44 replies to this topic

[vtornado]

My telescope: Sky-Watcher Classic 250P Dobsonian (10 inch aperture, 1200mm focal length, F/Ratio: 4.7)
 

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR:

I am looking for an eyepiece (5mm or 6mm) for high magnification planetary observation, that will perform well with a fast scope like the f/4.7 10-inch dob. I specifically want a minimum of 200X magnification or a maximum of 240X magnification. I wanted a minimum of 60 degree apparent field of view.

 

WHAT I'VE CONSIDERED SO FAR:

• Celestron X-Cel LX 5mm Eyepiece.

Yes probably too much mag for most nights.

• Celestron X-Cel LX 7mm Eyepiece.

This is a good eyepiece, I have it and use it often.  I know its a bit under your ideal mag.

• SVBONY 9mm Redline/Goldline Eyepieces.

Kidney beaning is most pronounced for daylight viewing and lunar.  I think they perform well.  The 6 and the 9 have the negative section which allow use of a fast scope, 15 and 25  not so good.  Again it's a bit under your ideal mag range.  How about the 6mm?

• Baader Planetarium Hyperion 5mm Eyepiece. S

I think this eyepiece is OK/Good.   Not perfect at f/5.  However I assume this is for planetary and the outer field of view does not have to be perfect for me.   The wider field helps track the planet in a manual scope, but I pretty much only use the 70% or so, then bump the scope.  Going very wide leads to field illumination issues and coma, and other aberations in the scope.  I agree $250 is too much.  This same eyepiece is available as the celestron ultima-duo or Orion stratus.  I was able to get one used for less than $100 USD.  Where I do really like good correction is when viewing star clusters where I don't want mishapen stars on the edge of the field.  However, I don't go viewing clusters at 200x.

 

Astro-tech Dual ED 5mm is a very good eyepiece.  This would yield a mag that is pushing my seeing.  For my 10 inch 6 -7mm is the best for most nights.  Much depends upon your local seeing.

On good nights I have been able to use a 4 or 5mm

 

Have you considered a 2x barlow? with something you already have?

 

 

Edited by vtornado, 20 March 2025 - 02:16 PM.

[areyoukiddingme]

Bang for buck, I'd agree that the Meade 5.5 is the one to seek out. Trouble is finding them, but with patience it should be possible. Checking classifieds, I see that they are going for over $100 sometimes. I think I got mine new for $70. Still worth it I'd say.

[northernmike]

Bang for buck, I'd agree that the Meade 5.5 is the one to seek out. Trouble is finding them, but with patience it should be possible. Checking classifieds, I see that they are going for over $100 sometimes. I think I got mine new for $70. Still worth it I'd say.

I got mine for 60$ can.that's a little bit more than 40$ us

[eblanken]

Hi again Adri,

 

My telescope: Sky-Watcher Classic 250P Dobsonian (10 inch aperture, 1200mm focal length, F/Ratio: 4.7)
 

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR:

I am looking for an eyepiece (5mm or 6mm) for high magnification planetary observation, that will perform well with a fast scope like the f/4.7 10-inch dob. I specifically want a minimum of 200X magnification or a maximum of 240X magnification. I wanted a minimum of 60 degree apparent field of view.

 

WHAT I'VE CONSIDERED SO FAR:

• Celestron X-Cel LX 5mm Eyepiece. The problem is, I hear it's really a 4.5mm. This gives me nearly 267X magnification, which is quite a bit more than the max I wanted at the moment. Everything else about this eyepiece seems perfect for the price for me.
   
• Celestron X-Cel LX 7mm Eyepiece. The problem is, I hear it's really a 6.5mm. This gives me a nearly 185X magnification, which is slightly less than the min I wanted. But THIS IS THE CLOSEST EYEPIECE TO WHAT I WANT. But since I'll be spending a decent amount of money on this, I would prefer it to be perfectly within that 200X - 240X magnification range, so I have no regrets.
   
• SVBONY 9mm Redline/Goldline Eyepieces. The problem is, I hear they don't perform too well on fast scopes like my f/4.7 10-inch dob. And it has a reputation of kidney beaning a lot if my eye isn't perfectly placed, something I really hate a lot.
   
