So I am going into purchase mode. My current line up is as follows:
TeleVue
35mm Panoptic
27mm Panoptic
22mm T4 Nagler
26mm T5 Nagler
Pentax XW
30mm Pentax XW
20mm Pentax XW
14mm Pentax XW
10mm Pentax XW
7mm Pentax XW
5mm Pentax XW
3.5mm Pentax XW
Astro Tech
25mm Paradigm
18mm Paradigm
12mm Paradigm
5mm Paradigm
4,6,9,12mm University Orthos HD
6mm & 10mm Baader Classic Orthos
Explore Scientific
11mm 82 degree
20mm 68 degree
24mm 68 degree
There is redundancy and I know that in my collection. I'd actually be fine just holding with what I have but the astro-purchasing bug is biting me hard right now. I run a 17.5" f/4.4 dob and a 14" dob f/4.5, a 10" dob f/4.7 and I have a 102mm refractor. I will in about a year or so have either a 22" or 24" dob about f/3.3 or 3.5. FYI I always observe with my Paracorr 2 in my focuser and leave it there, adjust for the eyepiece.
So I have a friend that goes observing with me and he has a 8" dob but I always loan him one of my dobs, usually the 14" when we go observing. My son also will go with me sometimes, so having multiple quality eyepieces is not an issue for me. I can or cannot wear my eye glasses, I am nearsighted so I do need them to look at the night sky but my astigmatism is .5 in the left eye and .75 in the right both are in the mild range. I am left eye dominant so I observe with that eye.
I am considering these groups of purchases and would like thoughts. Please do not recommend selling eyepieces. I've sold in the past and regret it today so I'll keep what I have even if it means redundancy. . I am personally leaning to option 2 because of that. Still would like thoughts, pro's, con's and if you have a better suggestion.
1. 16.5mm Pentax XW. Heard nothing but good about this eyepiece outside that you can't wear glasses with it. I usually have my glasses on a band so I can wear them around my neck when I observe so I can easily put them on to see the night sky to use the telrad to align for my star hopping.
2. Bite the bullet and supplement my XW's with the Baader Morpheus. I would probably do the 12.5mm, the 9mm, the 6.5mm and the 4.5mm. Duplicates the XW's but then I could loan one set out to my friend who observes with me and I would use the other. Also gives me options on which I would prefer long term (I don't want this turning into a XW vs Morpheus thread).
3. Go with the Astro-Tech's and get the full series, the 28mm, the 16mm, the 13mm, the 10mm, the 7mm and the 4mm all cheaper than option 2.
4. Pre-order the Nagler 7 14mm & 9mm. Redundancy yes, but much wider field of view and as I age, if I need to wear glasses I could with these. I still think I could do option 2 with the Morpheus and have a full set to use on one of my scopes be it the Pentax XW's or the Morpheus.
Max budget is $1250.00.
This would be the final purchases for me; ie new refractor and accessories, night vision and then eyepieces.
Edited by JayinUT, 18 April 2025 - 07:19 PM.