9 replies to this topic

[ScotiaAstro]

Hey folks,

 

In a previous forum post, I was looking for advice on some recommended eyepieces for my newly acquired Evostar 100ED DS Pro. Thanks so much to all of you who responded and your advice was greatly appreciate and happily received!

 

I’m looking now at pulling the trigger and building out a set of (3 or 4) eyepieces that I can use with my Evostar, but also with a new Edge 8HD and a likely future 12 inch f5 Dobsonian, that I’m considering…have really caught the visual bug alongside my long standing Astrophotography obsession! Lol!

 

I know these scopes have varied strengths and weaknesses, but I’m trying to find a nice range of eyepieces and magnifications that I can use with all of them, covering most types of objects (Lunar, Planetary, DSO, etc.)

 

Based on previous poster’s recommendations (and with some budget constraints factored in), I’ve narrowed down my manufacturers choice and I’m thinking maybe of the following:

 

5mm or 7mm Televue Delite

 

12.5mm Baader Morpheus

 

17.5mm Baader Morpheus

 

For context, I already own a Televue 2.5x Powermate and a Baader Hyperion 31mm Aspheric and have both 1.25 and 2 inch Baader diagonals…I also wear glasses.

 

Hope that all makes sense and would be thankful for any thoughts, further advice or recommendations.

Cheers,

Steve

Edited by ScotiaAstro, 11 April 2025 - 09:42 AM.

[Jay_Reynolds_Freeman]

Looks pretty good to me, the only unknown is whether the Powermate will work at f/5 with those eyepieces; if not, you might want some shorter focal lengths for the Dobson. I suspect you would use 7 mm a lot for deep sky at f/5, but would want more magnification for the Moon and planets.

 

I suspect the Powermate will do fine at longer focal ratios.

 

 

Clear sky ...

[havasman]

Why not stick with the Morpheus in the shorter focal lengths? You may miss the FOV you will lose with the Delites.

[rgk901]

I agree with above.. I'm ok using 60 degrees but not mixed with 78, especially with higher magnifications in the bigger scopes, you'll like the additional breathing room at higher powers

Edited by rgk901, 11 April 2025 - 09:05 AM.

[SeattleScott]

I don’t believe there is a 2.25x Powermate. 2x in 2” format or 2.5x in 1.25” format.

7mm is probably as high as you can go with C8 so maybe go down to 7mm and then barlow for high power with the Apo and future Dob. Pentax XW and Nikon SW are also contenders. The 7XW and 7SW have the same size field stop. Either will give more drift time than the 7 Delite. The SCT is GoTo so drift time not an issue. 7mm isn’t excessive magnification with the Apo or Dob, so drift time isn’t a major consideration. But if you stick a 7mm Delite in a 2.5x Powermate, drift time will become an issue. Frankly that would probably be too much magnification anyway.

[ScotiaAstro]

I don’t believe there is a 2.25x Powermate. 2x in 2” format or 2.5x in 1.25” format.

7mm is probably as high as you can go with C8 so maybe go down to 7mm and then barlow for high power with the Apo and future Dob. Pentax XW and Nikon SW are also contenders. The 7XW and 7SW have the same size field stop. Either will give more drift time than the 7 Delite. The SCT is GoTo so drift time not an issue. 7mm isn’t excessive magnification with the Apo or Dob, so drift time isn’t a major consideration. But if you stick a 7mm Delite in a 2.5x Powermate, drift time will become an issue. Frankly that would probably be too much magnification anyway.

Lol! Yes, typo on the Powermate…thanks will correct!

[areyoukiddingme]

If you Morpheus 17.5, 12.5, and 9 with a 2.5x Powermate you also get 7, 5, and 3.6. With a 30mm APM ultraflat, you have a pretty close to complete set across all three scopes.

[PKDfan]

Hi Steve ! AKA ScotiaAstro.

You'll Love the long F/9 and i can help you find some good eyepiece experiences with it as its my workhorse high rez scope.

The Morpheus plan your considering is very sound.

My low high power is 6.5Morpheus at 135X and low power is 30XW and now a new 40XW & 16.5XW.

I was going to suggest a T2 Nagler but they won't work for glasses so others will have to chime in for a LER 20mm± focal length.

I've used my other 2 short Morphii with my 62mm and highly recommend them.

I've discovered that Plössl's are exemplary so purchased 11mm & 8mm but again too short of relief and i hesitate to recommend Baaders zoom as that might be borderline for you too and thats a shame as it works very well at F/9.

My new 17.3Delos is on another level so that might work as a more costly 17.5Morpheus alternative.

After one look at the astrostore and seeing pure whites i decided that that was the superiour choice but full disclosure i did not compare the two together.

I use an Olivon 2X 2" Barlow (GSO clone or vice versa) and with the Mark IV zoom ludicrous powers can be reached. Barlowing the 6.5M gave me the view of a lifetime at Mars-270X.

Consider that Big Barlow carefully is my best recommendation.

Mechanical rigidity is critical when adding a long heavy stack out of the Crayford.

S-W 5mm UWA Planetary2 thats included is actually a great eyepiece so use it before going shorter.

I invested Heavily in top notch glass because my 100ED figure is truly astonishing so i hope yours climbs close (and it sounds like it does !).


I have also gone with small steps inbetween focal lengths as i'm a buy one Confidently and then be done with it type of guy so a 16.5mm versus a 17.3mm & 20mm is rather small so i guess it depends upon how enamoured of your scope you are and the depth of your wallet.

The new Tele Vue offerings look HIGHLY tempting so hold off a bit more before buying as a 24Delos or 9mm T7 could be awesome. Gives you more time to save up and do more researching too.


Best of Luck to you !!


Lance
CSS

[SeattleScott]

If you Morpheus 17.5, 12.5, and 9 with a 2.5x Powermate you also get 7, 5, and 3.6. With a 30mm APM ultraflat, you have a pretty close to complete set across all three scopes.

Hard to argue with this logic.

[ScotiaAstro]

Thanks for all your help and advice folks, have gone for a set of Baader Morpheii...now just need some clear skies to go along with them! Lol!