 60. Coma means that extra field won't be completely sharp, but still some value there. Understand that the Xcel LX and Luminos series are like most affordable eyepiece series. They aren't consistent. They have some winners in certain focal lengths while other focal lengths are disappointing. If you buy $300 Televues you don't need to research reviews. Anything you buy will be excellent. But at the $100 range, series are inconsistent, so it helps to do your research and mix and match the winners of one series with the winners of another series. But at this focal length, the Xcel LX and Luminos are both well regarded. 

 

6mm is a fairly rare focal length. 5 or 7 are more common. If you want precisely 6mm, your options will be quite limited. The Delos would be top notch but way over your budget. The Ethos, much more over your budget. 6mm eyepieces either cost under $30 or over $300. There is no in-between. Closer to 5mm or 7mm you can get some intermediate options.

 

If you can stretch your budget just a bit, you can get a Skyrover 30mm 70 AFOV for around $160 for your low power eyepiece. It is a 2" eyepiece, but a 1.25" 30-32mm would only be 50 AFOV. If you want 60-80 AFOV at 30+mm, it will have to be 2" format.

 

I'm not sure how much the BHZ would help you. It doesn't go low power, wide field enough, nor can it go down to 6mm. It could do a reasonable job filling in between the 30+mm and the 6mm, but it doesn't address either of your current goals. Note that it tops out at about 68 AFOV and is under 60 AFOV through most of its range, so if you want 60-80 AFOV, then you probably don't want a zoom. Although the Leica zoom is 60-80 AFOV. It just costs more than your scope. 


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#3 MTibb

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Posted 05 December 2024 - 10:51 PM

The 7mm X-Cel LX is said to be actually 6.5mm. I have the equivalent, which is supposedly the same optics in a different housing (the Meade HD-60 6.5mm). It's a great eyepiece, and I think you'd be happy with it.

The 32mm-ish in that price range is trickier. My best recommendation would be spend a bit more on a 30mm UFF. The Sky Rover version is in the link below... The Celestron Ultima Edge 30 and APM 30 and the SR are all the same eyepiece -

https://skyroveropti...uf30mm-eyepiece
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#4 Jethro7

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Posted 05 December 2024 - 10:52 PM

Hello VAviewer,

The SVBONY Zooms get very nice reviews from owners here on CN. Also the Astrotech UWA 28 82° comes highly regarded by many experienced Backyard Astronomers and is not that far out of your budget.

https://www.ebay.com...emis&media=COPY

 

https://www.amazon.c...820917114&psc=1

 

https://astronomics....a-82-2-eyepiece

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro


Edited by Jethro7, 05 December 2024 - 11:07 PM.

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#5 VAviewer

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Posted 05 December 2024 - 11:26 PM

Thanks for the input guys! I've decide to go with the Skyrover 30mm and the 7 Xcel LX which is 30% of at the moment (yay black friday!)


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#6 Echolight

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Posted 05 December 2024 - 11:30 PM

Black Friday is the longest day ever!


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#7 WillR

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Posted 06 December 2024 - 09:22 AM

Sounds like you already bought, but I prefer my Astro-Tech UWA 7mm (82 degree) to the X-cel. Good eyepiece for the money and I like the extra field.


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#8 SeattleScott

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Posted 06 December 2024 - 09:30 AM

Sounds like you already bought, but I prefer my Astro-Tech UWA 7mm (82 degree) to the X-cel. Good eyepiece for the money and I like the extra field.

The 7UWA is more like 7.7mm. The OP was looking for something around 6mm. Both are advertised as 7mm eyepieces but the Xcel LX is actually considerably closer to 6mm. And on sale.
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#9 WillR

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Posted 06 December 2024 - 12:35 PM

The 7UWA is more like 7.7mm. The OP was looking for something around 6mm. Both are advertised as 7mm eyepieces but the Xcel LX is actually considerably closer to 6mm. And on sale.

Hmmm, didn't realize that. Have you measured the FOV of the UWA 4mm? Curious.



#10 SeattleScott

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Posted 06 December 2024 - 01:49 PM

Hmmm, didn't realize that. Have you measured the FOV of the UWA 4mm? Curious.

