30 replies to this topic

[Procyon]

Just got this really nice looking "BIG EASY" lensed eyepiece in the mail today.   

 

I was hoping it would come to focus in my refractor with a TSFLAT2 connected to a 2" Baader Clicklock Diagonal and it did, so that's the best news I've had all week. It seems to be about 4-5mm? (Anyone have an accurate reading?) below the flange (Outfoucs). It did just give a nicely defined look of the clouds outside with it. Yeah, that lens is sick alright. They don't seem to make these nice big lens flat tops anymore....

 

With a magnification of 13x, an exit pupil of 7.7mm (foolish, right?) and a 3.5º TFOV I have no idea what I'm excepting to see at night. Maybe I can find a better use for it at a dark site? 

 

If all else fails, It will have to ride along an CPC 1100 for 58x, 4.8mm Exit pupil and a 0.8º TFOV. Will report when I get a chance to use it. Any object suggestions? What do ya'll like observing with this nice ep? I hope it's a keeper, looks great to my eyes.

 

I measured a lens of about 41mm, here's a side by side pic with an 8mm TV Delos and it's nice 36mm lens for perspective: 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Procyon, 23 April 2025 - 06:28 PM.

[25585]

If ever there was a 2" eyepiece for bino viewing, I think the Brandon is it. Small and lightweight for a 2", easy eye placement, and floating view.

[Procyon]

If ever there was a 2" eyepiece for bino viewing, I think the Brandon is it. Small and lightweight for a 2", easy eye placement, and floating view.

What is it though? An Erfle? An Ortho? What does EFL even stand for?

 

My first Brandon to be honest.

 

I wonder how the view through your big mamma (I forget what they call it) 40mm Vernonscope is, with a 48mm lens. 

Edited by Procyon, 23 April 2025 - 04:28 PM.

[T1R2]

I hear it means "Effective Focal Length", odd yes, as most think it means "Erfle"  but they've had that inscribed on them for a long time.  

[T1R2]

Brandon also did have a Erfle labeled EP, but it s says "Erfle" and I don't think its the same EP as yours 

[PKDfan]

What is it though? An Erfle? An Ortho? What does EFL even stand for?

My first Brandon to be honest.

I wonder how the view through your big mamma (I forget what they call it) 40mm Vernonscope is, with a 48mm lens.

Hi Procyon,

EFL stands for Effective Focal Length.

Its a 4element 2 group eyepiece with 4different types of glass.

Somewhat like a Plössl or symmetrical.

Brandons have a designed eyerelief- 8mm Brandon has 8mm ER and 16mm has 16mm ER. All of the Brandons use this design feature.

Looking at the 48mm Brandon its only got a 37mm field stop and ~45° AFOV so i bypassed this particular Brandon never minding the ~48mm ER !!

As far as best targets go i imagine faint nebulae and large asterisms will be best seen at a 13X power.
I use that power and even lower (10X) for sweeping with my 2" XW's in my short 400mm focal length 62mm apo.

Keeping exit pupils within my eyes largest dilation.


Enjoying the new ocular is one of the finest experiences an astronomer can have so please give us more of ypur impressions, maybe you can convince me to go with the Big Brandon as an even lower power---8.3X & a 7.44mm exit pupil.

The single issue for me is worthwhileness versus binoculars at this superlow power.

Also, was it clean inside ?


A new eyepiece is Always a Joy especially the Big glass Big view stuff.

Despite owning some great glass i'm always envious when someone snags a beautiful big shiny trinket that i've always wanted.


CSS
Lance

[Procyon]

Hi Procyon,

EFL stands for Effective Focal Length.

Its a 4element 2 group eyepiece with 4different types of glass.

Somewhat like a Plössl or symmetrical.

Brandons have a designed eyerelief- 8mm Brandon has 8mm ER and 16mm has 16mm ER. All of the Brandons use this design feature.

 

Good to know  

Looking at the 48mm Brandon its only got a 37mm field stop and ~45° AFOV so i bypassed this particular Brandon never minding the ~48mm ER !!

As far as best targets go i imagine faint nebulae and large asterisms will be best seen at a 13X power.
I use that power and even lower (10X) for sweeping with my 2" XW's in my short 400mm focal length 62mm apo.

 

A 6.6º view, great stuff! 

Keeping exit pupils within my eyes largest dilation.

Enjoying the new ocular is one of the finest experiences an astronomer can have so please give us more of ypur impressions, maybe you can convince me to go with the Big Brandon as an even lower power---8.3X & a 7.44mm exit pupil.

 

I'll do my best, will go try it out tonight on some big open clusters, transparency looks ok

The single issue for me is worthwhileness versus binoculars at this superlow power.

