149 replies to this topic

[PKDfan]

I still remember the 80s when eyepieces weren't really even much of a consideration until Televue ran an ad for their Plossls. I remember that ad, they've always been good at them. I remember thinking oh wow never much considered the eyepiece could make a difference. For me at least you pretty much used what you had and got a Barlow.

And thats still wise advice today Mcloud !

A Barlow is a fabulous tool that all should have and lol i'm discovering TV Plössls are da bomb !



Clear Steady Skies
Lance

[rexowner]

Orion Edge-On Planetary eyepieces.

 

Were  they were the best of all time:  highly doubtful.

 

But they got me observing;

The 3 mm Orion Edge-On Planetary Eyepiece brings flat-field performance to solar system viewing in the form of 3 high-magnification focal lengths. Each employs a sophisticated 7-element lens design to provide a sharp focus all the way to the edge of their wide 55° apparent field of view. The barrel distortion and field curvature aberrations common in standard telescope eyepiece designs are virtually gone.

The barrel distortion and field curvature aberrations common in standard telescope eyepiece designs are virtually gone. Edge-On Planetary eyepieces let you push the power, whether you're canvassing the lunar terminator or studying the Jovian cloud belts. The optics are fully multi-coated for high light transmission, and each eyepiece has 20 mm eye relief for viewing comfort. Other nice touches: blackened telescope lens edges, pop-down rubber eye guards, and barrels threaded for 1.25" filters.

 

 

When i was new, and didn't know about Cloudy Nights and all the good info there, they drew me

deeper into observing.  Of course, they're out of business now, but that's another topic.

[Rick-T137]

Unless its Tele Vue - if its a Tele Vue Plossl, people love it.
 
Its very difficult for me to imagine Tele Vue releasing an accessory, and it NOT being widely discussed as the greatest version of that accessory. Need a Clip to hold your coffee flask to the based of your tripod? Try this new Tele Vue Coffee holding adaptor - some time later - 
 - "well all i can say, is this is the best flask holder iv ever used, well worth 200 dollars"
 
I understand its not just brand loyalty, and yes TV quality is fantastic. There is no doubt about that. Iv used their plossls, and they are a slight cut above the rest. But at least from where i am standing, they arent worth the incredible price difference. 'Incrementally better' should be Incrementally more expensive. I spent about 300 euro collecting my vintage set of Series 4000 Japanese Meades - i view them as fantastic, and possibly slightly better than their modern day equivs. Had i instead chose to chase the TV Plossl set, id maybe have 3 by now - They might be a bit better, but i wouldnt have the focal range i prefer - 
 
From where i am standing, the TV plossl line (full set up to and including the 55mm) would cost as much as a brand new near complete set of Morpheus eyepieces - about 1500 euro - Couldnt justify that expenditure

I've got about $900 CAD sunk into my small set of TV Plössls (plus a couple of others) and that Celestron Omni set cost me just over $100 CAD for six eyepieces... and a Barlow! I only bought the Tele Vues because I wanted some "better glass" than your average Plössls, and I think I got that. Are the TV's worth 8x as much as your average Plössls? No way. Not even close. But when you start buying items like this, you're not as worry about the value to performance ratio. In the late 90's I had splurged and bought a 20mm Tele Vue Plössl and really liked it. I parted with that eyepiece and I missed it. It wasn't so much about the value - I guess it is hard to explain. But when I had some extra money, a set of 1.25" Tele Vue Plössls is what I wanted. That's what I got.
 
If I were doing it all over again, I'd probably have preferred to put that $900 into a small APO refractor. But I have the eyepieces now. Any time I think of parting with them (which I have a few times), I come back to "These are my lifetime eyepieces... for now". As I mentioned in another thread, ultimately I'd like to get some DeLites and a 24mm Pan. I realize those eyepieces would give me incrementally better views over the Tele Vue Plössls which give me incrementally better views over the Celestron Plössls.

 

I think anyone buying Tele Vue eyepieces (or other "premium/expensive" brands) don't really need to justify the purchase to themselves. A lot of the joy is in knowing you've purchased the best equipment that you can afford. To each their own I guess.

