65 replies to this topic

[HfxObserver]

255,

 

That's a nice focuser. I've been playing with the idea of swapping out the Moonlight for something in the 3-inch size but I really like the Moonlight as it is more solid than I thought and works well down to -18c/0f which is my limit. A 3-inch focuser would only exist to keep my hopes alive for a big eyepiece in the future.

 

How do you deal with balancing the scope with these weighty loads?

 

How are you observing with them?

 

One struggle I have is putting all this together then realizing it's not a power that seeing or the object will hold. So the ability to swap powers quickly to see what works best makes this feel like a barrier to arrangements such as this. One reason for an observatory was to use more of this sort of equipment but I find I'd still rather spend the time observing.  For example, I'll put the Docter 12.5 in a barlow and go back and forth more easily with a one of my Pentax XW's. 

 

It's too bad ES never made the smaller one, something lighter ~8.5mm that we could barlow easily would allow many of us to have that ultimate set of 3 oculars.  

 

Clear skies,

 

Chris

Edited by HfxObserver, 27 April 2025 - 02:14 PM.

[TayM57]

This is why I had Harry custom engrave the focal lengths directly onto the STBs. On one side, he typically engraves the power of the STB. For example, 1.20x. On the other side, he engraved the focal lengths for the ES92s.

 

On the 1.20x, he engraved

 

17/14    12/10

 

On the 2.0x,

 

17/8.5   12/6

 

On the 2.4x

 

17/7  12/5

 

 

This way I don't have to think about the FLs when I look at the STBs and over time, It'll become second nature as I use the ES92s with the STBs.

 

So assuming the STB <--- P2 <--- EP stack,

 

if I have the 2x STB <--- P2 <--- 12ES92 for 6mm, and I need a little more power, I just take the stack out, take off the 2x STB, and put on the 2.4x STB.

 

 

It's also possible that after a little experimentation, I find the

 

P2 <--- STB <--- EP a better arrangement but I doubt it. I expect the arrangement to follow TV's recommendation of PM <--- P2 <--- EP as both the STB and the PM are 4 element telecentric designs.

[25585]

255,

 

That's a nice focuser. I've been playing with the idea of swapping out the Moonlight for something in the 3-inch size but I really like the Moonlight as it is more solid than I thought and works well down to -18c/0f which is my limit. A 3-inch focuser would only exist to keep my hopes alive for a big eyepiece in the future.

 

How do you deal with balancing the scope with these weighty loads?

 

How are you observing with them?

 

One struggle I have is putting all this together then realizing it's not a power that seeing or the object will hold. So the ability to swap powers quickly to see what works best makes this feel like a barrier to arrangements such as this. One reason for an observatory was to use more of this sort of equipment but I find I'd still rather spend the time observing.  For example, I'll put the Docter 12.5 in a barlow and go back and forth more easily with a one of my Pentax XW's. 

 

It's too bad ES never made the smaller one, something lighter ~8.5mm that we could barlow easily would allow many of us to have that ultimate set of 3 oculars.  

 

Clear skies,

 

Chris

My 130 F6 is a lump. Not that long but quite heavy, and its lens end counter-balances heavy eyepieces etc quite well. I mount it on an AZ100 Rowan atop an EQ6 tripod. With my Barlows I can get high enough magnifications, for my usual seeing.

[nkoiza]

On the 1.20x, he engraved

 

17/14    12/10

 

On the 2.0x,

 

17/8.5   12/6

 

On the 2.4x

 

17/7  12/5

 

 

That's a very useful range of focal lengths, Tay!

 

I hope the STBs work well for you and I am interested to receive your feedback on those.

 

I have just added a 10mm spacer to my existing 20mm spacer for total 30mm increased distance between AP Barcon barlow lens/nosepiece and ES92 eyepieces.

 

After extensive drift timing with 30mm spacing over the past week, I can confirm that this yields 1.7x power increase with the ES 92s on my particular set up, so I am able to achieve the following focal length spread:

 

17mm, 12mm, 10mm, 7mm.

 

When I add a 4x TV Powermate (without spacers obviously), and after drift timing, this extends the range further to:

 

17mm, 12mm, 10mm, 7mm, 4mm, 3mm (approximately in the case of the latter).

 

I could really do with something to fill the gap between 7mm and 4mm, but feel this is quite good as it stands.

[TayM57]

That's a very useful range of focal lengths, Tay!

 

I hope the STBs work well for you and I am interested to receive your feedback on those.

 

I have just added a 10mm spacer to my existing 20mm spacer for total 30mm increased distance between AP Barcon barlow lens/nosepiece and ES92 eyepieces.

 

After extensive drift timing with 30mm spacing over the past week, I can confirm that this yields 1.7x power increase with the ES 92s on my particular set up, so I am able to achieve the following focal length spread:

 

17mm, 12mm, 10mm, 7mm.

 

When I add a 4x TV Powermate (without spacers obviously), and after drift timing, this extends the range further to:

 

17mm, 12mm, 10mm, 7mm, 4mm, 3mm (approximately in the case of the latter).