Also, was it clean inside ?
 

Like New, looks crystal-like

 

A new eyepiece is Always a Joy especially the Big glass Big view stuff.

Despite owning some great glass i'm always envious when someone snags a beautiful big shiny trinket that i've always wanted.

 

I blame 22585, I have a feeling he's going to cost me a lot of money   


CSS
Lance

Edited by Procyon, 23 April 2025 - 07:14 PM.

[areyoukiddingme]

48 Brandon is excellent, and worth buying a long focal ratio scope to go along with it.

[harpo80]

I've used it in everything I currently use - 80 mm F/7.5 refractor, 8" F/12 Cassegrain, and 10" and 16" Dobs.  Excellent in all of them.  I really like the contrasty view with a very dark background sky.

Edited by harpo80, 23 April 2025 - 07:30 PM.

[PKDfan]

Hi Procyon,

EFL stands for Effective Focal Length.

Its a 4element 2 group eyepiece with 4different types of glass.

Somewhat like a Plössl or symmetrical.

Brandons have a designed eyerelief- 8mm Brandon has 8mm ER and 16mm has 16mm ER. All of the Brandons use this design feature.

Good to know

Looking at the 48mm Brandon its only got a 37mm field stop and ~45° AFOV so i bypassed this particular Brandon never minding the ~48mm ER !!

As far as best targets go i imagine faint nebulae and large asterisms will be best seen at a 13X power.
I use that power and even lower (10X) for sweeping with my 2" XW's in my short 400mm focal length 62mm apo.

A 6.6º view, great stuff!

Keeping exit pupils within my eyes largest dilation.

Enjoying the new ocular is one of the finest experiences an astronomer can have so please give us more of ypur impressions, maybe you can convince me to go with the Big Brandon as an even lower power---8.3X & a 7.44mm exit pupil.

I'll do my best, will go try it out tonight on some big open clusters, transparency looks ok

The single issue for me is worthwhileness versus binoculars at this superlow power.

Also, was it clean inside ?

Like New, looks crystal-like

A new eyepiece is Always a Joy especially the Big glass Big view stuff.

Despite owning some great glass i'm always envious when someone snags a beautiful big shiny trinket that i've always wanted.

I blame 22585, I have a feeling he's going to cost me a lot of money


CSS
Lance

Lol i hope your findings are terrible Procyon, with poor contrast and funky stars. I'm kidding of course as i need another eyepiece like another hole in my head.


With very brief use of my new TV 8mm Plössl and finally encountering some tight eyerelief a 8mm Brandon might be worthwhile.

I'm torn between a 55Plössl and the 48Brandon. The latter does 18.75X and about 2.4degrees in my F/9.

I really need to decide which ones i want. A 16mm and ?....& do AgenaAstro just once.

Honestly that cleanliness didn't make it any easier to hold off on getting one.


I'm very curious as to exit pupil behaviour with such long relief.


Thanks in advance !


Lance
CSS

[Procyon]

48 Brandon is excellent, and worth buying a long focal ratio scope to go along with it.

This.

 

Sorry to disappoint you Lance but you're gonna have to get this eyepiece. 

 

I'm looking at Mel 111 right now and the view through it is clearly insane. With or without glasses, I can see the whole field of view full of pin point stars through a gigantic lens. Sharp to the edge in my eyes. A straight up keeper.

 

I had a 56mm TV plossl, this is way better. Afov feels much bigger than it's advertised.

 

I bit my lips when I paid for it, now I'm smiling. And this from a red zone, I can only imagine from a dark site. Yup, big lens flat tops are good for my eyes. Fantastic view. 

 

I might have to wait for some Berkeley open clusters to come up, or maybe I should just leave it here.

 

Edited by Procyon, 24 April 2025 - 08:58 AM.

[PKDfan]

Oh Boy i was afraid of that.

I've got a tidy sum of yankee greenbacks allocated for one Brandon and a Herschel wedge.

I'll have to pry the wallet open but i'm afraid to look at the exchange rate.

I'm...grateful(??) for the report Procyon, my intuition is almost always right so holding off on my Brandon purchase now makes more sense--i've got to get at least two of them !

Whats the speed of your refractor Procyon ?

I'll want to use it in my F/9 mainly.
Double mounted scopes one doing 10X and the other ~19X a M31 killer combo.


Clearest Skies
Lance

[Procyon]

Oh Boy i was afraid of that.

I've got a tidy sum of yankee greenbacks allocated for one Brandon and a Herschel wedge.

I'll have to pry the wallet open but i'm afraid to look at the exchange rate.

