95 replies to this topic

[Starman1]

Sir Starman1, I need your help Sir.

So I got these cheap eyepiece for $40, I bought two, it the Zhumell/Long Pergn 55 deg. Please look at the coating inside the barrel (I shine the light in so you can see what I mean), the eyepiece on the right it sand black there no shinny. The eyepiece on the left it still black but it was not sand (like no coating over) so it shinny.

I do not know if these two eyepieces from two different batches, and they just use different type of coating. But the right eyepiece eventhough it black color like the left, but it shinny. I worry it will give me glare when I view bright object. I plan to return the left eyepiece.

What you think Sir, they forget to paint the coating, or it just shinny coating, instead of the sand like not shinny coating. I can take another pic if you want, but I think you can see what I mean.

The one with a blackened inner barrel wall is likely from a later production. You can buy some flat black model paint and paint the one on the left yourself. It's not hard.

[MrsM75]

Thank you Sir. So you don't think the shinny coating one means they "forget" to coat? I mean it looks black color, it just one is shinny coat, and one is more sand like gritty coat.

 

It is only $40 so not big deal, I just worry if on bright object like Jupiter or crescent Moon it will show up the glare due to the coating it so shinny.

[Starman1]

Thank you Sir. So you don't think the shinny coating one means they "forget" to coat? I mean it looks black color, it just one is shinny coat, and one is more sand like gritty coat.

It is only $40 so not big deal, I just worry if on bright object like Jupiter or crescent Moon it will show up the glare due to the coating it so shinny.

As companies have grown experienced, they have all improved scattered light suppression. Years ago, it was rare to see a star diagonal blackened on the inside. Now it's common.
I don't think they forgot the flat black coating in that eyepiece, they just added the flat black interior in later productions.
Even today there are companies that have shiny chrome surfaces inside the lower barrels!
A I said, it's easy to buy some flat black model paint and a small brush and just paint the inside of the barrel yourself.

[MrsM75]

Yep the shinny one does look exactly like the shinny chrome surface.

 

Thank you Sir, it is the Zhumell Z eyepieces, this Zhumell Z line has been extinct, I got it for $40 New which is good price consider it 20mm eye relief. 

 

Thank you for answer my question. 

Edited by MrsM75, 06 May 2025 - 12:22 AM.

[Oldfracguy]

Here is something interesting I discovered tonight.  Take a look at these three moderately-priced eyepieces.  From left to right they are an Agena StarGuider 3.2mm Dual ED (Astro-Tech 3.2mm Paradigm clone), a Celestron Omni 12mm Plossl, and a KK Fujiyama 5mm HD-OR Orthoscopic:

 

 

 

For comparison, here are three more expensive eyepieces   From left to right they are a Tele Vue Nagler 3.5mm Type 6, a Tele Vue 5mm DeLite, and a Stellarvue 8mm 82° (Astro-Tech 7mm UWA clone):

 

 

 

What is interesting to me is that the inside of the barrels on the three moderately-priced eyepieces are blackened with a flat black non-reflective finish, while the more expensive eyepieces have shiny exposed barrels on the inside below the lens.

Edited by Oldfracguy, 06 May 2025 - 10:30 PM.

[MrsM75]

Sir Starman1, I really want to get the Celestron Omni Plossl 32mm, but here is the screenshot of the Celestron website itself that it give the spec for their Omni Plossl 32mm, it say it 44 degree only, not 50 deg like how it advertise Plossl 50 deg.

 

[Starman1]

Sir Starman1, I really want to get the Celestron Omni Plossl 32mm, but here is the screenshot of the Celestron website itself that it give the spec for their Omni Plossl 32mm, it say it 44 degree only, not 50 deg like how it advertise Plossl 50 deg.

 

32mm Plössls vary from 42-43° to 49.5°, but I've never seen one that was 50° or more.

At 45°, the edge will be sharp, unvignetted, and well-corrected.

At 49.5°, the edge might be a little blurry, or slightly vignetted, or less well corrected.

One of the best I've used or owned was the 45° Baader 32mm Plössl in the "Q" Series.

Another exceptional one was the Meade Series 4000 32mm 5-element Super Plössl, made in Japan by Kowa (no eyecup).  By today's standards, it would not equal the coatings on current ones.

To be honest, though, unless the eyepiece is really poor, the on-axis images of most 32mm Plössls are pretty close to the same.

[MrsM75]

32mm Plössls vary from 42-43° to 49.5°, but I've never seen one that was 50° or more.

At 45°, the edge will be sharp, unvignetted, and well-corrected.

At 49.5°, the edge might be a little blurry, or slightly vignetted, or less well corrected.

One of the best I've used or owned was the 45° Baader 32mm Plössl in the "Q" Series.