 

I could really do with something to fill the gap between 7mm and 4mm, but feel this is quite good as it stands.

 

I almost got a 4x STB to give me the 3 and the 4.25mm focal lengths but I figure the range of 5 to 17 will be sufficient for now. 

 

 

The three STB's will be here on Saturday. I'll post a review sometime in the summer after I've gotten a chance to really use all the focal lengths that the STBs produce with the ES92s. 

[nkoiza]

I almost got a 4x STB to give me the 3 and the 4.25mm focal lengths but I figure the range of 5 to 17 will be sufficient for now. 

 

 

The three STB's will be here on Saturday. I'll post a review sometime in the summer after I've gotten a chance to really use all the focal lengths that the STBs produce with the ES92s. 

Yes, worth trying the STBs first and then deciding if you want more. I'm looking forward to your review and hope they work out well for you.

 

I dug out my 9mm Morpheus and did some comparisons with 17 ES 92 combined with Astro Physics BARCON over the past week. I forgot how good that particular Morpheus is! The only drawback with the 17 ES 92 is the weight when coupled with Paracorr, Barlow and spacers to hit the right powers, so sometimes it's easier to just go for the easy option when you have an eyepiece as good as the 9mm Morph, particularly when you're feeling tired or lazy! 

[TayM57]

Yes, worth trying the STBs first and then deciding if you want more. I'm looking forward to your review and hope they work out well for you.

 

I dug out my 9mm Morpheus and did some comparisons with 17 ES 92 combined with Astro Physics BARCON over the past week. I forgot how good that particular Morpheus is! The only drawback with the 17 ES 92 is the weight when coupled with Paracorr, Barlow and spacers to hit the right powers, so sometimes it's easier to just go for the easy option when you have an eyepiece as good as the 9mm Morph, particularly when you're feeling tired or lazy! 

Agree completely. I do kind of think I'll use the Morphii quite often in the small hours of morning when I'm a bit tired, mostly at home and in my slower scopes (really, I have just one slow scope, the 10"). I envision using the ES92's extensively at a dark sky site when the context really adds to the target. At home, it's just lots of washed out background so not real critical to have a 92° AFOV EP like the ES92s. At home, yeah, I'll probably use the Morphii more often unless the ES92's perform at a Delos level on the planets and moon.

 

But at a site like Steens, oh boy, just a beautiful and bountiful view full of stars all around the target, especially in a scope like the 24" where the fainter stars will just add to the context. Sometimes I'll put the target off-center just because I like the context so much. 

 

I plan on building a case just for the ES92's + STBs. I'll probably leave a cutout for the 4x STB to be added later on since I do like viewing the planets/Luna at high powers. It's just a question of whether these ES92s can perform as well as the Delos do in my faster sub f/4 scopes like the 8" f/3, 17.5" f/3.4 and 24" f/3.17, and in the future, a 22" f/2.7 which will be the final scope that I build myself. 

[HfxObserver]

I eagerly await your results

 

What an awesome lineup of scopes to try these eyepieces and barlows in.

 

Chris

[nkoiza]

Agree completely. I do kind of think I'll use the Morphii quite often in the small hours of morning when I'm a bit tired, mostly at home and in my slower scopes (really, I have just one slow scope, the 10"). I envision using the ES92's extensively at a dark sky site when the context really adds to the target. At home, it's just lots of washed out background so not real critical to have a 92° AFOV EP like the ES92s. At home, yeah, I'll probably use the Morphii more often unless the ES92's perform at a Delos level on the planets and moon.

 

But at a site like Steens, oh boy, just a beautiful and bountiful view full of stars all around the target, especially in a scope like the 24" where the fainter stars will just add to the context. Sometimes I'll put the target off-center just because I like the context so much. 

 

I plan on building a case just for the ES92's + STBs. I'll probably leave a cutout for the 4x STB to be added later on since I do like viewing the planets/Luna at high powers. It's just a question of whether these ES92s can perform as well as the Delos do in my faster sub f/4 scopes like the 8" f/3, 17.5" f/3.4 and 24" f/3.17, and in the future, a 22" f/2.7 which will be the final scope that I build myself. 

 

I found the sky background with 9mm Morpheus to be darker than with 17mm ES 92 in the AP BARCON barlow, and the 9mm also excelled on dust lanes in M13, an object that it performs exceptionally well on.

 

I love the superb range of scopes that you own!

[TayM57]

The STB's came in this morning.

 

Extremely impressed with the matte black anodizing. Honestly, I expected it to look somewhat homemade, but that is not at all the case. These STBs are beautiful, and the machining is remarkable. The engravings on the un-anodized aluminum ring is a nice touch as well, if a bit hard to read. My wife suggested using a fine point sharpie to fill in the engravings, which I may do.

 

I put my Morphii in them, and the black anodizing is an exact match.

 

Beautiful machining. I love them. I love the 2x STB- so much better than a 2x TV PM, and much lighter too.