I haven’t heard about a significant discrepancy with the 4mm.

The 7mm is often advertised as 8mm depending on the brand, and the 16 is often marketed as a 15mm. But the 4 is always marketed as a 4mm so it must be pretty close.

In my opinion a 7mm Luminos is a better gap filler between the 4 and 10 UWA than the 7UWA. The Luminos test out at 6.6mm which is closer to the middle of 4 and 10, especially if looking at % gaps. The Luminos also scores better on bench tests. It is a bit bulky, although there are slimmed down rebrands available to fix that.

#11 BIG

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Posted 06 December 2024 - 05:09 PM

Just a side note on the Hyperion Zoom since it was mentioned as an initial option: I have enjoyed using mine but more for the convenience of immediate adjustability than providing the best views. I find it most enjoyable for quick views and panning around the sky, as well as 'zooming' around the moon. Once I land on a target, I'll often switch it out for something with a fixed FL and an AFOV that frames the object better. I recommend it as a fun secondary addition to an eyepiece collection, as long as expectations align with its limitations. 


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#12 Mike Q

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Posted 06 December 2024 - 07:39 PM

In a 10 inch my favorite eyepiece is a Orion branded 2 inch 14mm 80 degree  LDH. Its made by Long Perng and can be found under various brands. No it is not high power but it is  awesome eyepiece in a 10 inch dob.



#13 Dave Mitsky

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Posted 06 December 2024 - 08:36 PM

Just a side note on the Hyperion Zoom since it was mentioned as an initial option: I have enjoyed using mine but more for the convenience of immediate adjustability than providing the best views. I find it most enjoyable for quick views and panning around the sky, as well as 'zooming' around the moon. Once I land on a target, I'll often switch it out for something with a fixed FL and an AFOV that frames the object better. I recommend it as a fun secondary addition to an eyepiece collection, as long as expectations align with its limitations. 

I also have an 8-24mm Baader Planetarium Hyperion Zoom and feel the same way.  It and the other zoom that I use, an old 8-24mm Tele Vue Click Stop Zoom that's a rebranded Vixen apparently (Tele Vue and Vixen had some sort of working relationship over 20 years ago), are also good for solar observing and for use when it's very cold and I don't feel like swapping eyepieces.



#14 SeattleScott

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Posted 06 December 2024 - 10:49 PM

In a 10 inch my favorite eyepiece is a Orion branded 2 inch 14mm 80 degree LDH. Its made by Long Perng and can be found under various brands. No it is not high power but it is awesome eyepiece in a 10 inch dob.

There is a 6mm LHD. They are on the expensive side though.

I agree, the 14LHD gets a lot of use with all my scopes. Such a useful focal length.

#15 Mike Q

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Posted 07 December 2024 - 06:27 AM

There is a 6mm LHD. They are on the expensive side though.

I agree, the 14LHD gets a lot of use with all my scopes. Such a useful focal length.

Yeah the 13, 14mm area gets used a lot. Seems like there are 4, 6, 9 in the LHD line.  While the 14 and 20 get a lot of praise you don't hear much about the others.


Edited by Mike Q, 07 December 2024 - 06:45 AM.


#16 SeattleScott

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Posted 07 December 2024 - 09:38 AM

Yeah the 13, 14mm area gets used a lot. Seems like there are 4, 6, 9 in the LHD line. While the 14 and 20 get a lot of praise you don't hear much about the others.

I could agree with that.

#17 Echolight

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Posted 07 December 2024 - 10:59 AM

Yeah the 13, 14mm area gets used a lot. Seems like there are 4, 6, 9 in the LHD line.  While the 14 and 20 get a lot of praise you don't hear much about the others.

Probably because the 1.25" LHD's look like maracas.


Edited by Echolight, 07 December 2024 - 11:02 AM.

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#18 Mike Q

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Posted 07 December 2024 - 11:29 AM

Probably because the 1.25" LHD's look like maracas.

They are on the big side according to the reviews I have seen.  I tossed around the idea of the 4 and 6 but ended up with the ES 82 degree eyepieces instead. 




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