I'm...grateful(??) for the report Procyon, my intuition is almost always right so holding off on my Brandon purchase now makes more sense--i've got to get at least two of them !

Whats the speed of your refractor Procyon ?

I'll want to use it in my F/9 mainly.
Double mounted scopes one doing 10X and the other ~19X a M31 killer combo.


Clearest Skies
Lance

It's an Orion 100mm Astroview, f/6 attached to an Orion StarSeeker IV GoTo mount, great little grab n go setup. After spending a good hour on the Coma Berenices Cluster (also known as Melotte 111 or Collinder 256) I aimed the scope at the red giant star Y Canum Venaticorum (La Superba) and the red looks great in the Brandon. 

 

Might also be worthwhile to get an 80mm f/8-9 refractor at some point.

[PKDfan]

It's an Orion 100mm Astroview, f/6 attached to an Orion StarSeeker IV GoTo mount, great little grab n go setup. After spending a good hour on the Coma Berenices Cluster (also known as Melotte 111 or Collinder 256) I aimed the scope at the red giant star Y Canum Venaticorum (La Superba) and the red looks great in the Brandon.

Might also be worthwhile to get an 80mm f/8-9 refractor at some point.

Okay ! Well well thats even worse news you conniver, twisting my arm like that ! I never hoped for its ability at that 'fast' speed...i'm Very much more impressed with your review then as i suspected a slightly slower scope, in the F/7.5 F/8 area.


I'm was avoiding a duplication of focal lengths so i'll have to test more my 8mm Plössl but i suspect i might have to get more than a couple of these highly regarded eyepieces.

The 20mm newer Brandon gets rave reviews too so another duplication i was avoiding but were talking about the real TermiNagler my 20mm T2. An interesting comparison.

A real addiction is that great image fidelity eyepiece(s).


Thanks for your efforts to educate us i for one 'slightly' appreciate it ! Lol.


CSS
Lance

[GSwaim]

I have a 2" 48mm Brandon also. I use it on either the moon or sun for visuals. I also have a 2" TeleVue TV55mm Plossl that I use for the same purpose. Both are nice and handy to have around.

Edited by GSwaim, 24 April 2025 - 05:32 AM.

[jrmacl]

Lol i hope your findings are terrible Procyon, with poor contrast and funky stars. I'm kidding of course as i need another eyepiece like another hole in my head.


With very brief use of my new TV 8mm Plössl and finally encountering some tight eyerelief a 8mm Brandon might be worthwhile.

I'm torn between a 55Plössl and the 48Brandon. The latter does 18.75X and about 2.4degrees in my F/9.

I really need to decide which ones i want. A 16mm and ?....& do AgenaAstro just once.

Honestly that cleanliness didn't make it any easier to hold off on getting one.


I'm very curious as to exit pupil behaviour with such long relief.


Thanks in advance !


Lance
CSS

I'd like to see another comparison between the 8mm TV Pl and the Brandon, and if you can throw an 8mm Edmund RKE and an 8mm Vixen NPL (or Svbony Sv207 SPL) that would be awesome. There are some comparisons:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ndon-8mm-ortho/

 

blandp11 says "Bottom line - the Brandon 8mm "Ortho" is a fine eyepiece, but for 1/2 the price the TeleVue 8mm Plossl exceeds or equals the performance of the Brandon, at least on double stars. I will test again when the Moon comes out and I'd really like to test both eyepieces on a Planet before making a final judgement on these two fine eyepieces."

 

and another comparison from '23:

 

https://www.cloudyni...levue-plossl’s/

 

alnitak22 says "I’ve only used the 8mm Brandon. I got it to compare with my 8 TV Plossl.  Very good eyepiece but after a couple of months comparing in my 6” f/8 Newt and TV85, I sold the Brandon as I felt the TV edged it out on both Jupiter and the moon. On Saturn and doubles there was not a noticeable difference. 8mm is 150x in the Newt and in the TV85, I got 75x and 150x with TV 2x Barlow. This was 15 years ago and I didn’t have my 6” Mak then. 8mm is 225x in the Mak and that would have been a good scope for comparing. The 8 TV Plossl is fabulous in the Mak and has shown me all 3 craters in the Apollo 11 trio in Mare Tranquility. And Jupiter and Saturn are spectacular."