Another exceptional one was the Meade Series 4000 32mm 5-element Super Plössl, made in Japan by Kowa (no eyecup).  By today's standards, it would not equal the coatings on current ones.

To be honest, though, unless the eyepiece is really poor, the on-axis images of most 32mm Plössls are pretty close to the same.

 

I really like the Vixen NPL Plossl 30mm, I wonder if it is also 44 deg like the Celestron Omni 32mm one.

 

How about the cheap Svbony SV131 32mm Plossl, it looks like it a clone of the GSO 32mm Plossl.

 

Would you say the Baader 32mm Plossl one is better than the Vixen NPL 32mm one? If so I might try the Baader.

Edited by MrsM75, 09 May 2025 - 07:15 PM.

[Starman1]

I really like the Vixen NPL Plossl 30mm, I wonder if it is also 44 deg like the Celestron Omni 32mm one.

 

How about the cheap Svbony SV131 32mm Plossl, it looks like it a clone of the GSO 32mm Plossl.

 

Would you say the Baader 32mm Plossl one is better than the Vixen NPL 32mm one? If so I might try the Baader.

I can't say.  Over the years, I've owned several 32mm Plössls, but never 2 different ones at the same time.

[MrsM75]

Sir Starman1, can you help look at this screenshot below, basically these are same eyepieces right?
Orion EF 27mm

Astromania 27mm

Alstar 27mm

 

It looks alike, same housing, except different writing brands on it. If it the same then I get the cheapest price one then. I can get it under Alstar for like $25 cheaper.

If I get the copycat cheapest one in there, would the inside lens glass inside be different? I knlow Orion is a brand, but it the most expensive out of the three.

 

Edited by MrsM75, 14 May 2025 - 09:19 PM.

[Starman1]

Sir Starman1, can you help look at this screenshot below, basically these are same eyepieces right?
Orion EF 27mm
Astromania 27mm
Alstar 27mm

It looks alike, same housing, except different writing brands on it. If it the same then I get the cheapest price one then. I can get it under Alstar for like $25 cheaper.
If I get the copycat cheapest one in there, would the inside lens glass inside be different? I knlow Orion is a brand, but it the most expensive out of the three.

They're the same.

[MrsM75]

Sir Starman1, my Vixen NPL 30mm Plossl will still give me wider field of view than this 55 deg 27mm Orion EF/Astromania right Sir?

 

If so then I no need to buy it.

[Starman1]

30mm NPL field size is 24.0mm in diameter.

The 27mm Flat Field is 24.4mm in diameter.

So the True field of the 27mm is just a bit wider than the NPL.

The 53° field is also just a little bit wider than the 50° field of the NPL.

[MrsM75]

Sir Starman1, I have a question to ask you. I remember you said the first generation of the Vixen SLV that first came out, it has the shinny spacer. When the first time the SLV line came out, do you remember what year was it Sir? Must be a long time ago right? Like 10 years ago?

[Starman1]

Sir Starman1, I have a question to ask you. I remember you said the first generation of the Vixen SLV that first came out, it has the shiny spacer. When the first time the SLV line came out, do you remember what year was it Sir? Must be a long time ago, right? Like 10 years ago?

At least 10 years ago, maybe more.

[MrsM75]

Hi Sir Starman1, I have a question to ask you.

 

Please look at the screenshot below, ofcourse it has been discontinued line, as this came out before the SLV, I think this line NLV came out first, still Lanthanium glass, and still 20mm eye relief. But it made in Japan (instead of China like the SLV).

However it in the housing of the NPL Plossl, but it not Plossl, it clearly say Lanthanium.

 

Would you say this line NLV (before the SLV) it better? Becasue the SLV clearly has an internal reflection.

 

[Starman1]

This is only my personal opinion, but I have been disappointed in Vixen eyepieces over the years.

 

Having glass containing Lanthanum oxide does not necessarily mean the eyepiece is a good one.

Lanthanum oxide was used to yield a particular refractive index.  It replaced Thorium oxide to yield the same refractive index without radioactivity.

That is the L in the Vixen names.

There are other brands and models that use lanthanum oxide glass, and some are quite inexpensive.  It's pretty much a standard glass type now.

And there are glass types that are a lot more exotic now but are not advertised as a glass type in eyepieces as if they somehow made the eyepiece better.

The purpose for the refractive index choices for glass types would take too long to explain here.

 

As for Vixen,

The LVs had serious spherical aberration of the exit pupil, as did the SSWs.  It made them hard to use.

The HRs were nice but aimed at the users of short focal length refractors--3.4mm was the LONGEST focal length in the series.  There were also a lot of defects.

The NPLs were just Plössls and more expensive than others (at that time) when I tried them.  Plus, the plastic eyecups were loose and tended to break.  Just meh.