 

 

 

[csrlice12]

Ah, but which 24 Pan....the one with undercuts, or the new version without undercuts?

[hfjacinto]

There were 2 eyepiece that I thought were great for the money.

 

The first was the Zhummel/Long Perm long eye relief eyepieces. They were 20MM ER and had high magnification. Well built and great prices. I used them on planets and kept them for a while. Eventually I sold them but they were great eyepieces.

 

The others were the Meade HD eyepieces, you can read my review here:

 

https://www.cloudyni...e-hd-60-fov-ep/

[Rick-T137]

Ah, but which 24 Pan....the one with undercuts, or the new version without undercuts?

Think I'd get a killer discount on a used 24mm Pan with the undercuts? If so... that's what I'd go for! LOL!

[25585]

Ah, but which 24 Pan....the one with undercuts, or the new version without undercuts?

No undercuts, since when?

[csrlice12]

No undercuts, since when?

https://www.cloudyni...ew-24-panoptic/

[Granite Glasser]

Along with a few other commenters on this thread, I absolutely cherish my "underrated" TeleVue 11mm Nagler Type 6 and my TeleVue 4.8mm Nagler Original (Type 1) smoothie eyepieces.  

I suppose the most underrated of the two would have to be the 4.8mm Nagler "Ortho".

I absolutely delight in its crisp, sharp, contrasty, yet immersive widefield views, and the limited 7mm of eye relief remains a complete non-issue for me even during extended observing sessions.

Granted, I do not wear corrective eyeglasses.  

 

Kindest Regards! 

[fftulip]

I really like the Speers Waler 8-5mm zoom.  It's got an unmatched (for a zoom) near constant ~80 degrees AFOV.  Like a "true" zoom Nagler (not the tiny FOV one).

It does have drawbacks - super tall, requires a lot of in focus, and need for a bit of refocusing (not a bother for me). The zoom mechanism requires some getting used to.

Also the name is a bit of a misnomer (the LER part);  it has comfortable eye relief for naked eye viewing but not not enough for use with glasses.

OK it's not a perfect zoom (none exist) but I like it better than my Baader Hyperion zoom.

Edited by fftulip, 13 March 2025 - 02:43 PM.

[Refractor6]

I really like the Speers Waler 8-5mm zoom.  It's got an unmatched (for a zoom) near constant ~80 degrees AFOV.  Like a "true" zoom Nagler (not the tiny FOV one).

It does have drawbacks - super tall, requires a lot of in focus, and need for a bit of refocusing (not a bother for me). The zoom mechanism requires some getting used to.

Also the name is a bit of a misnomer (the LER part);  it has comfortable eye relief for naked eye viewing but not not enough for use with glasses.

OK it's not a perfect zoom (none exist) but I like it better than my Baader Hyperion zoom.

  Its the only one back in the day I wish I had purchased. Looked through many owned by others and tested it back at the long gone shop where I lived back then. I did manage to snag the Speers-Waler Series 1 7.4 from the old shop which I'll never sell.

 

The Speers Waler Series 1 5-8 zoom was very impressive optically from my memory of the views through it.... 

[C. Evangelista]

On Jupiter and Mars, the SVBONY Zoom 3-8mm was generally better than the Radians 3mm-8mm, in my TMB/LZOS 130/780.

Some people say that it displays a little bit more sharpness, contrast and transmission than the Nagler Zoom 3-6mm...(I did not test).

[CrazyPanda]

After last night looking at the eclipse, I might have to say my most underrated eyepiece is the 25mm Meade Series 3000 Plossl (smoothie, Japan)

 

I wanted a nice low power "overview" perspective of the eclipse, and I only had my minimum glass case out with me, along with my newly acquired 25mm Meade HD-60.

 

While waiting for totality, I was playing around with the handful of 25mm eyepieces I had with me on the 90EDX.

