96 replies to this topic

[Starman1]

Here is the 2025 Guide to Eyepieces.

There are some new brands, some new models, and several older brands have disappeared (Orion, Meade, Coronado).

A number of Zooms have disappeared.

Anyway, this is current as of Mar 28.

 

There are a number of no-name eBay, Ali Express, and other bargain places I have left out because they tend to be transitory.

Attached Files

•  2025 Buyer's Guide to Eyepieces.xlsx   252.14KB   1155 downloads

[rfcooley]

Don,

 

Thank you!  For all the work you do on these Buyers Guides. I greatly appreciate your efforts and inputs.

 

RF

[Bob4BVM]

Thanks Don for sticking with us, and all the work you do in continuing to support our hobby !

 

Cheers

Bob

[Mike G.]

Thanks Don, much appreciated!

[Astro-Remete]

Thank you Don!

[Oldfracguy]

Thanks agian, Don, even after enduring those terrible fires in the LA area recently. 

[Spinwiz]

Thanks Starman; that list is obviously a lot of work.

 

One suggestion though and this may or not be the result of using LibreOffice-Calc, is that where one enters the focal length and F number you have to over write the labels.   In other words the numbers replace the labels when you want to see the calculated values.

 

Otherwise wow, this is a very non trivial effort.

[Epick Crom]

Thank you Don for providing us with this very valuable resource 

[davidgmd]

Thanks again Don. As always, a valued resource. Appreciate the effort you put into this every year.

[Elara]

Thank you Don, top man!
This is a significant bit of work and is always, year on year, very much appreciated!

[PYeomans]

Starman, have you ever compiled a listing of Paracor settings for the lenses you  list?

[Starman1]

Starman, have you ever compiled a listing of Paracor settings for the lenses you  list?

For my own eyepieces, sure, but bear in mind you only have to know 1 eyepiece, and you set that one up and focus the scope.

Every other eyepiece from everyone, you just focus with the tunable top of the Paracorr and that's the correct setting for that eyepiece.

So, for example:

31Nagler, 21 Ethos, 17 Ethos--A

22 Nagler--B, also 6mm and 8mm Ethos (in 1.25" mode)

11 Apollo--C (in 2" mode)

Most 1.25" Tele Vues--D

4.5, 6.5, 9, 12.5, 14 Morpheus--A (as 1.25")

17.5 Morpheus--uses a shorter adapter than the Paracorr adapter and its setting depends on the adapter.

3.7, 4.7, 10, 13 Ethos--F (all used as 2")

 

So, say you had a Nagler 22--you set the top to B, insert the eyepiece and focus the scope.

For every other eyepiece you use, whether 2" or 1.25", you insert it and focus using the Tunable top.  Whatever setting results, write it down and use that setting in the future for that eyepiece.

Certain eyepieces won't come to focus in the range of the tunable top (like the 17.5mm Morpheus, used as a 1.25" (No Morpheus will focus as a 2" in the Paracorr)), and require a shorter adapter.

Should one of those eyepieces be 2" and require more in-travel than setting A, you have no choice but to focus using the focus knob, but then follow that eyepiece with one you know the setting for to return the Paracorr to its proper position.

[MrsM75]

Sir Don 

 

I have a question to ask you Sir.

 

How many lenses is the Explorer Scientific 52 degrees series. It is comfy for eye glasses wearer? What do you think of that eyepiece in general.

 

Thank you Sir.

[Starman1]

Sir Don

I have a question to ask you Sir.

How many lenses is the Explorer Scientific 52 degrees series. It is comfy for eye glasses wearer? What do you think of that eyepiece in general.

Thank you Sir.

The lens count is in the spreadsheet. The eye relief is in the spreadsheet too. I remember only the two longest focal lengths are glasses-compatible, and all the ithers are not.
I have not used them extensively but reviews all state the shorter focal lengths are not good.

In contrast, all the Vixen SLVs get good reviews and all focal lengths are glasses-compatible.

This is if you prefer to stick with 45 to 50 degree fields.

[MrsM75]

Thank you Sir.

 

How about the Apertura SWA 70 degrees eyepieces? Seem like the eye relief is kindda tight. I never heard of the brand Apertura before, it is a good brand?

[Starman1]

Thank you Sir.