The LVWs were OK, but did not have good coatings, so were dark compared to other brands, though they seem to have a following on CN.

The SLVs had, as you mention, had/have problems with internal reflections.

The NLVs are the one line I never tried, but given my experiences with the other lines, I'm dubious.

If you want to pay that much for a 50° eyepiece, I'd buy Tele Vue Plössls or, for longer eye relief with a wider apparent field, find a used one to try.

 

In the eyepiece buyer's guide, there are 585 different eyepieces for sale with eye reliefs long enough for glasses.  I think you can do better than an NLV.

[MrsM75]

Sir Starman1, I have a question.

 

Is the Astronomics AstroTech UWA 82 deg 16mm is really 16mm or it 15mm

 

The reason why I asked it because the Luminos 15mm 82 deg it has 12mm eye relief which is SAME with the 12mm eye relief of the AstroTech UWA 16mm

[Starman1]

Sir Starman1, I have a question.

 

Is the Astronomics AstroTech UWA 82 deg 16mm is really 16mm or it 15mm

 

The reason why I asked it because the Luminos 15mm 82 deg it has 12mm eye relief which is SAME with the 12mm eye relief of the AstroTech UWA 16mm

I believe it is actually 15mm.

The AT is made by Kunming United Optics, while the Luminos is made by Barsta.

I don't think either one of them can be used with glasses and see the entire field.

[MrsM75]

I believe it is actually 15mm.

The AT is made by Kunming United Optics, while the Luminos is made by Barsta.

I don't think either one of them can be used with glasses and see the entire field.

 

Is Kumming Optics the same that make the eyepieces for Explorer Scientific Sir?

[Starman1]

Is Kunming Optics the same that make the eyepieces for Explorer Scientific Sir?

No.  Explore Scientific is owned by and made by Jing Hua Optical Co. (JOC) in China

[MrsM75]

Sir Starman1, can you give me some eyepieces examples that is make by Kunming Optics? Beside the AT UWA 82 deg

[Starman1]

Sir Starman1, can you give me some eyepieces examples that is make by Kunming Optics? Beside the AT UWA 82 deg

Wow.  Lots:

Note: all this information is in the 2025 Eyepieces Buyer's Guide.

 

Altair Astro (UK) UltraFlat 2
Angeleyes (eBay/Ali Express) UWA 7
Antares XWA HDC 3
APM Hi-FW 6 
APM XWA HDC 3
Artesky Premium Flat Field 1
Artesky Ultra Flat 2
Astro Tech Premium Flat Field (PF) 1
Astro Tech UWA 7
Astro Tech XWA HDC 3
Astromania Premium Flatfield 1
Auriga Premium Flat Field 1
Auriga UWA 7
Celestron Ultima Edge 2
Houdini Coma correcting eyepiece 5
Lacerta Premium Flat Field 1
Lacerta UWA 7
Oberwerk Binocular Eyepieces XL (Pair) 4
Omegon Premium Flatfield 1
OVL (First Light Optics) Nirvana 82° 7
Sky Rover HFW 6
Sky Rover Premium Flat Field 1
Sky Rover Ultra Flat Field 2
Sky Rover UWA 7
Sky Rover WA 4
Sky Rover XWA 3
Skywatcher Nirvana 82 7
Stella Lyra (FLO) Ultra Flat 2
Stellarvue Optimus 3
Stellarvue UFF 2
Stellarvue UWA 7
SVBONY Ultra Flat Field 2
TecnoSky Premium Flat Field 1
TecnoSky UltraFlatField 2
TecnoSky UWA 7
TecnoSky XWA 3
Telescope Service Premium Flat Field 1
Telescope Service UWAN 82 (New) 7
Telescope Service XWA 3
Ursa Major (FLO) FMC Flatfield 1
William Optics Swan 4

 

Basically, it boils down to a few different eyepieces, sold under many labels:

Premium Flat Field 1

Ultra Flat Field 2

XWA 3

older wide angle 4

Houdini coma-correcting eyepiece 5

Hi-FW 12.5mm 6

UWA 7

I've numbered each one so you can tell which are the same eyepieces.

There are others not on the list as well.

Edited by Starman1, 26 May 2025 - 07:10 PM.

[MrsM75]

Thank you Sir Starman1, I downloaded the guide but it hard for me to open the XLSX file, because I don't have XLSX or excell viewer in my computer. 

 

I think of try one of the AT UWA, it 82 degrees, it worth it.

[Starman1]

Thank you Sir Starman1, I downloaded the guide but it hard for me to open the XLSX file, because I don't have XLSX or excell viewer in my computer. 

 

I think of try one of the AT UWA, it 82 degrees, it worth it.

Download the free program LibreOffice, which allows you to open and modify every program in Microsoft Office.

You can open and modify Excel, Word, Powerpoint, etc.