 

1. 25mm Tak TPL

2. 25mm Meade 3000

3. 25mm Zeiss E-PL (3 element)

4. 25mm Zeiss W-PL (3 element)

5. 25mm Meade HD-60

 

The 25 HD-60 was what prompted the comparison, it just wasn't as crisp as I remember the 25 Tak TPL being. So I put the TPL and sure enough, the TPL was a noticeable improvement in axial sharpness over the HD-60.

 

Then for fun I put the other eyepieces in. The Zeiss microscope eyepieces were about the same as the TPL, maybe a bit sharper, but it was hard to say because I don't think they're actually 25mm in focal length, they seem longer, and that might have been throwing things off.

 

Then I put in the 25mm 3000 Plossl and it was absolutely razor sharp. Focus snapped to perfection in a way that not even the TPL did.

So I went back and forth between the two dozens of times. The 3000 Plossl seemed consistently sharper and snappier than the TPL.

 

The handful of times I've used my 3000 Plossls, I've come away more than impressed with their performance. I think they're my most underrated eyepieces, in general.

[csrlice12]

22 Panoptic....so bad they discontinued it, so good they're hard to find.

[saemark30]

40mm plossls 1.25" barrel.

Mine happen to be Meade 4000 Super Plossl.

Very sharp lunar image good for low magnification.

[25585]

After last night looking at the eclipse, I might have to say my most underrated eyepiece is the 25mm Meade Series 3000 Plossl (smoothie, Japan)

 

I wanted a nice low power "overview" perspective of the eclipse, and I only had my minimum glass case out with me, along with my newly acquired 25mm Meade HD-60.

 

While waiting for totality, I was playing around with the handful of 25mm eyepieces I had with me on the 90EDX.

 

1. 25mm Tak TPL

2. 25mm Meade 3000

3. 25mm Zeiss E-PL (3 element)

4. 25mm Zeiss W-PL (3 element)

5. 25mm Meade HD-60

 

The 25 HD-60 was what prompted the comparison, it just wasn't as crisp as I remember the 25 Tak TPL being. So I put the TPL and sure enough, the TPL was a noticeable improvement in axial sharpness over the HD-60.

 

Then for fun I put the other eyepieces in. The Zeiss microscope eyepieces were about the same as the TPL, maybe a bit sharper, but it was hard to say because I don't think they're actually 25mm in focal length, they seem longer, and that might have been throwing things off.

 

Then I put in the 25mm 3000 Plossl and it was absolutely razor sharp. Focus snapped to perfection in a way that not even the TPL did.

So I went back and forth between the two dozens of times. The 3000 Plossl seemed consistently sharper and snappier than the TPL.

 

The handful of times I've used my 3000 Plossls, I've come away more than impressed with their performance. I think they're my most underrated eyepieces, in general.

Is that the Taiwan 25mm 3000?

[CrazyPanda]

No, it’s a Japan smoothie. No rubber grip or eye cup

[Kefka1138]

Not sure if they're technically "underated", but I have a razer sharp Intes 21mm "super" erfle that's simply a pleasure to use - definitely a sleeper EP. I am very curious about other Intes focal lengths, but haven't seen any show up used recently.

[jrmacl]

Thank you!!!!!!

 

I would agree 100% with this. I used to have that kit, and read some of the reviews which really made it sound horrid. It was fine, my only gripe was the inclusion of the 4mm Plossl, which most people struggle to use - had they included a 20mm instead, the set would be excellent IMHO - but even as is, its fine. Perhaps a little over priced - but if you get it discounted or second hand, its a no brainer - 

 

I think the criticisms i read about the kit, and many other sets of plossls, is that they are, well, plossls. And some people really attack the design, regardless of focal length. People view them as entry level, and very basic. But a good plossl is sharp, and i think people forget that. Honestly, some of the best views i have had have come with plossls. Yes they are narrow. And yes the eye relief is tricky when you look at shorter focal lengths - but i wouldnt be without them. 

 

Its a shame, but people view it as a bare minimum, and merely a stepping stone. And thats why they end up being sold on second hand quite a bit

 

 

Unless its Tele Vue - if its a Tele Vue Plossl, people love it.