[PKDfan]

I'd like to see another comparison between the 8mm TV Pl and the Brandon, and if you can throw an 8mm Edmund RKE and an 8mm Vixen NPL (or Svbony Sv207 SPL) that would be awesome. There are some comparisons:

https://www.cloudyni...ndon-8mm-ortho/

blandp11 says "Bottom line - the Brandon 8mm "Ortho" is a fine eyepiece, but for 1/2 the price the TeleVue 8mm Plossl exceeds or equals the performance of the Brandon, at least on double stars. I will test again when the Moon comes out and I'd really like to test both eyepieces on a Planet before making a final judgement on these two fine eyepieces."

and another comparison from '23:

https://www.cloudyni...levue-plossl’s/

alnitak22 says "I’ve only used the 8mm Brandon. I got it to compare with my 8 TV Plossl. Very good eyepiece but after a couple of months comparing in my 6” f/8 Newt and TV85, I sold the Brandon as I felt the TV edged it out on both Jupiter and the moon. On Saturn and doubles there was not a noticeable difference. 8mm is 150x in the Newt and in the TV85, I got 75x and 150x with TV 2x Barlow. This was 15 years ago and I didn’t have my 6” Mak then. 8mm is 225x in the Mak and that would have been a good scope for comparing. The 8 TV Plossl is fabulous in the Mak and has shown me all 3 craters in the Apollo 11 trio in Mare Tranquility. And Jupiter and Saturn are spectacular."

Thank You very much jrmacl for the info and links.

Maybe i made the right decision then with the Plössl ?!

I'd really like to believe that differences between them will be miniscule.

I really like a lean & mean eyepiece collection so i'll check those links out but i think you've just saved me 280dollars.


Cheers !!


CSS
Lance

[ChristianG]

Hi all.

 

The eye relief is huge! A bit difficult to hold position without touching it. So I came up with an eyeguard for it.

 

I ended up putting it inside the tube of an old Meade QX 36 mm that had a broken lens. I have one of those Taig mini-lathe that did a good job machining a retaining ring out of the original Meade nosepiece. There is still enough of the Brandon nosepiece sticking out to focus properly with all the diagonals I've tried it with. I like the fact it has no undercut...

 

Mine came with no lens cap whatsoever, and the top is smoother than yours, it seems. Was bought new ca. 2010 by a friend (who had mistakenly put "2" instead of "1" in the shopping cart, an expensive mistake...).

 

I find the 45 degree AFOV to be narrow, but contrast is excellent. Naked, without the custom eyeguard, you get the strange 'small window into space' effect. Cheers!

 

--Christian

 

 

Edited by ChristianG, 24 April 2025 - 04:06 PM.

[jrmacl]

Thank You very much jrmacl for the info and links.

Maybe i made the right decision then with the Plössl ?!

I'd really like to believe that differences between them will be miniscule.

I really like a lean & mean eyepiece collection so i'll check those links out but i think you've just saved me 280dollars.


Cheers !!


CSS
Lance

I bought the 8mm and 11mm TV Plossl as my first ep's as a total newbie after reading a little CN and they have been my only ep's for 25 years. I have never felt I was going to do better, unless maybe perfect skies-scope ect up against ep's like a TMB Supermono, Astro Physics SPL, Zeiss Jena Ortho, or yes maybe even the Brandon. But at the same time I doubt I myself would be able to tell the difference between the TV PL and the Vixen NPL or the Edmund RKL either. I guess my point being that if I had just got a generic Sv207 I would always be wondering if I was missing something, but with the TV I have peace of mind.

Edited by jrmacl, 25 April 2025 - 11:16 PM.

[jrmacl]

I hope we didn't distract from the true topic here with our talk of tiny mm Plossl's, I bet that 48mm Brandon is pretty awesome in Procyon's 11" SCT. And I'd love to hear from those who have compared it to say the 50mm Tak TPL, or one of the 45mm or 50mm MOP's, even the 55mm TV Pl or 56 Meade. Or how about a widefield like the 40XW or 41 Pan?

 

Edit: I see in post #11 Procyon mentioned you had a 55mm TV Plossl and prefer the 48mm Brandon

Edited by jrmacl, 26 April 2025 - 08:44 PM.

[Procyon]

Yeah, the 55mm TV Plossl felt like staring down a tube. I never got along with TV 32, 40 and 55mm Plossls. Love the 25 and 20mm though. They're great for binoviewing.

There's a 50mm Tak TPL? I give up, there's too many good eyepieces to try. Need to stay away from these forums for a while.

Edited by Procyon, 26 April 2025 - 09:35 PM.

[25585]

Also the Masuyamas  

 

I now feel tempted to buy another Brandon!

[Procyon]

Another night out with the 48 Brandon. Tonight it had company, an 17mm ES 92. (First night out with it). It feels great to finally have a grab and go scope after 15+ years carrying around the heavy guys.