 

To my relief, all the STBs have stops built in, so the Paracorr 2 won't shatter the lens when inserted.

[Bigfish731]

Highly anticipating your your reviews...

[nkoiza]

The STB's came in this morning.

 

Extremely impressed with the matte black anodizing. Honestly, I expected it to look somewhat homemade, but that is not at all the case. These STBs are beautiful, and the machining is remarkable. The engravings on the un-anodized aluminum ring is a nice touch as well, if a bit hard to read. My wife suggested using a fine point sharpie to fill in the engravings, which I may do.

 

I put my Morphii in them, and the black anodizing is an exact match.

 

Beautiful machining. I love them. I love the 2x STB- so much better than a 2x TV PM, and much lighter too.

 

To my relief, all the STBs have stops built in, so the Paracorr 2 won't shatter the lens when inserted.

 

Great news and sounds as though the STBs are oozing with quality! Hopefully, a really good indication that this will be reflected in optical performance. I'm genuinely excited and looking forward to hearing how these perform with the ES 92s and Morphii.

 

I know what you mean about the 2x TV PM. I have a 4x TV PM, and much of the time, the weight is too much for the 17mm ES 92 with Paracorr. With the AP BARCON however, I can just about get away with it using the 17mm ES 92, provided the elevation of the object I'm viewing is not too low in the sky. The 12mm ES 92 is easier though as it's a bit lighter.

 

Do you have a view in terms of how much lighter the STB is compared with Astro Physics BARCON or BARADV? I suspect the STB will be lighter, not that the AP BARCON is heavy at all.

 

The stops are crucial and I would expect the STBs to have these to prevent a potential disaster.

 

Thanks for your initial thoughts, Tay. Looking forward to your further feedback.

[25585]

With 2" Powermates, TV advise putting eyepiece + Paracorr into the Powermate..

[TayM57]

 

Do you have a view in terms of how much lighter the STB is compared with Astro Physics BARCON or BARADV? I suspect the STB will be lighter, not that the AP BARCON is heavy at all.

 

Used as supplied, as you indicated, the BARCON is about the same in terms of weight and moment force as far as the stack goes. It's still a large stack with the <--- STB <--- P2 <--- ES92. This is where I was hoping to cut the stack down, and it does to an extent but the bigger difference is the weight savings as opposed to the TV 2x PM. The stack is shorter with the 2.4x STB, and the tallest with the 1.2x STB. I can cut down the stack by removing the collar on the 1.2x STB which for me, is going to be the default setup anyway because I don't have a short drawtube in the focuser. 

 

I would prefer to use the screw on barlow like some here do but the spacing being critical to achieve a specific magnification + possible optical aberrations at fast focal ratios and large AFOV is why I decided on telecentric barlows, to give me specific focal lengths so I don't have to fumble around with screwing on barlows in the dark. 

 

With 2" Powermates, TV advise putting eyepiece + Paracorr into the Powermate..

That is how I plan to do it. I always keep the P2 with the EP. 

 

It's really too bad most of my scopes are sub f/4. I'd love to not be able to use the P2 at all, but, having sub f/4 scopes... 

 

I even use the P2 in my 10" f/5.6 because I can see the coma. 

 

 

 

I haven't used the STBs at all as there hasn't been a clear night. I get my first chance this coming Friday, and I'll be in SIsters Oregon in moderately dark skies in June to really give the ES92's + STBs a night under the stars before I form my impressions. 

[TayM57]

It is for this reason that I may evidently replace the focusers in both the 24" and 17.5" with a SIPS focuser. 

[nkoiza]

Used as supplied, as you indicated, the BARCON is about the same in terms of weight and moment force as far as the stack goes. It's still a large stack with the <--- STB <--- P2 <--- ES92. This is where I was hoping to cut the stack down, and it does to an extent but the bigger difference is the weight savings as opposed to the TV 2x PM. The stack is shorter with the 2.4x STB, and the tallest with the 1.2x STB. I can cut down the stack by removing the collar on the 1.2x STB which for me, is going to be the default setup anyway because I don't have a short drawtube in the focuser. 

 

I would prefer to use the screw on barlow like some here do but the spacing being critical to achieve a specific magnification + possible optical aberrations at fast focal ratios and large AFOV is why I decided on telecentric barlows, to give me specific focal lengths so I don't have to fumble around with screwing on barlows in the dark. 

 

That is how I plan to do it. I always keep the P2 with the EP. 

 

It's really too bad most of my scopes are sub f/4. I'd love to not be able to use the P2 at all, but, having sub f/4 scopes... 

 

I even use the P2 in my 10" f/5.6 because I can see the coma. 

 

 

 

I haven't used the STBs at all as there hasn't been a clear night. I get my first chance this coming Friday, and I'll be in SIsters Oregon in moderately dark skies in June to really give the ES92's + STBs a night under the stars before I form my impressions. 

 

Thanks for your clarification. The fact that we are willing to put up with the combined weight and relatively long stack is a testimony to just how good the ES 92s are!