• Baader Planetarium Hyperion 5mm Eyepiece. Similar problem as the previous. I hear this series is designed primarily for slow scopes, and don't perform too well with fast ones like my f/4.7 10-inch dob. But I hear the 5mm one performs OK. While it's within my budget, it's a little too pricy to have an "OK" performance. I wanted better than "OK" when spending over $250 CAD on an eyepiece. I don't need the BEST performance. I just need it to be decent for the price.
   

Finding a good 5mm or 6mm eyepiece that performs well with a fast scope, at a reasonable price is proving to be extremely challenging. I would really appreciate some suggestions. I live in Canada, so eyepieces that are easily available in Canada would be phenomenal. Thanks!

Note: This is a follow up to my previous topic I started. I wanted this thread to be concentrated for the high magnification eyepieces.

 

This is a powerful (4-part) realization:

 

"Finding a (1) good 5mm or 6mm eyepiece that performs well with a (2) fast scope, at a (3) reasonable price is proving to be extremely challenging" and I would add (4) Available in Canada

 

Thanks for your post: It has challenged us all. 

 

Best,

 

Ed

 

P.S. There are some things to explore using a longer focal length eyepiece and a Barlow that can allow you to "ZOOM" in this range, but . . . we would need to know what you own already . . . 2x Barlow ??? 3x Barlow ??? Are you willing to experiment ???

Edited by eblanken, 20 March 2025 - 03:56 PM.

[SeattleScott]

Available in Canada is a relative thing. FLO will ship to Canada, for example. If the price is right, or for the right eyepiece, it might be worth an international transaction.

Excluding the premium price options, the Xcel LX 6.5 is good, perhaps not optimal focal length, although one can absolutely make an argument for a 6.5 and a 5 to match magnification to seeing, and the Xcel LX plus a 5mm Paradigm/Starguider ED would work nicely, for around the price of a 5 Hyperion.

The 6mm Speers Waler is an option and available in Canada. It isn’t well known.

Founder Optics 6mm from FLO is an affordable price, probably even with international shipping. Again the eyepiece isn’t well known. My impression is it has good edge correction, but mixed reviews regarding EOFB. Really hard to know because I think 95% just get a 6.5 Morpheus or 6 Delos instead.

Or spend real money on Pentax, Nikon, etc.

[eblanken]

+1 on Speers-Waller 6mm. (Series 3 is 80 Deg. AFoV, Series 4 is 86 Deg AFoV, 12mm ER)

 

Unfortunately, the Founder Optics 6mm is only 55 Deg. AFoV, not the 60 Deg. AFoV desired . . .

 

But that triggered an idea I had dismissed as too narrow: How about a USED 6mm TeleVue Radian (57 Deg. AFoV) ???

 

Best,

 

Ed

Edited by eblanken, 20 March 2025 - 04:30 PM.

[Procyon]

Founder Optics Marvel 6mm is 80 degrees

 

Founder Optics Alien 6mm is 55 degrees

[mountain monk]

I’ve recently used a Pentax 5mm XW and a Delos 6mm. I preferred and will keep the Pentax. Used for 200 bucks it’s hard to beat. And I would add that I preferred it to the Morpheus 4.5 (really 4.8)mm.
 

Dark, clear, calm skies.

 

Jack

Edited by mountain monk, 20 March 2025 - 05:17 PM.

[Adri_Bha]

Thanks everyone for the amazing responses. I really appreciate them all. They're some fantastic suggestions.
NOTE: For the SVBONY one, I meant to say the SVBONY 6mm Redline/Goldline Eyepieces. I accidentally wrote 9mm.

Edited by Adri_Bha, 20 March 2025 - 06:25 PM.

[starfinder123123]

I am going to say TMB eyepiece line from Aliexpress. It is a Chinese clone but it about $35 and has a great eye relief. Solid eyepiece for a little bit of money. I think they are 58 degrees but still very usable.

Edited by starfinder123123, 20 March 2025 - 10:41 PM.