 

Its very difficult for me to imagine Tele Vue releasing an accessory, and it NOT being widely discussed as the greatest version of that accessory. Need a Clip to hold your coffee flask to the based of your tripod? Try this new Tele Vue Coffee holding adaptor - some time later - 

 - "well all i can say, is this is the best flask holder iv ever used, well worth 200 dollars"

 

I understand its not just brand loyalty, and yes TV quality is fantastic. There is no doubt about that. Iv used their plossls, and they are a slight cut above the rest. But at least from where i am standing, they arent worth the incredible price difference. 'Incrementally better' should be Incrementally more expensive. I spent about 300 euro collecting my vintage set of Series 4000 Japanese Meades - i view them as fantastic, and possibly slightly better than their modern day equivs. Had i instead chose to chase the TV Plossl set, id maybe have 3 by now - They might be a bit better, but i wouldnt have the focal range i prefer - 

 

From where i am standing, the TV plossl line (full set up to and including the 55mm) would cost as much as a brand new near complete set of Morpheus eyepieces - about 1500 euro - Couldnt justify that expenditure 

I'm kinda thinking how that 8/11mm TV Pl would fit nicely in with your 6.4/9.7/12.4mm Plossls...nah just trying to get you to add to that already impressive list of Plossls, orthos and Pseudo-Masuyama but I think you might have it covered.

[Lookitup]

I sold my Nagler 11mm T6 pairs (and 9mm) and replaced them with the also discontinued Vixen SSW 10mm line. Can't say I regret it but the 11mm T6 were my favorite.

[25585]

Takahashi UW eyepieces  https://www.cloudyni...i-uw-eyepieces/

[hal9500]

I'm kinda thinking how that 8/11mm TV Pl would fit nicely in with your 6.4/9.7/12.4mm Plossls...nah just trying to get you to add to that already impressive list of Plossls, orthos and Pseudo-Masuyama but I think you might have it covered.

Yea i have totally over done it on Plossls and Plossl Adjacent Eyepieces - Narrow AFOV's are what i used most of my life - iv really only just begun building a Wide angle kit

 

I just love the sharpness of these p-Masuyamas, and the Orthos and Japanese meades are fantastic too - there is HUGE overlap though - I think the Meades might remain as a keep sake - it was kinda on my bucketlist to have a set of Vintage Japanese Meades - and the Ultimas were always a long term ambition. 

 

The Orthos came about partially by accident and good fortune -  job lot of eyepieces which i recognized as Older Vintage ones, and i couldnt resist. 

 

I often Sell Eyepieces - Iv sold all my Hyperions, most of my SVBony type 66/68 degree EPs are gone - i sold the aforementioned set of Celestron Plossls too - Im never reluctant to sell EPs and tone down the kit - but with the 'golden oldies', like volcano tops, and Japanese Plossls, i just think they are so hard to get now. 

 

My bucket list this year is a bit more Up-to-Date - Planning on some nice well corrected 70 (aprox) degree eyepieces - Part of my Budget Easy-on-the-Eye(relief) project - beyond that, i have plans to upgrade my mount too - so my vintage collecting days are probably behind me! 

[Greg77]

...most underrated eyepiece?

Pentax XL 5.2mm

Great for Lunar and Planetary obs.

[therealdmt]

I’d say my 14mm ES 82 degree. Yes, it’s definitely not optically perfect (as pointed out in Ernest’s testing tabulations), but something about it is "just right". A number of other ES 82 users on CN have mentioned similarly. Of course, as it isn’t optically perfect, ymmv

[jcricket]

I did not see it mentioned. My favorite eyepiece(underated eyepiece) is the U.O. 1.25" 32mm Konig(marked koning). When used in a dob, from about 1000mm-1500mm focal length, it yields about 40ish power and about 1.3deg field of view. I saw my first blood moon through this eyepiece and have never looked back. It is the eyepiece that has stayed in my collection. There is something about that huge eye lens that makes you feel like you are looking out a window. This is a very biased and subjective opinion, but I love mine.