27 replies to this topic

[MrsM75]

Hi, I'm sorry one more thread on eyepiece from the beginner me.

 

tl;dr If you own or have tried, can you give your review of ExploreScientific 62 deg eyepieces. Appreciated. Please.

 

 

----------

 

So I'm having a hard time with find an eyepiece that work well with my eyeballs which are unlike normal eyes person.

 

Anything 82 deg is complete blackout for me regardless of how I position my eyes, and I wear glasses.

The Celestron Luminos it adorable but it went back to Amazon return next day due to 82 deg I cannot see anything other than blackout.

 

I don't have luck with 68 deg neither, even the Redlines of Svbony, the 20mm I get partial blackout, like here and there it just radomly partial blackout (I guess it the 68 deg) my eyes not like. 9mm and 6mm is kidney beans galore.

 

I do have luck with the X-Cell 60 deg, No blackout, no kidney beans.

 

The best eyepieces that work with my eyes with my Mak is the Vixen NPL 50 deg Plssol, yep. Plssol. 

 

Now Vixen SLV Lanthanium glass which is 50 deg, but not so good luck with it neither, the 25mm of SLV Lathanium give me partial blackout. The 10mm give me partial blackout. However the 9mm does not.

 

So we back to Plossol which is 50 deg and less lens stack on lens. But my Maks seem to love it.

 

I am not having luck with eyepeices. What work with me it the 50 deg and 60 deg.

 

But I want to try the Explorer Scientific 62 degree, does everyone here like those eyepieces from ES?
 

Edited by MrsM75, 12 March 2025 - 05:20 AM.

[nicknacknock]

Had all of them at one point or another. All quite good and easy to hold the exit pupil. Lightweight. Inexpensive.

 

Only reason I changed them is that I have no problems with wider AFOV. Of course, with wider AFOV comes more weight on the eyepieces, but I am good with that.

[SeattleScott]

Some context. As I recall, the OP only has Maks. And the OP wears glasses while observing.

What focal length Plossl works well for you? The eye relief of a Plossl depends on the focal length.

A number of these eyepieces have adjustable height eyecups, intended to aid with eye position. Now, if wearing glasses, one usually needs to keep the eyecup down in order to see the whole view. But you might see if you can raise the eyecup a little.

[MrsM75]

What focal length Plossl works well for you? The eye relief of a Plossl depends on the focal length.

 

 

I'm sorry English is my 3rd language, you mean focal length here is the number of the eyepiece Plssol, like 40mm, 30mm, 25mm, 20mm, etc..? I called that magnifications.

 

All the Plssol work for me, just NOT the 40mm Plossol, omg that thing even with 50 deg it gives me COMPLETE blackout just like the Celstron Luminos 82 degrees. 

 

Yes, I did raise the eyecup as far as I can, and it still blackout. So my eyes just cannot handle the wide eye relieft here.

 

I own Plssol of 30mm, 20mm, 15mm, 10mm and 8mm

 

But you know 8mm Plssol the hole it get very small, so I have to subsitute it with the 7mm X-Cell

Edited by MrsM75, 12 March 2025 - 06:18 AM.

[MrsM75]

Hihi I like the Celestron Luminos, it so darn cute, it fat and chubby and round, and I like chubby things.

And it nice to hold in hands, and it big. BUT nope nope, complete blackout galore, yes and I tried the eyecup, including possition my eyes different angles, and I still can't see anything so my eyes just cannot take 82 degrees wide field.

 

X-Cel of 60 deg is fine though, but then I only have the 7mm, I have not try the others.

 

I like the cute Luminos, but yah. blackout galore.

[SeattleScott]

40mm Plossl has excessive eye relief. Most people will struggle with it.

Just to clarify, are you wearing glasses when viewing through the eyepiece? I seem to recall you saying you do. Makes a difference in terms of recommendations.

[MrsM75]

40mm Plossl has excessive eye relief. Most people will struggle with it.

Just to clarify, are you wearing glasses when viewing through the eyepiece? I seem to recall you saying you do. Makes a difference in terms of recommendations.

Hi, thank you for your help.

I do wear glasses when observe, I'm nearsighted so I have to keep my glasses on or else I can't read the Stellarium on my phone. Sure I can take off my glaases but I can't keep do it throughout the night, I need to see constelations in the sky naked eyes too, and I need to see Stellarium app too.

[T1R2]

I just think you're not using the EP properly, I think you're "inside" the exit pupil because #1. You think that if it has a flip up eye cup like a plossl that means you can place your eye fully on the EP, and that's not always the case, if you are experience blackout that is because you need to pull you head back a few millimeters especially on 25-32mm plossl.  If I have an EP like that and I do, its the 25mm Orion Sirius Plossl, when I use it without glasses on that happens I like to use my eyebrow to just barely feel the ridge of my brow barely grazing the eyecup. But with the 25-30mm plossl with glasses on there is no way you are inside the exit pupil to cause blackouts, its virtually impossible to get blackouts from being inside the exit pupil

 

I can also get blackouts on the SvBony 66* 20mm, but only when I put my eye fully on the eyecup without glasses on. back up a little even if it means your eye is just gently touching the eyecup. However with glasses on there is no way you are getting inside the exit pupil to cause blackouts. 