[Bill Weir]

So for where your are you’ve narrowed it down to the second largest country in the world. If you lived on Southern Vancouver Island I’d be willing to arrange for you try out about 1/2 dozen or more eyepieces in the range you are looking or. Then you could decide what is best for you. 

 

You live close to any of these?  https://www.rasc.ca/centres   Asking a question online about which eyepiece should I get is like shouting into a howling wind.

 

Bill

[northernmike]

Thanks everyone for the amazing responses. I really appreciate them all. They're some fantastic suggestions.
NOTE: For the SVBONY one, I meant to say the SVBONY 6mm Redline/Goldline Eyepieces. I accidentally wrote 9mm.

I have both the 6 mm redline and goldline from Svbony . They are good eyepieces for the price , great views also ,but only in the 2/3 of the middle. On the outer edge there is CA , the stars look fuzzy and distorted a bit. At that magnification , the target crosses the EP pretty fast , so I suggest getting one that doesn't suffer from CA.
Like I suggested earlier ,a used Meade 5.5 mm would be a good choice .
I live in Canada and EP from US are sometimes hard to order and with the new tarrifs imposed by Trump , they are getting expensive.
A good alternative is the Sky Rover 7mm 82° from aliexpress , I am awaiting a 10 mm right now , it should arrive next week and everybody here agrees that they very good EPs.
And if you have a good quality barlow , the 10 mm SR would also give you a 5.5 mm

Edited by northernmike, 21 March 2025 - 06:02 AM.

[SeattleScott]

I have both the 6 mm redline and goldline from Svbony . They are good eyepieces for the price , great views also ,but only in the 2/3 of the middle. On the outer edge there is CA , the stars look fuzzy and distorted a bit. At that magnification , the target crosses the EP pretty fast , so I suggest getting one that doesn't suffer from CA.
Like I suggested earlier ,a used Meade 5.5 mm would be a good choice .
I live in Canada and EP from US are sometimes hard to order and with the new tarrifs imposed by Trump , they are getting expensive.
A good alternative is the Sky Rover 7mm 82° from aliexpress , I am awaiting a 10 mm right now , it should arrive next week and everybody here agrees that they very good EPs.
And if you have a good quality barlow , the 10 mm SR would also give you a 5.5 mm

The SkyRover UWA series won’t help him. He is looking for a 5-6mm. Not a 4mm or 8mm.

[Starman1]

I have both the 6 mm redline and Goldline from Svbony. They are good eyepieces for the price, great views also, but only in the 2/3 of the middle. On the outer edge there is CA, the stars look fuzzy and distorted a bit. At that magnification, the target crosses the EP pretty fast, so I suggest getting one that doesn't suffer from CA.
Like I suggested earlier, a used Meade 5.5 mm would be a good choice.
I live in Canada and EP from US are sometimes hard to order and with the new tariffs imposed by Trump, they are getting expensive.
A good alternative is the Sky Rover 7mm 82° from AliExpress, I am awaiting a 10 mm right now, it should arrive next week, and everybody here agrees that they are very good EPs.
And if you have a good quality Barlow, the 10 mm SR would also give you a 5.5 mm

Alas, the Sky Rover (KUO) 7mm 82mm is closer to 8mm in focal length, despite how it's labeled.

 

And for someone looking for a 6mm, the range would be 5.5mm to 6.5mm, which rules out the 6.5mm Morpheus (actually 6.7mm) and the 7mm X-Cel LX (actually 6.7mm) and the 6.7mm 82° Explore Scientific (if one could still be found).

There is the 6.5mm Explore Scientific 82°, but with its severe scattered light problem, its use on planets could not be recommended.

That leaves very few real choices.  A used 6mm Delos might be worth seeking.

[pj_thomas]

If you are OK with only 60 degree FOV you can't beat the XCel-LX.  Paradigm/Starguider ED are close and a little less expensive.

[25585]

Alas, the Sky Rover (KUO) 7mm 82mm is closer to 8mm in focal length, despite how it's labeled.

 

And for someone looking for a 6mm, the range would be 5.5mm to 6.5mm, which rules out the 6.5mm Morpheus (actually 6.7mm) and the 7mm X-Cel LX (actually 6.7mm) and the 6.7mm 82° Explore Scientific (if one could still be found).