How about the Apertura SWA 70 degrees eyepieces? Seem like the eye relief is kinda tight. I never heard of the brand Apertura before, it is a good brand?

Apertura is the house brand for High Point Scientific. Their eyepieces are mostly made by GSO. In the astronomy industry most brands are private label brands made by the largest companies for a customer. That's why I aded a column for mfr in the eyepiece buyer's guide. Many eyepieces are sold under 6 to 10 different brand names. For instance, all the XWA eyepieces are the same, but you can buy them with 8 different brand names.

[MrsM75]

Sir I have your spreadsheet open right now Sir.

 

So the Pentax XR 70 degrees, it is 20mm eye relief. I check the price it actually expensive like $250 range, but here the thing the Pentax XR it advertise as it for Spotting scope. Would that work with a telescope? 

 

I heard good reviews about it, I wonder if it worth the price point, it like at the price point of a Delite.

[Starman1]

Sir I have your spreadsheet open right now Sir.

So the Pentax XR 70 degrees, it is 20mm eye relief. I check the price it actually expensive like $250 range, but here the thing the Pentax XR it advertise as it for Spotting scope. Would that work with a telescope?

I heard good reviews about it, I wonder if it worth the price point, it like at the price point of a Delite.

There is a Pentax XF (there is no XR) which is a small eyepiece they make for their spotting scopes. They are 1.25" so work fine in a telescope. If the price is now similar to a Delite, they are not worth that. They used to be $120-$135. The Delites are a much better eyepiece, albeit much more expensive. You could use the Pentax XWs, but they are large eyepieces, and probably not a good match for your Maksutovs weight-wise.

[MrsM75]

Amazon it is $266 for the 1.25 ones Pantex. 10mm 7mm 14mm 20mm

The 2 inches Pantex one is $450  16.5mm and 23mm

 

The price is expensive, I think I have no choice but pass.

 

I was wondering if the Long Perng 1.25" 55º is good, it alot cheaper.

[MrsM75]

I was look at the Televue Plssol 32mm it was $155 two weeks ago, and now it $163

The Televue Delite it was $268 two weeks ago, and now it $283

 

I don't know abotu the Delos and other higher price eyepieces of Televue. But I think it go up too like the Delite and Plossl.

 

I now no longer can afford the Delite, I'm looking at other options. I am sorry to bother you with so much eyepieces questions.

[Starman1]

Amazon it is $266 for the 1.25 ones Pantex. 10mm 7mm 14mm 20mm
The 2 inches Pantex one is $450 16.5mm and 23mm

The price is expensive, I think I have no choice but pass.

I was wondering if the Long Perng 1.25" 55º is good, it alot cheaper.

The Long Perng 55° would work fine in your long f/ratio scopes.
Because of the new tariffs, all eyepieces will be going up in price.

Edited by Starman1, 12 April 2025 - 12:17 AM.

[MrsM75]

Sir some people on here said that the Long Perng 1.25" 55º with the 20mm eye relief is plossl, BUT when I look at the spec, it said the Long Perng is 7 lens, surely Plossl can't be 7 lens? I'm confuse

[Starman1]

Sir some people on here said that the Long Perng 1.25" 55º with the 20mm eye relief is plossl, BUT when I look at the spec, it said the Long Perng is 7 lens, surely Plossl can't be 7 lens? I'm confuse

Long Perng makes 55° Plossls, but the long Eye Relief 55° eyepieces are different. Only the longest focal length Plossls (32mm, 40mm) have 20mm of eye relief. The 7 element 55° eyepieces are not Plossls.

[Olimad]

Long Perng LER 55°:

https://www.longpern...t=list&catId=36

 

Long Perng 55° plössl:

https://www.longpern...t=list&catId=35

 

2 different lines with both 55° AFoV. The Plössls seem difficult to get.

Edited by Olimad, 14 April 2025 - 02:44 AM.

[Starman1]

Long Perng LER 55°:
https://www.longpern...t=list&catId=36

Long Perng 55° plössl:
https://www.longpern...t=list&catId=35

2 different lines with both 55° AFoV. The Plössls seem difficult to get.

There are only a couple importers of the Plossls, but several importers of the LER 55° eyepieces.
Sort the spreadsheet by mfr and look for LP and you can see who carries which and under which labels.