 

If the EP has "twist-up eyecups" like the Vixen SLV then its easy to get the right height. there is no reason you should be getting blackouts with that EP unless even with the eyecup fully twisted up you still need to back up just a little to keep from being inside the exit pupil that may be that case even with that EP, but since I've never used it I don't know for sure how long eye relief it has.  

[MrsM75]

I'm thinking of try the 5.5mm it is 5.5mm? I need it for Saturn.

[SeattleScott]

I'm thinking of try the 5.5mm it is 5.5mm? I need it for Saturn.

Don’t you have all Maks? A 5.5 is a little more than the max theoretical useful magnification for a Mak. Also, only 13mm eye relief. Since you wear glasses, you should be looking for long eye relief eyepieces. Generally around 17-20mm ER.

Edited by SeattleScott, 13 March 2025 - 12:05 AM.

[T1R2]

127mm Mak  = no, 345x too much mag for that mak, close to 250x max or image will be too dim. 

102mm  = no 236x too much mag, more like 204x max +/-10

90mm  no 227x a little too much mag, about 180x max

70mm = no 181x too much mag, about 140x max

 

To get your max power multiply aperture in millimeters x 2 for max power, yes you can go slightly above/ below 10x or so if you cannot find EP that will give exactly the max power you need for your scope. Yes, you can go over, but this is determined by different factors and what object being viewed. With double stars and small bright planets like Mars, you can go even higher than max power because they are more concentrated point of light and their light doesn't get spread out over a larger surface area than extended objects like nebula and planets do, and this goes for Saturn also, it can take more power better than low contrast planet like Jupiter can. 

 

Plus you have to take into consideration sky/ seeing conditions/ turbulence of atmosphere / collimation/ central obstruction lowering contrast, more likely you will use 150-200x most nights in the big mak, in my C11 I usually stay about 233x, in my 127mm frac I use 165x-254x, in my 60mm frac I use 133x max instead of 120x  because I don't have an EP that gives 120x

[Pierre C]

Telescopic Watch has an interesting review of the ES 62 degree series eyepieces at https://telescopicwa...yepieces-guide/

[Pierre C]

Maxvision 127mm Mak 1900 focal f/15

Skymax 102mm Mak 1300 focal f/13

Skymax 90mm Mak 1250 focal f/14

Sarblue 70mm Mak 1000 focal f/14

I am wondering if the long focal length f/13- f/15 of the Maks you are using are contributing to the issues for your eyes. Do you still get the same level of problems with shorter focal lengh f/10 or f/6 refractors?

[Mike Q]

I just think you're not using the EP properly, I think you're "inside" the exit pupil because #1. You think that if it has a flip up eye cup like a plossl that means you can place your eye fully on the EP, and that's not always the case, if you are experience blackout that is because you need to pull you head back a few millimeters especially on 25-32mm plossl.  If I have an EP like that and I do, its the 25mm Orion Sirius Plossl, when I use it without glasses on that happens I like to use my eyebrow to just barely feel the ridge of my brow barely grazing the eyecup. But with the 25-30mm plossl with glasses on there is no way you are inside the exit pupil to cause blackouts, its virtually impossible to get blackouts from being inside the exit pupil

 

I can also get blackouts on the SvBony 66* 20mm, but only when I put my eye fully on the eyecup without glasses on. back up a little even if it means your eye is just gently touching the eyecup. However with glasses on there is no way you are getting inside the exit pupil to cause blackouts. 

 

If the EP has "twist-up eyecups" like the Vixen SLV then its easy to get the right height. there is no reason you should be getting blackouts with that EP unless even with the eyecup fully twisted up you still need to back up just a little to keep from being inside the exit pupil that may be that case even with that EP, but since I've never used it I don't know for sure how long eye relief it has.  

This right here.  

[MrsM75]

I don't think it me that use the eyepiece not properly, if that the case then I would get blackout in the 50 degrees eyepieces and 62 degrees XCell too. But I don't. Those are fine to me. My problem is 82 degrees eyepieces.

[MrsM75]

I am wondering if the long focal length f/13- f/15 of the Maks you are using are contributing to the issues for your eyes. Do you still get the same level of problems with shorter focal lengh f/10 or f/6 refractors?

 

yep. I actually think so Sir.

People said Mak is forgiving with their eyepieces, but not in my case, my Maks are rather picky, especially the 1900 focal one, it refused to work on any eyepiece except 50 degrees (Vixen NPL Plssol, and Vixen SLV which is 50 deg too), and the XCell which is 60 deg.

 

I dunno Sir, just picturing a f/15 Mak with a 82 degrees eyepieces in there, I won't be surprise if there blackout.