There is the 6.5mm Explore Scientific 82°, but with its severe scattered light problem, its use on planets could not be recommended.

That leaves very few real choices.  A used 6mm Delos might be worth seeking.

Does 0.2mm focal length make that much of a difference? Splitting hairs! 

[Starman1]

Does 0.2mm focal length make that much of a difference? Splitting hairs! 

OP: 1200mm focal length.  Goal: 200x.

5mm = 240x

5.5mm = 218x

6mm = 200x

6.5mm = 185x

6.7mm = 179x

7mm = 171x

 

Assuming a desirable 200x +/- 10%, that makes a reasonable range 5.45-6.66mm

You're correct that 6.7mm is probably close enough, so the X-Cel LX which has been measured by others to be 6.7mm, might suffice.

Likewise, the Baader Morpheus 6.5mm, measured to be 6.7mm, would work and be a big step up.

Another good possibility if a tight eye relief is not a problem, would be a used Explore Scientific 6.7mm 82°, possibly the best in the ES 82° series.

It's also available under the MaxVision, Saxon Australia, and OpticStar names.

[pj_thomas]

OP: 1200mm focal length.  Goal: 200x.

5mm = 240x

5.5mm = 218x

6mm = 200x

6.5mm = 185x

6.7mm = 179x

7mm = 171x

 

Assuming a desirable 200x +/- 10%, that makes a reasonable range 5.45-6.66mm

You're correct that 6.7mm is probably close enough, so the X-Cel LX which has been measured by others to be 6.7mm, might suffice.

Likewise, the Baader Morpheus 6.5mm, measured to be 6.7mm, would work and be a big step up.

Another good possibility if a tight eye relief is not a problem, would be a used Explore Scientific 6.7mm 82°, possibly the best in the ES 82° series.

It's also available under the MaxVision, Saxon Australia, and OpticStar names.

The 4.7 and the 8.8 are better in the ES 82° series.  The 6.7mm is weaker.  Except for the wider FOV the XCel-LX 7mm is better for planets.  IMHO.
 

Edited by pj_thomas, 21 March 2025 - 02:12 PM.

[Starman1]

The 4.7 and the 8.8 are better in the ES 82° series.  The 6.7mm is weaker.  Except for the wider FOV the XCel-LX 7mm is better for planets.  IMHO.
 

I've owned and used all 3 of them.

On the test bench, the 4.7mm and 8.8mm might test better.

In the field, I found all 3 to do very well in terms of sharpness.

In my f/5-f/5.5 scopes of the time, I actually found the 6.7mm to be the best of the 3 in terms of contrast and sharpness.

I don't necessarily always find, in the field, that what I see agrees with Ernest's tests.

In my 12.5", the 12.5mm Morpheus is a lot sharper than the 17.5mm, despite Ernest's opposite findings.

 

What does that mean?  There could be a unit-to-unit QC variation, or there could be a scope interaction that just happens to make one better in that scope.

I always use a Paracorr, too, and have for a long time.  The lack of coma and the field flattening of the Paracorr likely influences what I see as well.  I don't think Ernest reviews eyepieces with a Paracorr in place.

Given the axial spot sizes Ernest found at f/4:

ES 6.7-- < 6'

X-Cel LX 7mm-- < 3'

are both well under 10', which Ernest regards as "essentially perfect", I don't think the difference is going to make a difference worth considering.

Especially since Seeing has the biggest influence on planetary sharpness.

 

Since the OP is discussing an eyepiece for planet observations, there's nothing wrong with the X-Cel LX, though.

A used ES does have the advantage of a longer drift time and an advantage when the field contain multiple or larger objects.

But finding an X-Cel LX is certainly going to be easier.

[SeattleScott]

The 6.7 didn’t get Ernest’s yellow highlight, seemingly reserved for edge of field spot size at F4 of 12 or less. The ES 6.7 was 12.5. Seems it just missed. Ultimately all of them are about in the same class in terms of edge correction, and any of them should be pretty sharp to the edge at F5.