 

Only problem is, it's Galaxy season LOL. So it isn't the brightest idea to go out with a 4 incher, what with only Leo, Coma Berenices, Canes Venetici and Virgo visible from my spot. I opened SkyTools 4 and went through my lists to see if there's anything else out there I can watch besides doubles (I don't like splitting stars, prefer to find carbon stars instead).

 

I managed to find the only(?) Open Clusters besides the majestic Collinder 256 - Melotte 111 within these 4 Constellations. 

 

Latham 1 in Coma Berenices, a nice cluster next to Mel 111. Seen in the Brandon and ES, both sharp. This 17mm ES 92 I can tell is kick azs. Both eyepieces show pin point stars, both top notch EP's.

There's a debate at Harvard University if this is truly an open cluster...if anyone cares to look into it, never understood how to open these files.. https://ui.adsabs.ha...24712M/abstract

 

Upgren 1 in Canes Venetici, this is one cool cluster actually. Surprised to see a topic on it.  https://www.cloudyni...8693-upgren-1/ 

 

Brosch 1, Virgo Diamond, Asterism? I rushed out the house without its coordinates, actually, Skysafari 6 Pro didn't have it in it's database unlike the other 2 (can't have them all), will try and find it next time.: https://www.astronom...1-virgo-diamond

 

ESO 312-04....OCL 1157.5...Virgo... Should have taken the coords.

 

Pocket Sky Atlas 1142092834

Millennium Star Atlas Vol I Chart 1119600291
Sky Atlas 2000 Chart -2033274347
Uranometria 2000 Vol I&II Chart -699749798
Uranometria 2nd Ed. Chart 0
Herald-Bobroff Astroatlas B-09 C-44

 

It was nice to see M3 also with the 17mm at 35x

Mel 111 is a sight to behold in the 17mm ES 92, it filled up the whole lens with very bright looking stars. I still love the view with the Brandon just as much though for this big Asterism - OC..

 

Tried to find the Whale Galaxy, it ain't happening. But there are dozen of carbon stars about a degree underneath it. Nice spot to scan around.

I may have found a new open cluster, 41 comae berenices is part of, it looks like a funky chinese letter, can I name it? Does anyone care? lol

 

Overall the Brandon and ES 92 are great eyepieces, their lenses are just great to look through. I was always an eye guard freak but these eyepieces are a pleasure to look through without eye shields. Especially the Brandon with it's large flat lens.  I hope more wide lens, preferably flat, eyepieces are made in the future. Or did I miss that wave? There are some minor blackouts if you start tilting your head for no reason, but it's nothing really. I raise my eye glasses when I observe, other times I wear contacts. 

Edited by Procyon, 28 April 2025 - 02:29 AM.

[Scott99]

I hope we didn't distract from the true topic here with our talk of tiny mm Plossl's, I bet that 48mm Brandon is pretty awesome in Procyon's 11" SCT. And I'd love to hear from those who have compared it to say the 50mm Tak TPL, or one of the 45mm or 50mm MOP's, even the 55mm TV Pl or 56 Meade. Or how about a widefield like the 40XW or 41 Pan?

 

Edit: I see in post #11 Procyon mentioned you had a 55mm TV Plossl and prefer the 48mm Brandon

In general, the Brandons have less edge sharpness at shorter-to-medium f/ratio than TPLs or Masuyama MOP.   i.e. at f/6-f/8.  They're similar in having excellent contrast & sharpness.  The FOV of the 48mm Brandon is a little smaller at 45-46 degres than the others. 

 

The 48mm Brandon is a fantastic ocular and my favorite of the line.  Especially the version with the newer coatings.  I don't have it anymore, I liked the better edge sharpess of my vintage 45mm Clave, and I like my 50mm Masuyama for having the largest possible FOV.   Both those eyepieces have nice, appriopriately-sized eyeguards too, hard on the Clave and soft on the MOP. 

 

The Brandon is more old-school....no eyeguard with the image floating in space a couple inches above the eye lens.  It's OK, I prefer a high eyeguard because I often observe with annnoying side-lighting, the eyeguard blocks it out.  From a very dark location you don't need the eyeguard as much.  I enjoyed the 48mm Brandon without one though.  Especially in my f/8.5 and f/9 scopes where the sweet spot becomes large (it's perfect at f/15).   For me all of these provide a better view than complex widefields which lose a touch of brightness, sharpness, and contrast/clarity over something like a 48mm Brandon.

Edited by Scott99, 28 April 2025 - 11:29 AM.

[25585]

I like the flat top Brandons, and there being a choice of those, or the eyecupped ones with less effective eye relief. I may go for a 24mm f/t next.