 

I actually don't recall I have same problem with the Explore Scientific FirstLight 80mm Refractor , it actually like the Svbony Redline set. I actually didn't have partial blackout problem with the 20mm Redline in that Refractor. However in ALL My Mak it gives me partial blackout.

 

I return the Refractor because I didn't like the chromatic aberration.

 

And I have no money for doublets and triplets Refractors anyways.

[MrsM75]

The X-Cell that is 60 deg I didn't have any problem with my Maks. But then I only own a 7mm X-Cell, I am thinking of buy a 12mm one to try.

[25585]

An alternate budget range is Celestron Xcel LX/Meade HD-60, 60 AFOV. They are "long" eye relief too.

[SeattleScott]

Maks are forgiving with eyepieces in terms of optical performance, not eye placement. A key issue is you are trying to use ultrawide eyepiece with maybe 12mm ER with glasses. I know you like to keep your glasses on for convenience, and I completely understand why. But if you are going to use the Luminos, you should really take your glasses off for that eyepiece.

[therealdmt]

Another not-too-expensive eyepiece line you might try is the "Ultra Flat"s (UF0 or also called "Ultra Flat Field" (UFF). They’re available from Sky Rover, some of them are available from Svbony, etc.

 

I suggest them because it looks like you’re looking for a little more afov than 60°, but less afov than 68°. If so, then the 15mm, 18mm and 24mm UFFs are 65°. Be aware that the 24mm UFF is on the large side (physically), and that the 10mm UFF is only 60° afov, and finally that the 30 UFF is a 2" eyepiece. Anyway, just a thought.

 

If you try the ES 62s, report back here as there’s not so many user reports on those. I’m a bit curious about the 62s too, as they could possibly complement my Plossls that I don’t want to go shorter than my current 9mm with (eye relief gets tight with short focal length Plossls, plus the resulting TFOV starts getting pretty small)

[quilty]

I like very much the 26 mm. To me those 62° is no true series. They're called LER which is true for the 26 but not at all for the 5.5 mm.
Like the 5.5mm, too, minimal glass

[25585]

I like very much the 26 mm. To me those 62° is no true series. They're called LER which is true for the 26 but not at all for the 5.5 mm.
Like the 5.5mm, too, minimal glass

True. Only the 26, 30 & 40mm have long eye relief. I like my 26mm a lot.

Edited by 25585, 14 March 2025 - 09:28 AM.

[davidgmd]

Hi, I'm sorry one more thread on eyepiece from the beginner me.

 

tl;dr If you own or have tried, can you give your review of ExploreScientific 62 deg eyepieces. Appreciated. Please.

 

 

----------

 

So I'm having a hard time with find an eyepiece that work well with my eyeballs which are unlike normal eyes person.

 

Anything 82 deg is complete blackout for me regardless of how I position my eyes, and I wear glasses.

The Celestron Luminos it adorable but it went back to Amazon return next day due to 82 deg I cannot see anything other than blackout.

 

I don't have luck with 68 deg neither, even the Redlines of Svbony, the 20mm I get partial blackout, like here and there it just radomly partial blackout (I guess it the 68 deg) my eyes not like. 9mm and 6mm is kidney beans galore.

 

I do have luck with the X-Cell 60 deg, No blackout, no kidney beans.

 

The best eyepieces that work with my eyes with my Mak is the Vixen NPL 50 deg Plssol, yep. Plssol. 

 

Now Vixen SLV Lanthanium glass which is 50 deg, but not so good luck with it neither, the 25mm of SLV Lathanium give me partial blackout. The 10mm give me partial blackout. However the 9mm does not.

 

So we back to Plossol which is 50 deg and less lens stack on lens. But my Maks seem to love it.

 

I am not having luck with eyepeices. What work with me it the 50 deg and 60 deg.

 

But I want to try the Explorer Scientific 62 degree, does everyone here like those eyepieces from ES?
 

  
Perhaps irrelevant depending on how your eyes differ from most, and maybe not helpful, but…

  

If you do react to eyepieces differently than the typical astronomy buff, advice you receive here may not apply to you. Is there any chance that there’s a club or other astronomers in your area that could arrange for a look through or a loan of the eyepieces you’re interested in?

  
Or consider buying used. If they don’t work out, you can usually resell for what you paid.

[MrsM75]

Hi have a 7mm X-Cel and it work perfect with my eyes, my Maks loves it.

 

So I just ordered a 12mm X-Cel, it only $70 in Amazon (on sale), sold and ship by Amazon so I can return if it not work out.

 

The X-Cel 12mm it $70 compared to 11mm Televue it $300, I do not know if with small Maks if it would make a big different in "visual" between the two.

[SeattleScott]

Hi have a 7mm X-Cel and it work perfect with my eyes, my Maks loves it.

So I just ordered a 12mm X-Cel, it only $70 in Amazon (on sale), sold and ship by Amazon so I can return if it not work out.

The X-Cel 12mm it $70 compared to 11mm Televue it $300, I do not know if with small Maks if it would make a big different in "visual" between the two.

The biggest difference is the Nagler is 82 AFOV.